Does anybody know if I can switch my right and front left shocks, or are they like uni-directional tires, for lack of a better term? Thanks.

 

I don't know the answer to your question, but I'm curious about why you would want to do this?

- Mark

 

I knew it! The first time I don't post "why", and someone asks, "Why?"

Well, I have this squeaking in the right front of the car. I lubed the swaybar bushings, can can't find anything else that might cause this. While parked, I can bounce the corner of the car up and down, but no squeak. It only happens when I go over certain types of bumps, like when I go up my driveway, or over SOME bumpy roads. When I go up the driveway at an angle (of course) it only happens when I go left into the driveway, and only the right front squeaks.

So, I wonder if it might be the shock. And, maybe I only hear it since I have F45, and the car has to be running to have the shock working. I don't know, just guessing. I originally thought it had to be the upper shock grommets because that's the only other rubber that's not press fit, or really, really, tight, you know what I mean? So, I was going to lube them, but when I eyeball the top shock mount, it looks like it's on about the same tightness as the left front, and it's not loose enough to move around by hand, PLUS, I've never heard a top shock bushing squeaking before, although I suppose it is possible.

Soooooo, I figure if I can interchange the shocks and the squeaking goes to the left, maybe some seal is squeaking or something. I don't have any residue showing on the shock, but maybe it's going bad or something. Of course, if after the swap, the squeaking raises its ugly head on both sides, or goes away completely, then I'll know it was the bushings.

Interestingly, my 2000 Suburban makes a similar sound when the back goes over some bumps and driveways, which makes me hopeful that it might be just the bushings.

While we're on the topic, I wonder if F45 shocks are NOT under pressure. If so getting them on and off would be easier, too.

 

The answer to your question is no. Each shock is corner specific. If you switch them you will get a DIC message Service Real Time Dampning and the car will go into reduced power mode or will not let the car go above some speed. I don't remember which.

This could be an expensive problem as you should replace shocks in pairs only and the F45 are big $$$$$.

 

I just went to GM Parts Direct and they show a left and a right, but not a back and front. I can't believe front and rears are the same? If so, maybe I can just swap front to back, but I doubt it. Where did you get your info?

 

Looks like you're right. I guess the only thing to do is try lubing the uppper shock bushings and see if that helps, huh? Do you happen to know how to check the shock itself?