Need a shop to install my shocks. Where?

[97camRS]

I don't have the time, place or necessarry tools to replace all my shocks so I'm just going to have a shop do it. I got the Bilstein HD's that need to be installed. Should I take these to the dealer or do you think any shop that replaces shocks will work? What do you think the cost would be to do put these on? It seems as though the fronts are a major PITA.

[HokieBird]

I can't give you a price, but you don't need to go to a dealer. Just about any shop should be able to do it for you. Call around and get a few price qoutes.

[dmw319]

yea even pepboys does it.

[97camRS]

I guess I'll just call around about prices then. I just didn't want some idiot screwing stuff up at one of the tire places.

[dmw319]

DIY?

[shenanigans]

If you want to save a few bucks I suggest pay to get the fronts done.

do the rears yourself.

for the rears, jacke the car up on stands, then jakc the rear axle up, unbolt the sway bars, slowly drop the rear, unhook the bottom of the shocks, then do the tops(have to do inside the car)

swap the new ones in, jack the rear back up and put the rear sway on.


fronts are a little trickery thougnh.

[dmw319]

trickery haha.

[KBeezy]

Fronts are NOT shocks. I hate to sound like an *******, but you sound like an idiot when you go in a shop and tell someone your front shocks are bad and you have struts.

"I need shocks on my Camaro." means you need the rears done. "I need struts on my Camaro" means you need the fronts done [img]smile.gif[/img]

[98Camaro3.8]

FWIW, GM Factory Service Manual calls them shocks. No mention of struts. ;)

The short/long arm front suspension design allows each wheel to compensate for changes in the road surface level without appreciably affecting the opposite wheel. Each wheel independently connects to the frame by the following:

A steering knuckle
A wheel hub
A shock absorber and spring
Upper and lower ball studs
Upper and lower control arms

The steering knuckle and hubs move in a prescribed three-dimensional arc. The front wheels are held in proper relationship to each other by the two front tie rods. The front tie rods connect to steering arms on the knuckles and to the steering gear.

Springs mount to the lower control arms. Direct acting shock absorbers provide ride control. The upper portion of the shock absorber connects to the front upper shock absorber mount. The upper mount extends through the upper control arm support and the center wheelhouse. The upper mount attaches with two bolts/screws and two nuts.

The stabilizer shaft controls idle roll of the front suspension. The stabilizer shaft mounts to the stabilizer shaft insulators. These insulators attach to the frame side rails by stabilizer shaft brackets. The ends of the stabilizer shaft connect to the lower control arms by stabilizer shaft links and are isolated by bushings.

The inner ends of the lower control arm have pressed-in bushings. Bolts pass through the bushings and attach the lower control arm to the crossmember.

The upper ball stud is riveted to the upper control arm. This stud attaches to the steering knuckle with a nut and cotter pin. The control arm bolts to the shock absorber through an upper control arm support which attaches to the body.

The lower ball stud is press fit into the lower control arm and attaches to the steering knuckle with a nut and a cotter pin.

Rubber seals are provided at ball sockets in order to keep dirt and moisture from entering the stud and damaging the bearing surfaces.

[dmw319]

touche!

[V6Bob]

"Fronts are NOT shocks. I hate to sound like an *******, but you sound like an idiot when you go in a shop and tell someone your front shocks are bad and you have struts."

A "strut" is a short name for a McPherson strut. That is a shock absorber that also serves as an upper locating arm for a simple suspension, commonly found on FWD cars.

3rd gen fbodies have struts, ie Mcpherson strut front suspensions. 4th gens have double a-arms and shocks. The a-arms do all the locating.

Confusion arises sometimes because of the way our shocks are mounted to the front suspension, and the way the spring is part of the shock assembly. Replacing them is as much work as replacing a Mcpherson strut. The shop that did my shocks called them struts, because the flat rate manual said it was a three hour job, something that they usually see for struts, not shocks :D .

[Dominic]

I had mine done at Pepboys, the installer was actually skilled and did a very good job. $170

[Predator Bird]

if you want to make a drive down to orlando i know a guy that will do it fairly cheap. he owns his own alignment shop. him and his wife both drive 11 sec f-bodies. he knows his stuff and will get it done in 2 hours tops. let me let me know and i can give you his info if you're interested.

[97camRS]

Thanks guys. I'm going to give Pep Boys a call today. I was going to do the rears myself I just haven't had time. By the time I get off work and pick up my son it's about dark and I live in an apartment so I don't have a garage to work in or any good lighting. If Pep Boys can do it Saturday afternoon I may drive to my parents house and do the rears sat. morning then drop the car off at Pep Boys for the fronts.

The sway bars have to be removed on the front and rear? If so, I may go ahead and get them replaced also.

[97camRS]

Thanks predator bird for the suggestion, if I were a little closer I'd do that.