front shocks
front shocks i finally got around to installing the front shocks (Strano Bilsteins) yesterday and keeping the stock springs. i did it in a shop with a friend of mine who is a mechanic. i also used to be a mechanic so the job itself wasnt very confusing. only thing is now after the install, if i hit a bump in the road with the driver side wheel, it sounds like something is loose because it will sound like a loud thump sound. passenger side wheel doesnt do this. i already checked the following things:
1. 2 bolts from bottom of shock to lower control arm are tight
2. 4 bolts from upper control arm to shock tower are tight
3. balljoint bolt with cotter pin is tight
4. everything is lined up correctly
what could be causing this thump im hearing? also, in the instructions on ls1howto.com, i saw something about a bump stop that goes on right after the metal cap....... nowhere in my work do i remember any bump stops coming off the stock shocks and going onto the new ones. i doubt that has anything to do with it though cause im on stock springs and theres no way im bottoming out.
1. 2 bolts from bottom of shock to lower control arm are tight
2. 4 bolts from upper control arm to shock tower are tight
3. balljoint bolt with cotter pin is tight
4. everything is lined up correctly
what could be causing this thump im hearing? also, in the instructions on ls1howto.com, i saw something about a bump stop that goes on right after the metal cap....... nowhere in my work do i remember any bump stops coming off the stock shocks and going onto the new ones. i doubt that has anything to do with it though cause im on stock springs and theres no way im bottoming out.
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 827
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From: Dallas, TX
i finally got around to installing the front shocks (Strano Bilsteins) yesterday and keeping the stock springs. i did it in a shop with a friend of mine who is a mechanic. i also used to be a mechanic so the job itself wasnt very confusing. only thing is now after the install, if i hit a bump in the road with the driver side wheel, it sounds like something is loose because it will sound like a loud thump sound. passenger side wheel doesnt do this. i already checked the following things:
1. 2 bolts from bottom of shock to lower control arm are tight
2. 4 bolts from upper control arm to shock tower are tight
3. balljoint bolt with cotter pin is tight
4. everything is lined up correctly
what could be causing this thump im hearing? also, in the instructions on ls1howto.com, i saw something about a bump stop that goes on right after the metal cap....... nowhere in my work do i remember any bump stops coming off the stock shocks and going onto the new ones. i doubt that has anything to do with it though cause im on stock springs and theres no way im bottoming out.
1. 2 bolts from bottom of shock to lower control arm are tight
2. 4 bolts from upper control arm to shock tower are tight
3. balljoint bolt with cotter pin is tight
4. everything is lined up correctly
what could be causing this thump im hearing? also, in the instructions on ls1howto.com, i saw something about a bump stop that goes on right after the metal cap....... nowhere in my work do i remember any bump stops coming off the stock shocks and going onto the new ones. i doubt that has anything to do with it though cause im on stock springs and theres no way im bottoming out.
thats a good question..... it was at least partially compressed but maybe not enough...... could it be that the nut that attaches to the shock shaft wasnt tightened all the way?
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I had this. Rubber shock mount had torn so the shock shaft just rode all the way through the enlarged hole and bounced off the top of the wheel well. Replaced the rubber mounts and all was good again.
Also make sure the trapezoidal isolator is in there too.
Also make sure the trapezoidal isolator is in there too.
might just order another new shock mount. had to do it on the other side so might as well replace this one too. freakin thing was $48 plus $18 for the isolator so ended up shelling out almost $70 for two pieces of rubber. crazy
The spring must be compressed far enough that there is NO contact with the upper shock mount before you tighten the nut. Then you can let the spring go.
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
thats probably wat happened. hope it is. will find out soon. thanks sam.
thanks to everyone. installed the new shock tower mount and made sure that nut was totally tight and no more rattle. car handles and rides so much better than ever.
only thing im hoping is that the front settles back down again because it seems like its sitting slightly higher in the front now than it did on the stock decarbons. still on stock 1998 ws6 springs.
only thing im hoping is that the front settles back down again because it seems like its sitting slightly higher in the front now than it did on the stock decarbons. still on stock 1998 ws6 springs.
Everything is new. The mounts aren't all pounded out, the shocks have tight seals... it'll come back down some with a little time.
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
thanks sam. good to hear. car rides and handles so much better than before. on the highway hit a bump and it stays flat instead of bouncing around and feels a lot more solid.
Amazing isn't it? And so many folks think shocks are all the same.....
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
yea. shocks are the last area to cheap out on. i woulda gotten the konis but a little too much $ and i have a great time with Bilstein on my lowered truck so i got these and am impressed all over again.
