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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

how hard is it?

  • Thread starter Thread starter thethirdeye88
  • Start date Start date Mar 6, 2009
T

thethirdeye88

New Member
Apr 22, 2008
113
0
0
paragould arkansas
Mar 6, 2009
#1
  • Mar 6, 2009
  • #1
how hard is it to replace the rear shocks, coils, upper and lower control arms?...i was looking at it and it doesnt appear to be that difficult...can someone please let me know this?...
 

The O.G.

Member
May 28, 2007
145
0
16
witch city,mass
Mar 6, 2009
#2
  • Mar 6, 2009
  • #2
just tools and know how

ive been thinking about coilovers myself lately but
 

Chythar

Recently finished repairing my rear
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 26, 2004
2,373
140
113
Foothill Ranch, CA
Mar 6, 2009
#3
  • Mar 6, 2009
  • #3
It's pretty easy to do, I'll tell you how I do it. First, I'll give you one piece of advice: After the car is on jackstands and before you disconnect ANYTHING, make sure you also put a pair of jackstands under the rear axle. The whole rear suspension is pretty much interconnected. As soon as you disconnect your first bolt, the rear axle will SHIFT and you'll have a real hard time trying to realign everything.

What I do is: I put wheel chocks in front of the front wheels, then lift the rear of the car with a jack under the differential. I put a block of wood between the jack and the differential to spread out the weight (otherwise, you can damage the differential with the jack). I put jackstands under the rear jack points (notches in the pinch seam under the side skirts), and let the jack down most of the way. Then put jackstands under the axle on both ends, as close to the wheels as you can. DO NOT put the jackstands in the middle of the axle tube! They're not designed to take that weight in one spot and you can bend the axle tube. Now, let the axle down all the way. The axle should now be resting on the jackstands; if you can wiggle the jackstands at all then raise the axle up and bring the jackstands up a notch.

Do one part at a time, remove it and install the new parts before moving on to the next one. This will help keep everything aligned right for installation.

Put a jack underneath the lower control arm when you remove one of the bolts. Lower the jack and you'll take all the pressure out of the spring; it should just fall out. When you install the new spring, make sure the end of the bottom coil is pointing to the driver's side of the car, and make sure both springs are pointing the same way. If they're not, the rear of the car will NOT sit level.

If these bolts have not been removed before, they're going to be a PITA to remove. Good luck!
 
T

thethirdeye88

New Member
Apr 22, 2008
113
0
0
paragould arkansas
Mar 7, 2009
#4
  • Mar 7, 2009
  • #4
thank you matt....very informative...now i just have to go buy a new jack and jackstands...my old jack is deadly, about killed me this morning...

-matt
 

Chythar

Recently finished repairing my rear
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 26, 2004
2,373
140
113
Foothill Ranch, CA
Mar 7, 2009
#5
  • Mar 7, 2009
  • #5
Glad to be of help. Let us know how it all went!
 

95strokerPSU

Member
Jul 29, 2004
986
1
19
Sacramento from Philly
Mar 7, 2009
#6
  • Mar 7, 2009
  • #6
umm....
 

Hef5.0weisen

20+ Year Stangneter
Mar 5, 2004
574
4
28
NorthWest Florida
Mar 7, 2009
#7
  • Mar 7, 2009
  • #7
Spray the untouched bolts with PB Blaster or the like (penetrating oil)....that stuff makes life easy. Good Luck
 
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