Shock Absorber compression tool for installation
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,764
Likes: 31
From: Fort Collins CO
Shock Absorber compression tool for installation
Hey all -
swapping out my Z51 springs with Z06 pieces in the next few days. Front is delaminating a bit, and I figured I'd bump to the higher Z06 rear "while I was in there".
The high gas pressure of my Koni shocks makes compressing them for installing a bit of a pain - last time I used bailing wire, which had a tendency to snap on me.
Is there any easy method, or tool, one can use to hold the shock in a compressed position to let me reinstall it easily when necessary?
This is only an issue for the front spring, since the shock lowers and control arm uppers have to be unbolted to give you room to get the spring out the side.
Thanks for any tips on that front.
Anybody looking for a Z51 rear spring, drop me a line. I'll sell you the front as well, but It's not 100%. No problems though.
-Jake
swapping out my Z51 springs with Z06 pieces in the next few days. Front is delaminating a bit, and I figured I'd bump to the higher Z06 rear "while I was in there".
The high gas pressure of my Koni shocks makes compressing them for installing a bit of a pain - last time I used bailing wire, which had a tendency to snap on me.
Is there any easy method, or tool, one can use to hold the shock in a compressed position to let me reinstall it easily when necessary?
This is only an issue for the front spring, since the shock lowers and control arm uppers have to be unbolted to give you room to get the spring out the side.
Thanks for any tips on that front.
Anybody looking for a Z51 rear spring, drop me a line. I'll sell you the front as well, but It's not 100%. No problems though.
-Jake
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,764
Likes: 31
From: Fort Collins CO
Re: Shock Absorber compression tool for installation (racer44)
Have you tried that with Konis?
The factory FE1 (:lol:) and Z51 shocks you can compress by hand, but the Konis took my entire body weight (170lbs) to compress.
The factory FE1 (:lol:) and Z51 shocks you can compress by hand, but the Konis took my entire body weight (170lbs) to compress.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,013
Likes: 79
From: Manitoba/San Jose del Cabo
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '11
Re: Shock Absorber compression tool for installation (JakeL)
One guy to compress :D and one guy to apply the two zip ties. I am telling you, they will hold the shock in place. :yesnod: Use the ones that are about 1/4" wide. (It's actually 4 zip ties, you need to use two on each side to get the length.)
[Modified by racer44, 11:44 PM 9/2/2003]
[Modified by racer44, 11:44 PM 9/2/2003]
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 96
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From: Orange County CA
Re: Shock Absorber compression tool for installation (JakeL)
JakeL,
I just did this with the Koni's a few months ago. Racer44 is right. Zip ties work great. As Racer44 said - get the heavy duty 1/4" wide zips. I didn't have anyone to help me but with a large screw driver and bottle jack I was able to get the job done.
I just did this with the Koni's a few months ago. Racer44 is right. Zip ties work great. As Racer44 said - get the heavy duty 1/4" wide zips. I didn't have anyone to help me but with a large screw driver and bottle jack I was able to get the job done.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,764
Likes: 31
From: Fort Collins CO
Re: Shock Absorber compression tool for installation (c5xdup)
Awesome, thanks for the tip guys. I swapped the rear today, and I'll do the front tomorrow with some ties I bought from good ol' Home Depot.
I compared the FE3 (Z51) and FE4 (Z06 rear spring, and the Z06 piece has ever-so-slightly less arc than the Z51 piece, so I imagine it's just a hair stiffer - I've been told about 50 to 75lb/in is about the difference.
Fronts should be identical, based on the P/N's.
Cheers!
-Jake
I compared the FE3 (Z51) and FE4 (Z06 rear spring, and the Z06 piece has ever-so-slightly less arc than the Z51 piece, so I imagine it's just a hair stiffer - I've been told about 50 to 75lb/in is about the difference.
Fronts should be identical, based on the P/N's.
Cheers!
-Jake
