Front Shock Install

[JoshMcMadMac]

I tried searching, but could not find any help. I have lowering springs and new shocks for all four corners of a 96 Camaro. I ordered new mounts, and they were shipped in to the store I bought them from yesterday. I had the front shocks/springs pulled out. Come to find out, the mounts were boxed incorrectly, so I got two left-hand side mounts. So, I went back to the store, and they cannot get my parts until tomorrow now. So, I had to put the car back together.

In reassembling the car, I found it quite difficult to get the mounts to go properly into the holes in the fender. Is this typical, or is there a trick I do not know? When removing them, I did the following: I removed the 2 nuts and 2 bolts under the hood for the mount. I jacked the car and removed the wheel. I removed the two lower shock bolts/nuts. I disconnected the sway bar. And then the entire shock assembly came right out. But putting the assembly back in was damn near impossible. Any help?

Also, I went ahead and ordered the new mounts, and sure enough the old nuts are rusted to no end, and will not release the old mount. However, I now realize that I can not get the spring mounts out of the assembly now. Is there a particular name for this part, so I can order new ones? Are they expensive? Or is there a simple way to get these parts out of there that I cannot think of? I really am in no mood to fight with these for hours, just to get a few old parts out that may be cheap to replace. Any and all advice and suggestions are welcome.

[John_D.]

That nut on top of the shock will have to come off. One of mine came off without too much trouble. One of them was a pain, and the top part of the shock rod ended up twisting off, but just the part above the nut. So I had to chisel the nut off.

You can trim some of the rubber that surrounds the nut, to make more room to get a wrench on it.

And the new shock, coat the threaded top of the shock rod down with a big gob of antisieze to help keep water off it for next time... Water gets up in there, and can't drain out.

Seems like the passenger side was the worst.

As far as getting the assembly back into the holes in the fenderwell, lifting the a-arm with a small jack using one hand, and rotating/angling the top mount with the other hand, should let you line everything back up for the re-install.

[chas]

did you seperate the lower ball joint? this can make it easier to get the top of the shock mount into the upper a-arm and through the fender wall. its difficult but mostly because the shock assembly is rather heavy and hard to maneuver. only the outermost stud will go through until you get the shock in the seated in the lower a-arm and then you should be able to slip some nuts on the inside stud at the top.

try to get the alignment of the upper shock mount right before slipping it in. the studs should be at a right angle to the shock's mounting bracket at the bottom and the studs should face the front of the vehicle.

the only way i get the upper mounts off was to grind away any of the exposed and rusted threads. grind some flat spots in this area. lubricate the nut with some penetrating oil (pb blaster, liquid wrench, wd40 maybe). slip an offset wrench on the nut and hold the stud with a crescent wrench. this usually works since the threads protected by the nut arent in bad shape.

and further, why does this area rust? it seems to me all that rubber is meant to form a seal and protect the top of the shock. the upper a-arm to fender doesnt seem to have a gasket though and it would get fairly wet being in the wheel well?