Removing shocks from struts

Sat Apr 08, 2006 1:03 am

Will I need a vice or pull to do this or is it easy enough?
The same goes for fitting the new shocks into the struts, do I need anything in particular?

Sat Apr 08, 2006 1:07 am

You will need a spring compressor to safly remove the camber plate then the strut insert should come out easly.

Sat Apr 08, 2006 1:27 am

Cool, got spring compressors already. Just thought I might need something fancy to pull the shock out and push the new one in.

Sat Apr 08, 2006 2:06 am

The inserts unscrew from the strut housing - in theory

Sat Apr 08, 2006 6:33 am

just done mine on 325 cab its straightforward enough just ask a mate to help you as a set of extra hands wont go astray also if struts have been in foever like mine you will need a bench vice and a plmbers wrench trust me you will know when the time is right hope all goes well

Sat Apr 08, 2006 8:04 am

muzz wrote:just done mine on 325 cab its straightforward enough just ask a mate to help you as a set of extra hands wont go astray also if struts have been in foever like mine you will need a bench vice and a plmbers wrench trust me you will know when the time is right hope all goes well

You will need a pair of grip's geese, mine were only changed after 1 1/2- 2 yrs and i had to heat the bastard's to get them loose

But have fun, it's not all bad

P.s Are you using an Air gun at all? It's alot easier that way

Sat Apr 08, 2006 6:03 pm

All good advice there.

I always crack them undone whilst they're still bolted up to the car, saves the spare pair of hands and you can really get some leverage on the grips with 1.25 ton of car holding the rest in place.

Alternative is crack them undone with a blunted chisel, again whilst still on the car, saves lots of time and swearing too.

HTH, keep us posted on how it went fella !

Sat Apr 08, 2006 6:12 pm

I predict lots of swearing! Every time I finish something on the car I say Im not going near it again for ages and then I go and buy something like this and I end up getting stuck back in again. lol

Sat Apr 08, 2006 6:15 pm

ok one of the first things i ever learnt about suspy is never to heat suspension parts! this was drilled into me all through trade school. anyway i assume your talkin about the nut on top of the shock as the shock simple slides out of the strut housing on any ones that i have changed. easiest way to get the nut undone is with a rattle gun. oh and be very careful with compressed spings if one of your spring compressors comes off the spring has enough power to easily maim or kill you. i have seen one go clean through a tin roof. it was hilarious in a terrifying way lol

Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:08 pm

once u have the springs off use a big set of stillsons to remove the nut thing that hols the shock into the strut tube.

once its loose it will just unscrew with ur fingers.

Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:23 pm

Im with ant on this, blunt chisel to hit them off, just done it on mine now, the shock slides in and out not a problem, and my suspension came with two new nut things anyway (thankfully since my old ones were in bits after

)

Wed Apr 12, 2006 6:44 pm

ok heres a horor story ..... i changed my inserts and springs past weekend but heres the kicker the lower ball joint on the pass. side was bloody hell !!
i used a mallot and a "pickle fork" ball joint separator and hell if it werent gonna let go!!!!! i also used pb blaster or wd-40 super penetrant but not a budge so since the lower sus. parts needed replaced anyhew and since by this time the ball joint boot was rubbish i had no other alternative but to remove the insert and the spring while the strut housing was on the car!!! THE only WAY i pulled this off was because (i already finished the other side which took me 3 hours total) the springs to go in were H&R's which did not requuire compressing upon refitment but i dropped the insert in from above
WHAT A BITCH!!!! plus we were under a tornado/thunderstorm watch and it was raining. all said and done start to finish on just that 1 side 13 hours until
the tire was back on the ground SO on another "rainy day "-" when my ship comes in " i will need to swap out for a new lower a arm with bushings . as for now it drives 100% better but just be aware of the ol saying SH!T HAPPENS!!!

BUT ALLS WELL THAT ENDS WELL!