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Are these the kind people are using? I'm not afraid of the job (I did it on my old Supra years ago) but I want to make sure I get one that won't explode in my face. Kinda hard to sue a POS Chinese company after the fact.
That would work. I had one like this I bought to do the struts on my 240SX, but the hooks were too big to fit into the coils on the Camaro's springs, so I ended up having to buy one kinda like this - it did the job, but I think the one with three rods, like this one, might work even better at keeping the spring straight.
I may see if I can rent one. I hate to pay $60 for something I'll only use once but I'd really hate to spend $19 on one, find out it's made in China by the same idiots that spiked the baby formula, and realize that fact as the spring goes whizzing by my face! You just can't take chances on those things.
2000 Camaro V6<br />I\'ve done nothing to my car worth note. :)
The Advance Auto near me has tools they lend - kinda. You have to actually buy the tool, but when you're done with it you bring it back for a full refund. I just "borrowed" a $130 axle bearing puller to install new bearings in the Camaro - when I was done back it went for a full refund. Not sure if they all work that way, but if so that's a pretty good deal.
IMO spend $40 to have pep boys compress the old springs and put them on new shocks. I did it that way after ****ing with the ****ty autozone compressors for 6 hours. The hook part is too fat so it just wouldn't work. Maybe those other compressors work better.
But if you can get them to compress/switch them over, it is a very easy install. I think it took like 2 hours to put the front all back together going at a VERY slow pace cause I was tired. Rear shocks and springs you can literally do in 20 minutes if you've never done it before. Even less if you have.
If you are doing it yourself make sure you have an impact.
I would let Pep Boys take care of it but I like to do it myself so I'll know it was not only done right but it gives me a chance to check out other parts close to it to make sure everything is working properly. It sounds like using a ratchet to turn the compressors would take all day. Heh
2000 Camaro V6<br />I\'ve done nothing to my car worth note. :)
I used an open ended wrench on my autozone spring compressors. haha, yes, it took way too long, but it was really only like 10-15 minutes to compress and decompress. It would have been much easier with an impact wrench (funny I actually had one, just didn't want to get it out) but it wasn't that horrible without.
I would let Pep Boys take care of it but I like to do it myself so I'll know it was not only done right but it gives me a chance to check out other parts close to it to make sure everything is working properly. It sounds like using a ratchet to turn the compressors would take all day. Heh
You still do it yourself, you just don't compress the springs.. you still have to take everything apart and put it back together with the new ****.
Originally posted by xmetallicaxguitaristxView Post
You still do it yourself, you just don't compress the springs.. you still have to take everything apart and put it back together with the new ****.
I haven't actually looked under the front end yet but I take it you mean the shocks, springs, etc are all one unit and you can take them out and have Pep Boys decompress the springs and put the new in, then you remount the rebuilt units back into the car?
2000 Camaro V6<br />I\'ve done nothing to my car worth note. :)
The whole shock/spring assembly comes off in one piece.
I have a question about that though for whoever has done these before...The plate that the spring is sitting on that is over the shock, is that one piece with the shock? Or can that be reused with the new shock?
The whole shock/spring assembly comes off in one piece.
I have a question about that though for whoever has done these before...The plate that the spring is sitting on that is over the shock, is that one piece with the shock? Or can that be reused with the new shock?
Yes, the top plate is a separate piece - there is a bolt on the end of the shock that holds in in place. You will definitely need that when you go to put it back together. And yes, the whole shock/spring/upper a-arm comes out as an assembly, then you have to take it apart to replace the shock. The only difficult parts of the whole process are a) compressing the spring and b) having to move the brake master cylinder to get to one or two of the bolts.
I did the rear myself. Wasn't tough IMO. But I had a lift at my disposal. Without a lift.... ehhh.... I'd at least listen to how much Midas wants to put them on. If they want $250, screw that. I'll lay on my back for a bit and save the change.
The front, let them do it. Much more involved and I'm far too lazy for all that. LOL
Oh and for the record.... harbor freight tools are complete crap. I would EASILY buy Wal-Mart brand over them. I arrived at this opinion on my own.... then when I expressed it to other users of their tools, heard some horror stories from them as well.
O'Reilly Autoparts has a spring compressor for rent. You do like the others said and pay for the tool then get a refund when you bring it back. I looked at it yesterday and it looked like some high quality parts. I may give it a try this weekend. I'm assuming putting it all back together with lowering springs is much easier than taking it all apart.
If I get froggy and decide to do this, I'll take pics of the process. :)
2000 Camaro V6<br />I\'ve done nothing to my car worth note. :)
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