Spring/shock install
You mean the upper shock mount is tight? It's supposed to be tight, you use a spring compressor to take the load off of the upper mount before you loosen the nut....
....unless I'm not getting what you mean. A pic would be helpful.
....unless I'm not getting what you mean. A pic would be helpful.
This is a real pain in the ***! We'll see what happens tomorrow. Ha, alright. Well, you're not the first person to have problems with that nut, it seems to be the biggest pain in the *** out of the whole swap. Some have even resorted to cutting the shaft on the shock I believe. Let it soak over night in PB blaster and give it another go in the morning.
That nut was one of the reasons taking it to the shop was a smart option for me. I just took the shocks out of the car and took them in, and the mechanic fought with it for an hour (for both sides) and they ended up charging me $20 instead of the quoted $30 because they didn't have anything to do that day (yeah, not the usual shop, haha).
That nut was one of the reasons taking it to the shop was a smart option for me. I just took the shocks out of the car and took them in, and the mechanic fought with it for an hour (for both sides) and they ended up charging me $20 instead of the quoted $30 because they didn't have anything to do that day (yeah, not the usual shop, haha).
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,843
Likes: 0
From: reykjavík, iceland
when i did this the nut was rusted as hell and completely stuck..
i did loosen the upper part first, and then just pulled tigth until it came off, then i took it off the a arm, and compressed the spring and cut the nut off,
i could put it together w/o compressing it, put it dosn't matter if you got the tool anyway
but i sure was surprised how boring the front part was
i did loosen the upper part first, and then just pulled tigth until it came off, then i took it off the a arm, and compressed the spring and cut the nut off,
i could put it together w/o compressing it, put it dosn't matter if you got the tool anyway
but i sure was surprised how boring the front part was
depending one the car i have been able to install new struts without using a spring compressor. If you remove the nut holding the the top strut hat/bearing assembly to the strut while it is still in the car and bolted up. Then lightly jack up that side and remove the wheel then unbolt the strut from the control arm, it may allow you to slide the strut and spring out while still leaving the strut hat to the car. but with camaro and firebirds there normally isnt enough flex within the control arm to allow to spring to fully expand and be removed. installing the new springs and struts is normally a little easier becasue lowering springs are normally shorter. But use a spring compressor. Its just as easy.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
All done... I had to re-do my front struts/springs and just got done at 3am. When I got done yesterday and drove around I heard clunking noises so I fixed that and all is GREAT
Thanks for all the help everyone.
Thanks for all the help everyone. 
The noise was what it normally is, I'm sure.... the nut that holds the upper mount to the shocks wasn't sufficiently tight. I'm pretty positive that's the case as we discussed it, and now it's not a problem. 
Now, looking for some public feedback on what he thinks!
Now, looking for some public feedback on what he thinks!
__________________
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
Edit: I got confused with the adjusting and just realized that after re-reading your PM Sam. 1/2 way for the front and 1/3 for the rear. I guess I'll do it another day
Yes, you were right Sam. By the way Sam, were the front struts suppose to come with an adjusting tool? When I adjusted the fronts and started all the way from - then went 3 times to + (meaning everytime the allen key hit the wall I went all the way to the - then + again). For the rears I started all the way from soft then went halfway to the right. After taking it for a drive everything is good and there's no noise. Thanks Sam for the help! PJB- ^ That's what the problem was.
Edit: I got confused with the adjusting and just realized that after re-reading your PM Sam. 1/2 way for the front and 1/3 for the rear. I guess I'll do it another day
Edit: I got confused with the adjusting and just realized that after re-reading your PM Sam. 1/2 way for the front and 1/3 for the rear. I guess I'll do it another day
__________________
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
No problem...
Ahhh, do you want the truth??? That's dangerous around this site, because I love my Mustang. In fact when I had my '07 Mustang folks would ask me that and I'd tell them if it only had an LS1 in it, it'd be great. Well, this has more like an LS3.
It's not a fair comparison really. The 4th gen is an older car, and it's more modded. I like them both very much. There are times I prefer one over the other depending on what I'm doing.
Ahhh, do you want the truth??? That's dangerous around this site, because I love my Mustang. In fact when I had my '07 Mustang folks would ask me that and I'd tell them if it only had an LS1 in it, it'd be great. Well, this has more like an LS3.
It's not a fair comparison really. The 4th gen is an older car, and it's more modded. I like them both very much. There are times I prefer one over the other depending on what I'm doing.
__________________
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
