is alignment necessary after shock swap?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,488
Likes: 804
From: West coast CA
Your saying that the shocks have enough charge to raise the car, that then means that the shock is carrying the load of the vehicle, because it raised the ride height. If that is in fact true, you don't need the springs because the shock have a higher spring rate than the springs.
Imagine pulling up on the fender with your hand. The ride height raises a little. But the springs are still doing most of the work. It's not like you're holding up the car by yourself.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,649
Likes: 863
While I have seen posts that recommend an alignment after you pull the bolts that secure the upper control arms to do the front shock replacement - I DIDN'T see any way that the arms would be in a different place afterward - so when I did a shock change (to DRM valved Bilsteins) I did not get it re-aligned. I saw no measurable difference in ride height either. The shocks make a big difference.
Between the shocks and the replacement of the OE Goodyear runflats - the car's handling dramatically improved !!!
Between the shocks and the replacement of the OE Goodyear runflats - the car's handling dramatically improved !!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 412
From: WV
I didn't unbolt my control arms either..I just used the zip tie method.. After compressing the shock on the bench , lock it in place with zip ties.. Once you get the shock bolted on the bottom A arm , cut the zip tie and guide the top into the upper hole...This makes installation very easy....
.WW.
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Last edited by WW7; Oct 1, 2016 at 05:31 PM.
