Suspension / ChassisQuestions about your suspension? Need chassis advice?
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I need and adjustable shock thats cheap since my stock ones are pretty worn out. I was looking at getting KYB AGX adjustables for it.
#1 are thease good shocks and
#2 how hard are they to change
Third gens i thought came with modified macferson struts up front so i though they didnt need a spring compressor to change them, am i worng or right on this?
also how do you change the rear ones, and can i use my stock springs with the agx's
Thanks alot
__________________ 1990 Camaro RS,
-Flowmaster exhaust, American Racing Rims, Tinted Windows, Cold Air Intake, SS Hood , Accell 8.8 wires, Accel Cap n rotor,
-street glow gold series kit,
-Sony MDX 770,
-4 DEI speakers,
-2 61/2" MB Quarts,
2 PPI Artist Series amp(600x1 400x4),
2 Diamond Audio 12M3's 500W RMS
02 trans am interior comming soon.
1987 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe 1 of 250 100% original mint condition,
1970 Nova w/Flames and 427 (under construction)
and yes you DO need a spring compressor you don't want to be anywhere near that when you unbold the strut, and 650lbs of spring pressure let go. it wouldn't be pretty.
Can't vouch anything for the KYB AGX's; just installed the KYB GR-2 struts and will install the Gas-A-Just rear shocks later today. (Haven't driven the car yet). I will say that to compress these brand new GR-2 struts was -easy-. I figured on a bit more stiffness. Then again I guess my new Suspension Techniques springs will add all the stiffness I want!
As to a spring compressor, I disagree about needing it, but if you want it for additional safety, so be it!! (That's why I bought mine, but then again, I was changing the springs.) You need a jack under the lower control arm, definately. Remove the rotor and caliper and dust shield (three 11mm bolts). Place the hydraulic jack so it catches the edge of the control arm, but don't get the balljoint with the jack. Or you could place the jack directly under the spring perch.
Raise the jack enough to lift the control arm up (I'm assuming the rest of the car is on jackstands ON THE FRAME) so you compress the spring a bit. Then you're good. Don't move the hydraulic jack at all. Lower strut-to-knuckle bolts are 24mm or 15/16" socket, make sure you have two sockets (one for the nut, one for the bolt). They're on with 180 ft/lbs of torque so make sure you have two breaker bars and a torque wrench.
Rear shocks are easy. Block the front wheels. Raise back of car with a hydraulic catching the "rear" lip of the axle's pumpkin. Put two jackstands under the frame rail "just in front of" the lower control arm. Lower the jack to set the car on the jackstands. Remove the tires. Remove the lower shock-to-axle nuts. Lower/raise the axle with the hydraulic jack until you find the "sweet spot" where the lower shock studs just push easily out of the axle. Climb into the car, fold down the rear seats, in the upper corner under the carpet are the upper shock bolts.
The procedure for both is covered in the Haynes 82-92 Camaro manual, $15 from a Pep Boys or similar.
__________________ -Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l)
Dewey i want adjustables because i want to improve over my stock suspension. Im slowly building the car up figured the suspension would be a good place to start. I need the car as a daily driver for one more year then i can park it and do everyhing i want to do to it.
__________________ 1990 Camaro RS,
-Flowmaster exhaust, American Racing Rims, Tinted Windows, Cold Air Intake, SS Hood , Accell 8.8 wires, Accel Cap n rotor,
-street glow gold series kit,
-Sony MDX 770,
-4 DEI speakers,
-2 61/2" MB Quarts,
2 PPI Artist Series amp(600x1 400x4),
2 Diamond Audio 12M3's 500W RMS
02 trans am interior comming soon.
1987 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe 1 of 250 100% original mint condition,
1970 Nova w/Flames and 427 (under construction)
Originally posted by gmgod Can you remove the front springs without seperating the ball joint if you have a spring compressor?
thats another reason why i decidied to do springs and struts together, i had the rotors and calipers off so i didnt have to remove the ball joints, a spring compressor would help alot getting the stock srings out. even when the had everything off and the handing down the spring still had some force behind so the compressor gave me that extra edge keeping it compressed. before i let down the a-arm with the jack.