Front shock and spring question
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 69
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From: West Allis WI
Front shock and spring question So I started putting my new koni/strano combo on the Camaro, got the old assembly off and have decided that taking that apart would be ridiculous. So my plan now is rock auto, just wondering what parts i'll need. Im thinking coil spring seats, coil spring insulators, and "strut" mounts? Am I missing anything or any certain brands to avoid or that I need to use? Thanks
You'll want what RockAuto list as the Strut Mount, Strut Bearing Plate Insulator, and isolators that sit in the lower spring seats
For the upper mounts(strut mounts) I prefer ACDELCO, then MOOG.
For the small upper isolators, ADELCO.
For the lower spring seat isolators, you need to look under "spring seats" since it appears that they only sell spring seat isolators together with the spring seats. so you might want to buy those elsewhere if you can get then separately.
Assembly order for the STR.T:
spring seat isolator, metal cap tapped over top of shock body,bellow(with bump-stop under large thick washer), spring, upper mount(strut mount), small upper isolator, small washer, and finally the nut.
FYI you're still going to need a spring compressor to install the spring and correctly torque the top nut to spec..
For the upper mounts(strut mounts) I prefer ACDELCO, then MOOG.
For the small upper isolators, ADELCO.
For the lower spring seat isolators, you need to look under "spring seats" since it appears that they only sell spring seat isolators together with the spring seats. so you might want to buy those elsewhere if you can get then separately.
Assembly order for the STR.T:
spring seat isolator, metal cap tapped over top of shock body,bellow(with bump-stop under large thick washer), spring, upper mount(strut mount), small upper isolator, small washer, and finally the nut.
FYI you're still going to need a spring compressor to install the spring and correctly torque the top nut to spec..
Last edited by 99Bluz28; Mar 9, 2015 at 10:07 AM. Reason: correction
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: West Allis WI
So this is what came with each shock. What i dont understand is what the strut bellow is for, and where the metal part all the way to the right goes. From what i seen from the old one, I thought all I needed was the top mounts, the coil spring insulators for the top and whatever sits in the plate where the spring sits on the bottom of the shock which I thought would be the coil spring seat?
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: West Allis WI
So I just ordered 2 moog coil spring seats(k809270), the left and right strut mounts(k6516,k6517) and 2 moog coil spring insulators (k6573) from summit racing. Hopefully that's everything I need for the whole shock/spring combo in the front
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I've recently installed that same combination and am very happy with the result. I made the mistake of not installing the lower spring isolator so that the spring sat directly in the metal cup. I ended up having to remove, take apart and reassemble. I ended up using the seats from my old shocks as it was pretty easy to take apart.
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Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 69
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From: West Allis WI
The top of the shocks were horribly rusted so I figured all new parts were easier than trying to tear that apart. I just hope the things I ordered are all I need and i'm not missing anything
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: West Allis WI
The thing is, everything else was simple and rust free throughout the car. Only the top of the shock was horrible. Everything is tore out now I have to wait until all the parts I should've got before get here
So this is what came with each shock. What i dont understand is what the strut bellow is for, and where the metal part all the way to the right goes. From what i seen from the old one, I thought all I needed was the top mounts, the coil spring insulators for the top and whatever sits in the plate where the spring sits on the bottom of the shock which I thought would be the coil spring seat?
I think that is all your going to need, I would suggest that you rent a spring compressor to make it easy to assemble, and then lots of anti-seize on the top shock nut so you minimize rust for the next time.
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Turnin' Wrenches Infractions: 005
Mine was too. I cut the nut off with a grinding wheel because I wanted my mount. Thus ruining the shaft of the shocks. Since they had 100k on them it wasn't too big of a deal even though I felt like they were still good. Nature of the beast I guess.
Give the whole upper shock shaft that goes in and through the upper mount a good coating of anti-seize, to include the thread at the top.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: West Allis WI
I'm hoping to never have to take it apart again haha, but to be safe i'll anti-seize the top really good. Most likely i'm just going to take the stuff right to the parts store and assemble it right in the back of my jeep, seems like it should be a 10 min thing to put it together, figure the strano springs wont need to be compressed too far.
I'm hoping to never have to take it apart again haha, but to be safe i'll anti-seize the top really good. Most likely i'm just going to take the stuff right to the parts store and assemble it right in the back of my jeep, seems like it should be a 10 min thing to put it together, figure the strano springs wont need to be compressed too far.
They still do need to be compressed, you're right not as far but they are a lot stiffer so it is still a potential of a workout. I used my Makita 1/2" impact though so the only workout was squeezing the trigger 
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: West Allis WI
My plan was to rent a spring compressor from the parts store, take it out to my jeep in the parking lot, put the thing together, then walk right back into the store to save me a drive. Hoping its a simple, quick assembly.
Just make sure you get the shock and the mount lined up together correctly. It is easy to line up but if you're not paying attention you'll have to spin it around again later and it is really annoying to have to do. Just look at your stock ones and you'll see how they are lined up.