Shock absorber installation help
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 2
From: New Bern NC
Shock absorber installation help
For any of you who have replaced shocks on the FE1, stock suspension:
Is this a simple remove the wheels, unbolt, and bolt in the new ones job? The shop manual calls for a leaf spring compression tool and the instructions for the non-F55 rear just are not in the manual. I have some Koni FSD's coming and I am considering doing this myself if I don't need any special tools or tricky procedures. In advance, thanks
Larry
Is this a simple remove the wheels, unbolt, and bolt in the new ones job? The shop manual calls for a leaf spring compression tool and the instructions for the non-F55 rear just are not in the manual. I have some Koni FSD's coming and I am considering doing this myself if I don't need any special tools or tricky procedures. In advance, thanks
Larry
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,083
Likes: 3
From: Buena Park CA
I had the Koni FSD's installed in mine. At first, I tried to do it myself, too, but when it came time to compress the old shock so you can get it out, I wasn't strong enough to do it by hand and getting a pry bar in there as leverage to compress it, well it kept slipping off. So, after about 2 hours of screwing around with many sores on my hands, I finally took it down to the local Corvette shop and had them do it for about $275 of labor. They completed it in about 2 hours. Good luck!
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,684
Likes: 107
From: Opelika Alabama
you can DIY I am not that strong and it was not that hard, the new one's should be compressed when you get them if no,t get some mechanics wire or bell wire and compress them yourself install one end and then loosen or cut the wire, it{shock} will expand slowly
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 669
From: North Fulton Georgia
The FSD's are great by the way. You will love them!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,017
Likes: 2
Compressing the stock shock is a pain, but you don't have to take the car apart. Go to Walmart, Harbor Freight or a motorcycle shop and get a Ratchet tie down strap..
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=47708
Take off the top nuts holding the shock on the car..I hooked the strap to the lower a-arm, then just used the strap material wrapped around the top of the shock and tied off. You then ratchet the strap and the shock compresses..Less than 1.5 hours to do all four Z51 shocks, with 20 minutes spent on figuring how I wanted to attach the strap on the first one..You will like the Koni FSD's. They will compress by hand for the install. Remember you will have to reuse the top stock components on the Konis..
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=47708
Take off the top nuts holding the shock on the car..I hooked the strap to the lower a-arm, then just used the strap material wrapped around the top of the shock and tied off. You then ratchet the strap and the shock compresses..Less than 1.5 hours to do all four Z51 shocks, with 20 minutes spent on figuring how I wanted to attach the strap on the first one..You will like the Koni FSD's. They will compress by hand for the install. Remember you will have to reuse the top stock components on the Konis..
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I didn't until I put coilovers on it because that changed the ride height. When I changed the shocks and bars I did not.
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
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From: Southern Utah
There is no reason to disconnect anything in order to replace the shocks. Applying gentle, steady pressure will compress the original (junk) shocks that are on the car. Then compress the new one and put a piece of string on it to hold it compressed, fit it in and then cut the string and the shock will extend into place while you guide it. The last thing you want to do is disconnect suspension components as you can screw up the alignment of the car by doing that. I put Bilsteins on mine and it took a couple of hours doing a calm careful job. A mechanic with a lift who is familiar with the job could do it in less than an hour, and then charge you for 2 or three hours labor....
If you don't disconnect suspension components but just R & R the shocks, the alignment will not be changed.
They call for a spring compression tool because the shock itself keeps the spring held in place, so just lower the suspension onto a block of wood to keep the spring in place, then the shock won't have tension on it.
If you don't disconnect suspension components but just R & R the shocks, the alignment will not be changed.
They call for a spring compression tool because the shock itself keeps the spring held in place, so just lower the suspension onto a block of wood to keep the spring in place, then the shock won't have tension on it.
Last edited by cclive; Dec 19, 2009 at 07:53 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 790
Likes: 63
From: Ft Worth TX
I used a different method
I put Koni FSD's on my car a couple months back. I saw a post where the guy removed the upper A frame where it attaches to the car. That's what I did and it made changing the fronts a breeze. Rears are dead easy, no tricks required.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 20,933
Likes: 905
From: salem OR
I put the car on the jack stands. Then use a small hyd jack to compress them
from the bottom and hold them compressed with a strap.
New ones come strapped. Don't cut them until they are in place.
Or compress them before you put them in.
I've done shocks and springs both. Not a bad job!
from the bottom and hold them compressed with a strap.
New ones come strapped. Don't cut them until they are in place.
Or compress them before you put them in.
I've done shocks and springs both. Not a bad job!
no joke
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
For any of you who have replaced shocks on the FE1, stock suspension:
Is this a simple remove the wheels, unbolt, and bolt in the new ones job? The shop manual calls for a leaf spring compression tool and the instructions for the non-F55 rear just are not in the manual. I have some Koni FSD's coming and I am considering doing this myself if I don't need any special tools or tricky procedures. In advance, thanks
Larry
Is this a simple remove the wheels, unbolt, and bolt in the new ones job? The shop manual calls for a leaf spring compression tool and the instructions for the non-F55 rear just are not in the manual. I have some Koni FSD's coming and I am considering doing this myself if I don't need any special tools or tricky procedures. In advance, thanks
Larry
http://fuzzydiceracing.com/test.htm
Last edited by '06 Quicksilver Z06; Dec 20, 2009 at 01:27 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Hudson WI
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,017
Likes: 2
I dropped a 3/4" in front, and 1/2" in rear after putting 20 miles on them so they settled. Alignment wasn't off too much, but had it redone anyway.