Gas Shocks

[GreyGoose006]

Si-212, How did you get the nut on the top of the front shock tight. the shaft keps spinning around inside itsself? i just tightened it as much as i could and used the supplied locking nut to lock it tight. i used vice grips to get the old one off, but they tore up the shaft real bad, and i didnt think that was a good thing to do to my new ones!!!

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by GreyGoose006

Si-212, How did you get the nut on the top of the front shock tight. the shaft keps spinning around inside itsself? i just tightened it as much as i could and used the supplied locking nut to lock it tight. i used vice grips to get the old one off, but they tore up the shaft real bad, and i didnt think that was a good thing to do to my new ones!!!

There's a flat spot in the shaft above the threads for holding it still with an open end wrench. You will also need an open end wrench for tightening the nut - which you can do through the wheel well with the tire off and the car secured.

[GreyGoose006]

oh, i see it now. i dont have a wrench that small. i guess i could use an adjustable one. why dont they jus lock the shaft so it dosent rotate?

[TommySS]

Originally Posted by silicon212

The only problem with this is that a new shock is going to be fully extended, and that's a larger distance than the top mount to the bottom mount with the arms in the fully lowered position (as low as they'll go without removing the lower ball joint). The shock has to be compressed in order for the thing to even have a chance of getting the bottom bolts in. I generally take a shock from the box, remove the retention band, then compress it all the way in and hope I have the shaft lined up with the hole in the frame - because it's going in fast. Once one of the bottom bolts is in at least two threads, you can finish installing it. I always tighten the top nut as the last sequence of the procedure. I also disregard what a manual says pertaining to torque on the nut - I tighten it down until the bushing begins to distort - whether with rubber or urethane. In 25 years I've never had one come loose - but I have saved a few bushings.

As I recall, that's how I had to do mine (compress and move quickly to install)

[GreyGoose006]

maybe im retarted or something but i bolted it on to the frame on the top, then used a jack to get it into position. seemed easier to me.

[GreyGoose006]

maybe im retarted or something but i bolted it on to the frame on the top, then used a jack to get it into position. seemed easier to me. the

[GreyGoose006]

maybe im retarted or something but i bolted it on to the frame on the top, then used a jack to get it into position. seemed easier to me. the rears were already compressed, so i cut the strap and timed it to get them on.

[GreyGoose006]

i dont know what just happened there.
sorry