Advice Needed

[t i t o]

I'm trying to put the stock coilover back on the car. I got them off without too much problem, but putting them back in has proven to be difficult.

I've got the coilover in it's general location but, do I need to undo the control arm, or do I need a spring compressor to shorten the height so that i can get it in the brackets to slide the bolts through?

I'm just trying to figure out what I am supposed to do to get it back in its location so that i can slide the bolts through and button everything up. Hope this description of the problem wasn't too confusing.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Viper X]

You can remove control arms but I've found it easier to install the top shock bolt first, loosen the sway bar from both sides of the frame (2 bolts each side), pry down on the lower control arm with a 2 x 2 and slide the lower bolt in. I'm a bigger guy and this took some effort but wasn't too difficult to do by myself. If you cannot pry it down far enough, get a helper.

On the rear shocks, you may have to remove the small rubber body plug above them (easy) to get the top of the shock up high enough to slide the lower part of the shock in place.

Good luck,

Dan

 

[mjorgensen Woodhouse]

You need to disconnect the sway bar AND the tie rod so you don't damage the rack overextending the tierod. Then the arm will fall far enough to get it in.

 

[t i t o]

Thanks a *ton* for the advice, M.J. and ViperX. ViperX - I did take the rubber grommet out on the rear but that does not aid in getting the top of the shock in its mounting bracket, only the bottom.

 

[Viper X]

Hey Tito,

I found it easier to put the top bolt in first and then the bottom bolt but it's your choice.

Hope you're back on the road soon.

Mark, you must be talking about the front shocks. I didn't have any issues getting the fronts to go right back in with the sway bars unbolted. I did have issues with the rears, hence the wood lever.

Dan