installing struts/shocks and lca's
- Thread starter jmd2914
- Start date
Im not sure what lca's are but putting in shocks and struts are simple. Just make sure when you are changing the front struts that you jack up the front end from the lower control arm as close to the ball joint as posible or on it if you can that way when you take the nut off the top of the strut the lower control arm wont spring down on you. Take the top nut off first then jack it up. It will probably still spring down a little and you might have to have someone push down on the front end to be able to put the top nut back on the new strut. When putting the new ones in do it just the oposit, put the two lower bolts in first. The two lower holes in the strut are not sloted so you wont mess up your alingment. You might have to take the rotor off to get to the nuts. Your camber adj are in the upper strut mount so just make sure you dont loosen them and your alinment will stay put.
Same Idea with the rear shocks, just support the rear end so when you take the shock off the rear end wont drop and your springs fall out. Hope this helps. Good luck
Same Idea with the rear shocks, just support the rear end so when you take the shock off the rear end wont drop and your springs fall out. Hope this helps. Good luck
I'm guessing lca = lower control arm
#1 Rule: Springs are Very Dangerous!!! Keep that in mind and be safe! It's best to have a friend with you when you do this the first time. They are under a bunch of pressure and could kill you! Now that you're scared:
Front:
Yeah, just jack up the car. Put a 2nd jack underneath the a arm and jack the a arm up a little. Unbolt brakes/rotor and the strut (don't forget the strut tower under the hood). Then unbolt a-arm from the front and from a safe place (in front of car) lower the jack (under a arm)SLOWLY!!! Pop the spring the rest of the way out with a stick/bar (from the front of car).
Change shock and reattach front side of a-arm. Then unbolt the back 2 bolts from the a arm. Insert new spring and jack up... use a nylon come along to help get into place. Use 2 jacks for the insert both under control arm- make sure to use 2!!!... you'll see. Oh and sometimes the car goes waaay up in the air, it's normal but reposition your jack stands.
The LCA's are more simple. Jack the rear up and let the rear hang. Unhook the swaybar, put a jack under the lca and unbolt it. Lower SLOWLY!!! Should drop right out. Unbolt other side, put in new lca. Put in new spring just the way you took it out. Put a jack under the pumpkin, and use it in conjunction with the jack under the lca to get the spring back up in place. The jack under the pumkin will be used once you've got it almost in place and you need fine tuning to get the bolt back in. Oh yeah, it's good to let the rear hang on the uninstall. Position extra stands under it though just in case.
Tell us when you do it and we'll make sure you get there okay. If I can do it anyone can!!!
#1 Rule: Springs are Very Dangerous!!! Keep that in mind and be safe! It's best to have a friend with you when you do this the first time. They are under a bunch of pressure and could kill you! Now that you're scared:
Front:
Yeah, just jack up the car. Put a 2nd jack underneath the a arm and jack the a arm up a little. Unbolt brakes/rotor and the strut (don't forget the strut tower under the hood). Then unbolt a-arm from the front and from a safe place (in front of car) lower the jack (under a arm)SLOWLY!!! Pop the spring the rest of the way out with a stick/bar (from the front of car).
Change shock and reattach front side of a-arm. Then unbolt the back 2 bolts from the a arm. Insert new spring and jack up... use a nylon come along to help get into place. Use 2 jacks for the insert both under control arm- make sure to use 2!!!... you'll see. Oh and sometimes the car goes waaay up in the air, it's normal but reposition your jack stands.
The LCA's are more simple. Jack the rear up and let the rear hang. Unhook the swaybar, put a jack under the lca and unbolt it. Lower SLOWLY!!! Should drop right out. Unbolt other side, put in new lca. Put in new spring just the way you took it out. Put a jack under the pumpkin, and use it in conjunction with the jack under the lca to get the spring back up in place. The jack under the pumkin will be used once you've got it almost in place and you need fine tuning to get the bolt back in. Oh yeah, it's good to let the rear hang on the uninstall. Position extra stands under it though just in case.
Tell us when you do it and we'll make sure you get there okay. If I can do it anyone can!!!
Dunno, never done uppers but my friend has- not hard. Yeah I thought you were changing springs too... my bad
You'll only remove the springs from the back then... it's a sinch!
You'll only remove the springs from the back then... it's a sinch!
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