Has anybody installed lowering collars?
Cicio or Paragon.
I dove into this project yesterday and holly crap. Removed both front shocks and I am unable to take the nut off the top of shocks where the wire comes out. When you turn nut the entire shock shaft turns. Has anybody had this same issue! Thanks! Jim

 

There was a special socket sold by the vendor. Was this to keep that from happening?

 

I have the special tool. I think 17 mm with cutout for wire. That’s not the issue. The nut turns along with wire but the entire shock plunger shaft turns also so the nut does not come off like both videos from cicio and paragon.

jim

 

In the past i have wrapped the shaft with duct tape at the top, and held the shaft in my vice, and used a electric impact wrench to get it off. This was done with Penske shocks so the stakes were just as high. When i was done i took the duct tape off and cleaned the shaft with 3m adhesive remover.

 

Thanks but you can’t wrap anything near the top of the shock with the E60 front lift. That is you can’t until the top nut is removed. Jim

 

Just looked at a picture. Do u have the spring compressed?

 

yes, you can run the spring compressor all the way down and you still would wouldn’t have any space. Sounds crazy but true. Glad your still thinking. Lol!

 

How about releasing the tension on the compressor, so the the spring puts pressure on the hat, 1/2 turn on the bolt then redo press? Are u using a impact?

 

I installed the Paragon collars several weeks ago. I chose the Paragon pieces as you don't have to cut the bump stops. Here's the trick....Lift the boot up as high as possible and wrap the rod with a thick piece of real, unbonded leather (an old belt...yes, the kind that hold your pants up). Wrap the leather around the rod two times and up as high as possible. Pinch the leather with some large vise grips and clamp them down tight. Spritz the top threads with some PB Blaster and use the mag ride socket and a ratchet to remove the nut. If the shaft still turns, the vise grips aren't tight enough. It's best to go up as high as possible on the rod to reduce torsional twist. I've been using this method for 40 plus tears and have lowered and installed coilovers on many cars and trucks (too numerous to count) and this method has always worked without any damage to the shock rod. Another point to mention is that doing this up as high as possible on the rod eliminates the possibility of damaging the rod with vise grip marks as they are up high enough to not interfere with the seal and rod travel should things go array . I've never had the issue in all the time I've been using this method, however, it's better to be safe than sorry. I keep various lengths of leather in my tool box next to the vise grips for times like this. Hope this helps!

 

I just installed my paragon collars and had the same issue, whole shaft just turned. Borrowed a good electric impact wrench and it took them right off.

 

Just ordered the Paragon collars. Did you go the full .75" & how much did it settle after driving it awhile?
Any difference in the ride/handling? Any scrapping or bottoming out?