Rear Shock Installation question
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,273
Likes: 14
From: Austin TX
Rear Shock Installation question
Installing on a 99
I figured out how to compress the old shock to get it out but I need a DIY method to compress the new shock so that it is short enough to install.
any help appreciated.
Tks
I figured out how to compress the old shock to get it out but I need a DIY method to compress the new shock so that it is short enough to install.
any help appreciated.
Tks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 800
Likes: 72
From: Calgary Alberta
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,273
Likes: 14
From: Austin TX
Pro
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 502
Likes: 4
From: Huntsville, AL Relaxed!
You'll definitely have to compress them to get them out....I used some heavy nylon cord. I put a loop at one end, and put the other end of the cord through the loop, and cinched it tight. Used a bow knot to tie it off. Too simple...
FWIW, I tried zip-ties....they kept snapping at JUST the wrong moment...
IHTH,
KoreaJon
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 5
From: Rockwall TX
Be creative, you need to compress it first, your choice, zip tie or whatever,? I actually used guitar strings.
Oh, I also used a woodworkers clamp to compress it down, sorry, forgot that part.
Oh, I also used a woodworkers clamp to compress it down, sorry, forgot that part.
Last edited by dmarkshark; May 20, 2014 at 11:58 AM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,273
Likes: 14
From: Austin TX
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
Push the shock body while the rod is on a hard surface
Used the McRat method. Set up a pair of tiewraps to tighten after the shock was compressed. Pushed the body of the shock down with the rod on a hard surface like my driveway. After compressing the shock took the plastic end of the tiewrap and tightened around the shock and the rod. This worked for both the front and rear shocks. Not hard to do.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,273
Likes: 14
From: Austin TX
Shocking Update
Perhaps it's my rookie technique but I had to compress both fronts and rears.
I figured it out differently.
Fronts - disconnect the tie rod and the lower A arm will drop enough to slide in a fully extended shock.
Rears -raised rotor. inserted rear spring bolt through the yoke on the shock and into the bolt hole in the lower A Arm. Stood shock upright with bolt/nut end on the garage floor. Then lower the rotor slowly to compress shock and tie it in compressed condition and install.
Thanks to all for inputs.
I figured it out differently.
Fronts - disconnect the tie rod and the lower A arm will drop enough to slide in a fully extended shock.
Rears -raised rotor. inserted rear spring bolt through the yoke on the shock and into the bolt hole in the lower A Arm. Stood shock upright with bolt/nut end on the garage floor. Then lower the rotor slowly to compress shock and tie it in compressed condition and install.
Thanks to all for inputs.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,452
Likes: 346
From: SC
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,614
Likes: 7
From: South Florida
You'll definitely have to compress them to get them out....I used some heavy nylon cord. I put a loop at one end, and put the other end of the cord through the loop, and cinched it tight. Used a bow knot to tie it off. Too simple...
FWIW, I tried zip-ties....they kept snapping at JUST the wrong moment...
IHTH,
KoreaJon
FWIW, I tried zip-ties....they kept snapping at JUST the wrong moment...
IHTH,
KoreaJon
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 3
From: Life moves pretty fast... if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it!
CI 6-8-9 Veteran
Do a google search for Froggy on YouTube. He has some great videos, one of which is replacing both fronts and rears. You can subscribe to his videos for free. 
Zuti
Zuti