Suspension & Brakes Springs | Shocks | Handling | Rotors

pain in the A$$ struts install

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 2, 2007 | 09:21 PM
  #1  
Kens_02SS's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,034
Likes: 0
From: Ft.Campbell, KY..dam Army
Question pain in the A$$ struts install

Tried to install the Koni SA struts tonight with no luck. Dam gm got me with some weird T-50 screws on the driver side strut, needless to say i had to give up and regroup.

Was everyones this dam hard? And by the way, the passenger side bolts are regular ones
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2007 | 09:45 PM
  #2  
jb442's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
From: Lake Forest, Calif.
Default

The biggest pain for me was that I had to cut the top nut off one of the old shocks due to rust... Very common problem with these cars. So, be prepared for that as well! Others have mentioned that they move the Torx-head bolts to the passenger side when putting everything back together because standard bolts are easier to work with when they're underneath the master cylinder. Are you changing the springs too?
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2007 | 09:52 PM
  #3  
Kens_02SS's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,034
Likes: 0
From: Ft.Campbell, KY..dam Army
Default

Originally Posted by jb442
The biggest pain for me was that I had to cut the top nut off one of the old shocks due to rust... Very common problem with these cars. So, be prepared for that as well! Others have mentioned that they move the Torx-head bolts to the passenger side when putting everything back together because standard bolts are easier to work with when they're underneath the master cylinder. Are you changing the springs too?

nope, i've got the eibach pro kit on and have had it on since day two
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2007 | 10:15 PM
  #4  
MightyBobo's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: Omaha, NE
Default

www.ls1howto.com ...should have taken the time to read the writeup's bro, I knew exactly what tools to pick up before I began working on mine this past weekend.
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2007 | 08:49 AM
  #5  
WADDISME's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 759
Likes: 0
Default

^^^
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2007 | 11:58 AM
  #6  
Hot94Z28's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 0
From: Lexington,MO
Default

Originally Posted by MightyBobo
www.ls1howto.com ...should have taken the time to read the writeup's bro, I knew exactly what tools to pick up before I began working on mine this past weekend.
I used the same link when I did mine saved alot of time.
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2007 | 01:40 PM
  #7  
Out1aw's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,007
Likes: 0
From: Lawrenceville, GA
Default

I replaced my front and rear shocks/struts with a set of Monroe replacements in my shop class at school, so I had a full lift, good spring compressor, etc. and still was a royal PITA.

The t-50 bolts on mine had been stripped out, so I ended up having to cut the tops of the bolts off and punching out the bolts to get them out. Then went to the hardware store and bought two 3/8"x1" grade 8 bolts to replace those darn star bolts. Other than that, and leaving a bushing out in one of the rears *doh*, it was a breeze.
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2007 | 01:46 PM
  #8  
MightyBobo's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: Omaha, NE
Default

Originally Posted by Out1aw
I replaced my front and rear shocks/struts with a set of Monroe replacements in my shop class at school, so I had a full lift, good spring compressor, etc. and still was a royal PITA.

The t-50 bolts on mine had been stripped out, so I ended up having to cut the tops of the bolts off and punching out the bolts to get them out. Then went to the hardware store and bought two 3/8"x1" grade 8 bolts to replace those darn star bolts. Other than that, and leaving a bushing out in one of the rears *doh*, it was a breeze.
Haha, ouch on the bushing, but - at least it was the rear! I had to take one of my brant new frunt strut's out to redo something I messed up. But, taking a new one out is MUCH easier than taking the old ones out, what a nightmare...
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 3, 2007 | 01:54 PM
  #9  
V6 Bird's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,109
Likes: 0
From: Grand Prairie, TX
Default

Lisle makes a shock absorber tool to get those pesky rusted nuts off. Its a $10 tool and saves many headaches for rusted on nuts. Spray a good penetrate like PB Blaster and knock the surface rust off with a wire brush. They usually come right off with my impact once compressed but if not ive bought and used that tool many a times to finish the job.
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2007 | 02:00 PM
  #10  
Out1aw's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,007
Likes: 0
From: Lawrenceville, GA
Default

We also had a problem with the top nut on the front struts being rusted on. But a whizz-wheel, chisel, and hammer made a quick fix for that.
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2007 | 02:05 PM
  #11  
MightyBobo's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: Omaha, NE
Default

Originally Posted by Out1aw
We also had a problem with the top nut on the front struts being rusted on. But a whizz-wheel, chisel, and hammer made a quick fix for that.
My passenger side one was rusted to all hell (only 38K miles, too...). After struggling for a couple hours, I took a drill, put 4 holes in it (2 on each side), and whacked it good with a chisle. No more nut.

I coated the crap out of it with some lithium grease lol.
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2007 | 10:57 AM
  #12  
Kens_02SS's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,034
Likes: 0
From: Ft.Campbell, KY..dam Army
Default

well after 4 hours of b/s with it, they are finally in and there is a noticable difference
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2007 | 12:46 PM
  #13  
Viper's Avatar
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,909
Likes: 3
From: Cleveland, OH
Default

Good, makes the 4 hrs. worth it!
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:04 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE