How hard to put all four shocks in

[97SILVERBIRD]

Called the dealer and they want 1,350.00 :>( (part and labor) to put oem shock in my 97 firebird . Has anyone put there own in and how hard was it ? are there any step by step direction for doing this?
Thanks

[kristen]

Re: How hard to put all four shocks in

i've done mine twice. the rear is easy, all you have to do is put the rear up on jack stands, then take your jack and the rear axal losen up the bolts under there, on the rear deck in our back window there is those 2 black hooks, take them out and pull back the carpet. then you will find the top of the shocks. take them off. then just do the same thing to put them back.

the front take more time. jack up the front of the car, take off your wheels. remove the bolts on the bottom of the shocks(attached to the axal) then remove the bolts to the top up in the engine bay. Remove cotter pin and castle nut that join the upper control arm with the spindle assembly. i found it faster and less pain to stand on my rotor or sway bar and given it a little jump it would pop right out. just need to be carful to not have it pop out of the wheel well hit your fender.

once they are you have to buy or rent(any autozone) a spring compressior, compress the spring and put it on your new shock. and reverse to put back together

the only reason why i did mine twice is because i did the shocks frist and a few months later i decided to lower her. so if you have any plans to lower your car, your going to want to do that then also.

good luck

[V6Bob]

Re: How hard to put all four shocks in

$1350 is nuts. OEMs are not good value, unless you get them as SLP takeoffs, probably no longer available. Bilsteins are about $300. I'd guess installation at $300-$500.

The fronts are tough, even in the best of circumstances. On a 9 year old car, some things are going to be rusted or otherwise stuck, making the job really difficult. I do a lot of my own work, but farmed this out (at Big O tires). At a minimum I'd farm out switching the springs from the old shocks to the new. It's difficult and somewhat dangerous.

[Dominic]

Re: How hard to put all four shocks in

I got lucky and paid $175 for my install at Pepboys - the guy did a great job and it took about 3 hours :) Well worth watching that one. I think I'd pay up to $200 for an install if I had the money, past that I'd do it myself. GM Dealers don't want to do anything but tighten gascaps anymore on cars for money.

[BobbyZ72]

Re: How hard to put all four shocks in

The rear are very easy. The front is a pain, because you have to remove the springs. It was extra hard for me cause i went back with v8 z28 spings. they were very hard to compress. i have pics here! http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2245261/6

[97burnout]

Re: How hard to put all four shocks in

don't wimp out dude it isn't that hard

[97SILVERBIRD]

Re: How hard to put all four shocks in

I don't have a great supply of tool and I'm real sick of working on cars and if I get part of it done and it screws up I will be hosed , I'm thinking dealer and I know it's a rip off but nice to know if they screw it up they have to fix it. I have done the back on a camaro so I will do those as they are pretty simple to do
Thanks all

[V6Bob]

Re: How hard to put all four shocks in

Why do you think a dealer will stand behind their work better than Big O tires or Pepboys?

[97SILVERBIRD]

Re: How hard to put all four shocks in

No Pepboys or Big O in my area

[serpint]

Re: How hard to put all four shocks in

Then what you need to do is get a phone book and start calling shops in the area. Your stealership is ripping you off, you will find a better deal somewhere else.

Also, unless you have 250+psi air compressor, don't even try and install your shocks yourself, unless you are he-man or something. Getting those front shocks to compress properly is a pain.