Replacing front shocks. Oh boy!

[Abaddon]

I've read all the horror stories about how badly the front shocks are usually rusted on these cars and how people have had to practically destroy the nuts to get them off. Would it be a better idea to just order factory replacement parts and then grind off what's there? Seems I could just throw the entire thing (springs and all) into the trash since I'm going to be replacing springs and shocks at the same time. Ideas? Part numbers?

[ssms5411]

Re: Replacing front shocks. Oh boy!

Probably your best shot for parts, I'm in AZ and mine were rusted too, so thats really unusal. Any part store will have the parts or RockAuto might be cheaper, just use the parts menu. I just got my Rear shocks in so I have QA-1's all around and it is def. better than the Blistiens but had to make the stock hole bigger on the lower mount for the rear QA-1's((meatyshells did it, I can't take credit,LOL). Really a nice ride and great handling, I have the front at 5 and the rear 7 out of 12 being firmest. Nice shocks all I can say really sticks to the road and you get what you pay for. But I also went from a 16.9 steering ratio to a 14.4 ratio too so that made a difference also.

[cam98aro]

Re: Replacing front shocks. Oh boy!

if you are replacing the springs and shocks, all you need to do is buy the upper mounts, that way everything will go in with no problem

[ssms5411]

Re: Replacing front shocks. Oh boy!

You'll need the upper shock mounts and the rubber donut that mounts inside the upper mount, plus you can git rid of the Torx screws and replace them with reg. bolts so it will be easier to install and take off if needed, Mine can come out without taking off the brake booster because I have bolts in there I can reach to get them out and on, saves about 5-10 mins. Just don't compress the front shocks totally together before you have measured and know the angle/position their suppose to be at, will save you time taking them back out to get them right again. QA-1's were great you can rotate them while their in there fully compressed since they are ride height adjustable.

[cam98aro]

Re: Replacing front shocks. Oh boy!

You'll need the upper shock mounts and the rubber donut that mounts inside the upper mount, plus you can git rid of the Torx screws and replace them with reg. bolts so it will be easier to install and take off if needed, Mine can come out without taking off the brake booster because I have bolts in there I can reach to get them out and on, saves about 5-10 mins. Just don't compress the front shocks totally together before you have measured and know the angle/position their suppose to be at, will save you time taking them back out to get them right again. QA-1's were great you can rotate them while their in there fully compressed since they are ride height adjustable.

yes, this is great advise, i learned that the hard way and found that the angle was a tiny bit off and i had to compress the springs again to turn it

for the second one, i just marked everything so i had them lined up perfectly

[ssms5411]

Re: Replacing front shocks. Oh boy!

yes, this is great advise, i learned that the hard way and found that the angle was a tiny bit off and i had to compress the springs again to turn it

for the second one, i just marked everything so i had them lined up perfectly

I learned the hard way, pass. side had to do twice and the drivers side I had to do 3 times when I installed the KYB ADJ. with Eibach springs. So yeah mark the position of it when you take off the old ones and mark the new ones. Was the first time I ever did front springs , then found out all the front bushings were bad so had to take out everything again to do lower/upper A arm bushings and tie end rods..

[Abaddon]

Re: Replacing front shocks. Oh boy!

So is it better to just compress the springs and use the parts (and pray the rusty nuts aren't too bad) or should I just order new donuts and shock mounts and throw away the originals? Either way I'll have to take the rusty nuts off but one way I could just throw the whole thing in the trash and put the new springs and shocks on. :)

[cam98aro]

Re: Replacing front shocks. Oh boy!

So is it better to just compress the springs and use the parts (and pray the rusty nuts aren't too bad) or should I just order new donuts and shock mounts and throw away the originals? Either way I'll have to take the rusty nuts off but one way I could just throw the whole thing in the trash and put the new springs and shocks on. :)

it took me two days to change my front shocks/tie rods because of the rusty nuts, took about 3 hours for each shock to get the nut off so i could get the mount/spring off of the old shock

i basically had a hammer and a chisel and i had to work around the nut to get them off, i have an air hammer, but it was pretty useless, and i resorted back to the hammer method

i eventually gave up on the passenger side (which is always worse) and i just busted the mount in order to get the spring off, and i had to wait extra time for the parts store to get me a new mount since they didnt have it in stock

[Fondle]

Re: Replacing front shocks. Oh boy!

mine were rusted pretty bad also, but i managed to get them off pretty easily, i found a wrench that fit while my friend help the top piece of the shock with channel locks, and we worked it off turn but turn, i would keep your stock set just in case you switch back to stock like i did

[Abaddon]

Re: Replacing front shocks. Oh boy!

Has anyone ever used these as replacement shock mounts?

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...2953&ppt=C0035

[cam98aro]

Re: Replacing front shocks. Oh boy!

Has anyone ever used these as replacement shock mounts?

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...2953&ppt=C0035

no, but they should be fine for what you need

[ssms5411]

Re: Replacing front shocks. Oh boy!

You have to watchout about some of the upper mounts the holes that go up through on some are shorter than some, I bought some ebay ones and they were too short , so I can't run a STB , so I just sold the SLP one I had since I couldn't use it. Which I really do like STB's I know I felt a difference when it was on and off, when cornering and while on the freeway making lane changes.

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: Replacing front shocks. Oh boy!

Autozone has them for less than O'Reilly's. Rock Auto is about par with Autozone.

[cam98aro]

Re: Replacing front shocks. Oh boy!

when you do the shocks, make sure you tighten the nut on the mount down all of the way, if you dont your shocks will make knocking noises when you hit bumps

[ssms5411]

Re: Replacing front shocks. Oh boy!

^ use a impact gun or air rachet, its the only way.