rcoers

iTrader: (6)

I know I should do it myself, but I have a new baby at home and a full-time job. Just humor and give me an estimate. 2 hrs? An hour?

C5042081

iTrader: (5)

rear are less labor then the front

fronts can vary depending on the condition, if rusted like mine they might take some time

i would guess 1-2 hrs per spring/strut

rcoers

iTrader: (6)

1-2 hrs per spring/strut? That seems high. So a minimum of 4 hours?

oberth1

iTrader: (6)

well if you have a decent sears auto center by you let them do it... its $120 :-) took em 6 hours. just make sure you keep an eye on them. Worth the hastle as far as im concerned. Even though right now im redoing everything they did a month ago due to stupidity on their part

rcoers

iTrader: (6)

6 hours? Jeez rikes - I thought guys were saying the were doing it themselves in about 2.

99Bluz28

iTrader: (35)

The rears are really easy to do! Save yourself a little money and do them yourself; really!
As far as the fronts, find a performance shop that has done a few F-bodies.

BayAreaSS

iTrader: (10)

2 hours tops for all four

leadfoot4

iTrader: (1)

The rears shouldn't take more than 1-1.5 hours, but using a "home" type spring compressor, and fighting any rusty parts you'll probably encounter, I'd say the fronts will take another 2-2.5.

rcoers

iTrader: (6)

My car has 22K, and I've maybe taken it in the rain 5 times. Should I still expect a bunch of rust?

panterx1

iTrader: (22)

I was in the same boat...work/baby. I went to a couple local shops and had two tell me they don't do non-stock installs and another tell me $450.

So I went home and did them friday night in about 6 hours (probably 4 hours of actual work and I was taking my time). It was the first time I had ever changed springs/shocks and worked on it by myself - so it would be less if you had done it before or had help. The rear took about an 1.5 hrs tops. Rest of the time spent on the front (had a nut rusted to the top of one of the shocks that took a little work). Used the LS1howto.com website.

Good Luck either way.

colby72olds

iTrader: (7)

Like people have mentioned... do the rears yourself, it takes maybe 30 minutes. I've done the spring/shock swap twice on my car and the fronts were a bitch the first time. The second time wasn't as bad but the fronts still wasn't fun!

ncfastls1

iTrader: (1)

Agreed. The rears were easy for my friend and I but the fronts gave us some trouble. Took a long time to figure out how exactly to take them off, and then the brake fluid resivoir or something was getting in the way to take off one of the top bolts so we had to remove that as well. Took us about half a day to do. We're not exactly highly trained mechanics though haha, someone with a good knowledge of this stuff will be able to do it a lot quicker.

Pats Fan

iTrader: (3)

I did the rear myself in about an hour and that's because I had to do it twice since I put the springs in wrong! I had a local shop quote me the fronts- five hours at a hundred per. I was going to do it myself but I don't own a spring compressor, etc so I called him up and said "let's do it". It took them fourteen hours. Even though my car is garaged it's 8 years old, and everything was rusted to **** and nothing would come apart. I gave him the springs and shocks but he ended up buying the upper mounts which were wrecked. I'm sure if I tried it my car would still be in pieces three weeks later. (He didn't charge me for all the extra labor since I bring my other cars in there for service. He's made a ton of me already!)

bgblockelcamino

iTrader: (9)

think book pays 4 hrs?\

but jsut ran into incident where the struts broke on me. so there are always things that happen once you tear a car apart.

caliswangin916

iTrader: (3)

it's very doable in 2 hours. the rears are simple like everyone says. the problem with the fronts is the top nut rusting. use some "liquid wrench". let the liquid wrench do its thing for 10-20 minutes and the nut with come off with ease. i swear by the stuff. it will loosen everything that you can imagine. it also cleans the threads to look like new.

i've done the fronts without liquid wrench on one set and it was horrible. something like 6 hours with wd40 and other methods. most of the six hours was cussing at the nut.
on another set, i had to cut the nut.
piece of cake with some liquid wrench. don't buy the spray. get one in a bottle like this below. i'll post the exact one i used when i get a chance. a plumbing store i buy it from swears by it. i bought two bottles at one time from them and two separate sales guys asked me why i was buying two because no one has ever bought two bottles from them at once. no one needs more than one bottle of this stuff. they only understood me buying two when i told them one was for my pops.
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...104&lpage=none

you can also get loaner spring compressors from autozone or an inexpensive set from harbor freight that will work fine.

99Bluz28

iTrader: (35)

PB blaster also works really good!

99Bluz28

iTrader: (35)

IMO, for a fraction of the labor cost to have the shocks/springs installed you can buy a decent spring compressor.
http://i16.ebayimg.com/02/i/001/1f/d5/a55b_2.JPG

caliswangin916

iTrader: (3)

i used plenty of pb blaster in a spray can on my 6 hour job and it did very little. it doesn't compare to liquid wrench. bellee dat.

Major_Lee_Slow

iTrader: (1)

Here's an alternative thought that may save a ton of agrivation. Those of us who have done the front springs and shocks have had to fight that top shock nut more times than we care to remember. After my second spring/shock change I wised up. When I put the new shocks and springs on I used a stainless steel nylock nut and have never ever the problem again. (BTW, my car has never seen a winter and has never been a daily driver. The design just traps moisture and causes corrosion).

If you have an older car and you are going to replace the shock and the springs (i.e don't need any of the old parts) just order up two new shock mounts and bushings from your local dealer. (Don't get non OEM parts, those of us who have tried them have learned that they are crap). Sure it may cost you a little more in parts, but it will save you a ton in stress.

caliswangin916

iTrader: (3)

here's a pic of the liquid wrench that i used. it's a 4 oz bottle for about $3. if anyone tries this stuff, can you report back if it did or didn't work.