Old dog needs new trick help
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 186
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From: Houston TX
Old dog needs new trick help
I've decided to attempt installing my new Bilsteins because it just seems so easy. After raising the car, and loosening the shock bolts, I can't figure out how to compress the Sachs that came from the factory. This seems pretty simple - I've read several posts on how to change the shocks out, but everyone blows by the compressing part like it's pretty common knowledge.
O'Reilly Auto Parts has a tool to rent, but it looks to be less than a foot long, and I can't visualize how to fit the jaws on the top and bottom of the shock. I have considered using large cable ties to keep the shock compressed, but not looking to invent any new wheels if there is an accepted method to do this.
All help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance.
O'Reilly Auto Parts has a tool to rent, but it looks to be less than a foot long, and I can't visualize how to fit the jaws on the top and bottom of the shock. I have considered using large cable ties to keep the shock compressed, but not looking to invent any new wheels if there is an accepted method to do this.
All help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,651
Likes: 6
From: redlands,ca.-usa
Originally Posted by morgal48
I've decided to attempt installing my new Bilsteins because it just seems so easy. After raising the car, and loosening the shock bolts, I can't figure out how to compress the Sachs that came from the factory. This seems pretty simple - I've read several posts on how to change the shocks out, but everyone blows by the compressing part like it's pretty common knowledge.
O'Reilly Auto Parts has a tool to rent, but it looks to be less than a foot long, and I can't visualize how to fit the jaws on the top and bottom of the shock. I have considered using large cable ties to keep the shock compressed, but not looking to invent any new wheels if there is an accepted method to do this.
All help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance.
O'Reilly Auto Parts has a tool to rent, but it looks to be less than a foot long, and I can't visualize how to fit the jaws on the top and bottom of the shock. I have considered using large cable ties to keep the shock compressed, but not looking to invent any new wheels if there is an accepted method to do this.
All help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 186
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From: Houston TX
Originally Posted by Z11409
leave one end of old shock connected to mount--compress shock by hand and secure it in a down position with either cable ties or wire.
Thanks! Done and out.
Now, how do I torque the nut on the piston shaft while holding the piston shaft in place with the torx?
I really am mising the '60s! If only I could remember where I left them.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 6
From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas
Originally Posted by morgal48
...Now, how do I torque the nut on the piston shaft while holding the piston shaft in place with the torx?
I really am mising the '60s! If only I could remember where I left them.
I really am mising the '60s! If only I could remember where I left them.
Once you have the nut tight, the shaft should not turn. You can probably use a deep socket to torque the nut once you are sure the shaft isn't turning without being held by the torx. Or, another approach I have used for 4X4 wheel bearing nuts would be the following: Got a spring operated fishing scale? Measure your closed end wrench (center of one end to center of the other end) with a ruler, and divide by 12 to convert to feet. Then divide 19 ft-lb (recommended torque for front shock top nut) by the length of the wrench in feet to determine the force to be applied to the other end of the wrench to give you 19 ft-lb. Hook the fishing scale to the wrench end and apply force to wrench perpendicularly until you reach the calculated force on the fishing scale.
Example: Say your closed end wrench measures 6 inches...dividing by 12, it's 0.5 foot. When you divide 19 ft-lb by 0.5 ft, you find you will have to apply 38 pounds to a six inch wrench to get 19 ft-lb torque.
If you like, you can double-check this torque with a torque wrench/deep socket once the nut is tight enough that the shaft doesn't turn. This is the preferred method...38 pounds on a six inch wrench will be pretty unstable; might get your knuckles busted big time.
Last edited by JmpnJckFlsh; Jun 25, 2006 at 01:51 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
Thanks for the feedback. The way I solved this was to use a box wrench on the nut with the torx on the torque wrench, turning the torque wrench counterclockwise. It was easy to do with the torx end on the Bilstein piston shaft.
