Front Shocks

[Jamiez]

While I was under the car working on the brakes a few months ago, I noticed the front shocks look pretty dated, to the point where they might be the originals.   So I ordered a new set.  Am I in for any surprises replacing these?  It looks like just the unbolt it the engine bay and the bolt at the bottom to remove it?

Just trying to plan ahead.

[jackie]

nothing to it. but it helps if you have a shock socket to fit the top stud. it is a lot better than holding it with pliers, if the nut is tight. if it is that old it is most likley rusted.

[burdar]

Just hit the lower bolt/nut with penetrating oil a few days before you replace the shocks.  I doubt you will have a problem but sometimes the bolts need to be heated up to get the nuts off.  If you break a bolt it's no big deal. 

Make sure to reuse the original upper washers.  If the rubber bushing is in good shape you can reuse that too.  There are replacement bushings available if yours are shot.  The supplied bushings and washers don't look like the factory parts.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

As jackie stated, I had trouble getting the tops off too, until I found out the trick.

The hardest part about the job is installing the new shocks. You have to compress them, then hurry to get them in place before they expand again. If you are like me, it may take a couple of tries.   

[ChallengerHK]

The hardest part about the job is installing the new shocks. You have to compress them, then hurry to get them in place before they expand again. If you are like me, it may take a couple of tries.   

Some new shocks come with straps to keep them compressed. My fronts did not, my backs did. For the fronts, I put some wire through the lower bolt hole and tied it off, compressed the shocks, then wrapped the wire around the top. After installation it took a little finagling to get the wire out, but overall it wasn't bad.

[jordan]

If your shock is not compressed, I have used a woven nylon tie down strap to compress the shock.  Mount the lower bolt, line up the upper shock and disengage the tie down.  The shock will expand into the upper mount as long as you have it aligned.  You just pull the strap out from between the LCA and the lower shock body.   Its not a bad job and new shocks feel sooooo good!  Good luck.   

[Jamiez]

I swapped them in on Saturday after going to the swap meet.  It wasn't all that difficult to compress them by hand and get them in place.  None of the bolts were that too difficult to remove.  I took the car out for a quick spin today and the ride feels a lot better.  I still would like to swap the rears and maybe even the leaf springs but that's a longer term goal

[wiging19]

Don't forget to have your front end realigned.  Changing the shocks changes alignment and your tires will start to wear differently.    I didn't remember to have the front realigned and had to replace the front two tires due to tire wear.  The outer edges wore faster than the inner edges. 

[burdar]

While new cars do need to be aligned after a strut change, these car don't require an alignment with just a shock change.  Shocks have nothing to do with the alignment, however worn shocks can affect tire wear. 

[PlumCraZRT]

While new cars do need to be aligned after a strut change, these car don't require an alignment with just a shock change.  Shocks have nothing to do with the alignment, however worn shocks can affect tire wear.