gerdes2003

I recently bought a new set of 18's to go on my 98 WS6 and it defintely needs to be dropped, but I need to know how big of a project it is to put them in, or how much it costs to have them installed by a shop?

joblo1978

iTrader: (14)

http://ls1howto.com/index.php?article=6

http://ls1howto.com/index.php?article=8

Took me a whole day to do mine. It's not hard really.

2002 Trans Am

Doesn't seem like too difficult of a proceedure...I plan on doing it in the next few weeks myself

gerdes2003

thanks for the info joblo1978

TXAgZ28

iTrader: (1)

Wow I don't see how this guy used a spring compressor without air tools. An impact wrench makes this job 100000x times easier. Installing 4 springs took me about 5 hours with air tools and a friend.

Trust me, find a friend with air tools

AND...when you use your spring compressor (hopefully with an impact), keep it lubed (har har). Liquid Wrench or one of those works well. Else, it'll heat up the bolt and lock up. Rent two sets of spring compressors...you'll hate it when one of them freezes

Snootch

iTrader: (3)

No wonder your spring compressors are freezing up if your using air tools on them. In the article he doesn't use air tools because it's alot easier to tighten one way tighter than the other, and break the spring compressor, and possibly hurting yourself. I do admit that when i did it, I wanted to use air tools as well, as it took a whole lot of ratcheting to compress/decompress the springs.

TXAgZ28

iTrader: (1)

One shot of the impact wrench is quicker than 4 or 5 turns of the hand socket. Just use it wisely, don't compress an entire side at a time.

The spring compressor that froze was old and abused, and we didn't lube it enough (insert your jokes). But if you use one like that from Autozone, just keep it lubed, and zapping smartly with the impact wrench will get the job done quick.

joblo1978

iTrader: (14)

Oh yeah, the part that mentions the rust...hehe....on the shock. It will be a PITA. Mine was mounted on a wall compressor and an impact with an *** of lube would not break it. Mine had to be cut off thus trashing my stock shock. Just something to think about. It seemed very dangerous to me. Luckily I had a pro helping me.

dgmiller

iTrader: (1)

My experience also on the rust tops on the front shocks. Had to chisel the nuts off damaging the threads and trashing the shocks. I was doing it install Konis so not that bad, but if I had been installing springs I would have been very mad. If only GM put a little antiseize on the threads or a design that didn't trap the water.

93octane

Be careful using an impact on a spring compressor. Aim it towards something you don't mind putting scratches all over.