CYBER Z

Need advice to change out my shocks. Do I need a special tool to compress the OEM shocks to get them out?

'VETTE PHASE

Nope, they just unbolt and come right off.

3 Z06ZR1

carlrx7

there are a couple youtube videos for step by step DIY

LEAVINU

Not sure this is totally accurate.

The rears will come out without incident, BUT the fronts most likely will need some compressing. Use the "large zip tie" method. I've had success with this method a handful of times without issue.

Simple and easy to do swap!

'VETTE PHASE

I've changed mine twice. The last time was two weeks ago when I installed Z06 shocks on mine. I didn't have to compress them or anything else out of the ordinary. I did have to finagle the front ones a little to get them to drop out. Maybe I just got lucky. Sorry about that, I didn't mean to mislead you.

Vito.A

I replaced my OEM 2009 Z06 shocks with Bilsteins a few months ago. The rears came right out. It did take some manuevering to get the fronts out. I compressed the Bilsteins on the ground prior to installing and tied twine around them. Then, they go right in.

It was helpful to have an air ratchet to install the front top retaining nuts. I had to remove the overflow container on the driver side to get at the shock bolt. I also took the time to clean the inside wheel barrels and the entire process was about 2 hours.

CYBER Z

Thanks for the info. I fanagled the fronts every way possible. I havent looked into the rear yet. I will try the zip tie approch on the front. I think I can compress the fronts by jacking up the lower A arm with the drag link disconected from the sway bar and then attach a tie wrap to hold them compressed.
Again Thanks!!

LEAVINU

I've heard some getting them out as you said above without issue. Guess the car wanted to make me work the times I did the swap.


Exactly what I did.

mjorgensen

Are you doing this on a lift or on the ground one side at a time? Will be very hard on the ground if so because of the swaybars influence.

timd38

I have done it way to many times and I found the easiest way to do the front is to just take the 2 upper control arm bolts off from the frame and the lower control falls, you unbolt the shock and you don't have to mess with trying to compress the old or new shock. Trust me, this is really easy if you do it that way.

0Talent MotorSports

Easiest way to do this is to raise up the front of the vehicle and Secure on jack stands remove wheels.

You will need a 1/2 or 13mm Wrench,1/2 or 13mm socket with ratchet,Smaller Sized Vise Grip, 15 mm wrench, and 10 mm socket.

It has two bolts in the bottom of the lower control arm which holds the shock in place, you will use the 13mm wrench and 13mm socket with ratchet to remove the bottom bolts.

Next for the drivers side you must remove the coolant tank in order to access the top bolt for the shock "use 10mm socket"

Next hold the top of the shock with a vise grip and unloosen the 15mm nut with the open end of the wrench. "vise Grip works best" to hold the shock from spinning ........ Good Luck!

goatts

Here you go

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-z...tallation.html

blackvetterzo6

The easiest way for sure. Each bolt will have about 4 shims behind it, these have to go back in. I also bought the tool to grab the top shock bolt.

0Talent MotorSports

Everyone has a Easier way huh? Darn Gear Heads :P

Justasheet

I replaced mine today. I tried both, the zip tie and the A-arm bolt removal. The rears were easy. I zip tied them after compressing the shock on the car with a jack.

The fronts were a different story. The zip ties would either break on me or when they didn't, they still wouldn't give me enough room to pull out the shock, even though they were compressed.

So I did as timd38 and some others have done and supported the a-arm and removed the 4 top bolts.

Then I moved the A-arm away and had all the room in the world. I replaced the washers, just as they were, behind the bolts and I was done. The bolts on the drivers side had only 1 washer a piece.

The passenger side was really easy. An adjustable wrench held the top of the shock and a ratcheting box wrench from inside of the wheel well did the rest.

I didn't even bother with the tie wraps on this side and once I dropped the a-arm, I removed the shock easily, even uncompressed. These a-arm bolts had 2 washers on the front two bolts and only one on the other 2.

Don't bother with the zip ties in my opinion for the fronts.

Jeff

timd38

Glad it worked out!