Any advice for changing shocks?
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,119
Likes: 156
From: Huntington tx
Any advice for changing shocks?
I ordered and waiting for my new C6 Z06 shocks to arrive from GMPartshouse.com next Wednesday. I think all I have to do is jack up the car on Jackstands, remove the wheels and then remove the OEM shocks. I should be able to use a jack to support the spindles while I remove the shocks? I'm a very skilled mechanic but I haven't worked on this C5 suspension wise. Anyone have advice on what I need to watch?
Last edited by sfc rick; Aug 18, 2012 at 03:38 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Oceanside California
Sounds like you have the basic idea covered. I did it that way. you will benefit from zip tying the shocks closed while installing them.
Last edited by NukeC5; Aug 18, 2012 at 03:17 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,119
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From: Huntington tx
Place jack under spindle lift up a little, unbolt upper shock stud, then unbolt 4 upper A arm bolts, gently lower assembly down until shock stud clears frame member, undo lower 2 shock mounting bolts....pull shock off. REVERSE steps to reinstall new ones!
RIGHT!
Last edited by sfc rick; Aug 18, 2012 at 08:57 PM.
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I haven't done my vette yet but I have used shipping twine in the past on gas shocks. I can't imagine using wire. I'd worry about it cutting into the rubber. I also like the ty-wrap idea. Pulling the A-arm loose seems like ovekill and I've never had to do that on any other install I've done.
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Melting Slicks
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Le Mans Master
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From: Huntington tx
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Jensen Beach FL
I used the zip tie method and found it to be pretty easy. I just doubled up on them (2 at the top and bottom and four around the sides.. They were cheap Harbor Freight ones. The advantage is you can tighten them up if you did not allow enough compression on the shock. The biggest problem I had was with that %^&$ top shock nut.
I do like the sound of lowering the A arm. Don't know how easy that is though. Should save a bunch of time if it is.
I do like the sound of lowering the A arm. Don't know how easy that is though. Should save a bunch of time if it is.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: South Western Ontario
I don't recall removing the front upper a-arm or tying the front shocks down. It's the rears that are a pain to get in. A piece of mechanics wire works perfectly. Actually, I used some 0.023" wire from my Mig welder.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Jensen Beach FL
Funny how some of us have trouble with one part and some have trouble with the other. I found the rears easy to do. I could actually compress the rears without using zip ties and get them out just pushing up even though the original shocks only had 29K miles on them. The fronts were a real PITA.
Last edited by craig04c5; Aug 19, 2012 at 08:09 PM.
