Installing shocks, few questions
11-07-2011, 02:12 PM
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Installing shocks, few questions Just ordered a set of HD bilstein shocks, will be arriving on Wednesday. Have some questions on them.
1. Are the fronts shocks or struts? My friend who is helping me install them along with the salesman from WS6project both tell me they are struts, but I thought we had shocks in the rear and front.
2. Will I need any special tools to install this? My friend who is helping me told me to go to "O'Reilly Autoparts" and rent out a McPherson spring compressor, but that's the only special tool I will require.
3. Any extra things I should know going into the installation?
Thanks in advance.
1. Are the fronts shocks or struts? My friend who is helping me install them along with the salesman from WS6project both tell me they are struts, but I thought we had shocks in the rear and front.
2. Will I need any special tools to install this? My friend who is helping me told me to go to "O'Reilly Autoparts" and rent out a McPherson spring compressor, but that's the only special tool I will require.
3. Any extra things I should know going into the installation?
Thanks in advance.
11-07-2011, 02:31 PM
#2
1. They are shocks. In a strut system the "strut" acts as a control arm. Just having a coil over a shock does not mean it is a strut.
2. You need a spring compressor. It is much easier to take the assembly to a local shop and have them swap out the shocks on a wall mounted compressor. It also may be a pain to get the nut off the stock shock if you don't have an impact.
3. Getting someone else to do the compressing instead of using the hand tool spring compressor is probably the best tip for doing these.
2. You need a spring compressor. It is much easier to take the assembly to a local shop and have them swap out the shocks on a wall mounted compressor. It also may be a pain to get the nut off the stock shock if you don't have an impact.
3. Getting someone else to do the compressing instead of using the hand tool spring compressor is probably the best tip for doing these.
11-07-2011, 04:06 PM
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1. They are shocks. In a strut system the "strut" acts as a control arm. Just having a coil over a shock does not mean it is a strut.
2. You need a spring compressor. It is much easier to take the assembly to a local shop and have them swap out the shocks on a wall mounted compressor. It also may be a pain to get the nut off the stock shock if you don't have an impact.
3. Getting someone else to do the compressing instead of using the hand tool spring compressor is probably the best tip for doing these.
2. You need a spring compressor. It is much easier to take the assembly to a local shop and have them swap out the shocks on a wall mounted compressor. It also may be a pain to get the nut off the stock shock if you don't have an impact.
3. Getting someone else to do the compressing instead of using the hand tool spring compressor is probably the best tip for doing these.
11-07-2011, 04:15 PM
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So $80 for all 4 of them? That's not bad actually. My friend wants to charge me $70 for him to do it...but it will be less hassle and done a whole lot faster if I took it to a shop, might have to do that.
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11-07-2011, 04:35 PM
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You can do the fronts by yourself, but it's much easier for a shop that has a spring compressor. I rented the ones form the auto parts store and took apart one side. I loaded them up and went down the street and they took the other side apart and put them both back together for $50. Best money spent in a while. Came back and they slid right in. The rears are very easy.
11-07-2011, 04:56 PM
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I have 70,000 miles and this is a southern kept car, very little rust, and has seen almost no snow or salt. Still think it's going to be that rusty? Is it just getting the nut off on the front that makes the front ones tougher?
11-07-2011, 05:01 PM
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11-07-2011, 05:09 PM
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If you just take the assembly to a shop to have them swap the shocks it will just depend. It isn't really like a common thing, a lot of time it will be like working out a cash deal with the mechanic.
This is just for the front. I think the rears are too easy to pay anyone to do unless you just don't have tools or time.
Getting a shop to install the fronts for only $40 a side is ridiculously cheap. That's about what some people pay the shops to just switch the springs on the shock.
This is just for the front. I think the rears are too easy to pay anyone to do unless you just don't have tools or time.
Getting a shop to install the fronts for only $40 a side is ridiculously cheap. That's about what some people pay the shops to just switch the springs on the shock.
11-07-2011, 05:48 PM
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My car has 65K on it and has been garage kept the entire time. There was a little rust but no where close to some of the pictures I have seen. I had no problems removing the upper bolt on the one I did. You won't know until you pull them off. Water gets trapped in there from washing also. So it's not just the weather, etc. I took mine to a shop that I have detailed for through the years. He didn't want to charge me anything. I ended up paying $50. I don't work for free and neither should he. I would call around and get some quotes.
11-08-2011, 04:51 AM
#16
The rubber bump stops you are talking of are called strut mounts. Unless yours have degraded over time and starting to feel like they are falling apart then no need to replace. If you do have to replace them be prepared to pay $65+ per side. I would however replace the dogbones that sit inside the strut mounts. They are cheap at about $8 a piece and mine had rust all over them from the nut so I replaced them.
11-08-2011, 04:07 PM
#17
The rubber bump stops you are talking of are called strut mounts. Unless yours have degraded over time and starting to feel like they are falling apart then no need to replace. If you do have to replace them be prepared to pay $65+ per side. I would however replace the dogbones that sit inside the strut mounts. They are cheap at about $8 a piece and mine had rust all over them from the nut so I replaced them.
11-08-2011, 04:30 PM
#18
Yep just go up to the front counter and tell them you want new dogbones for whatever your car is.. I use Advance normally for items like this, seems like the smarter guys work there lol.
They may not be called dogbones at every store but when they are looking up the item I'm pretty sure they have cutaway diagrams on their screens and all the individual parts labeled for easy reference.
They may not be called dogbones at every store but when they are looking up the item I'm pretty sure they have cutaway diagrams on their screens and all the individual parts labeled for easy reference.
At least all my bills are paid and wife is happy though.. can't go through life with regrets