shock/strut installation

[zamog]

On a 72 240.....can I do this myself? Any special tools needed? Is it a pain in da azz?

Thank you

[Bambikiller240]

No way to answer that question without knowing how competent you are in working on cars, what tools you have, what you consider a pain in the azz.

[zamog]

I think that answers my question.

last car I worked on was a '67 Camaro bout 20 years ago.

I have all the standard/metric wrenches, etc

[Bambikiller240]

You'll need a spring compressor to dis-assemble the strut/spring assembly.

It is not a terribly difficult job for someone with experience, but if you haven't worked on a car in 20 years, it will probably take much longer than if you had worked on cars more recently.

If you tackle the job, I'd suggest that having a Haynes, or other shop manual for your car available would make life easier for you.

[zamog]

thanks for the quick reply....will buy parts and take to shop

[mrdatto]

If you are just doing the shocks and springs, I would consider giving it a go yourself. If you are looking at bearings and bushes as well I would take it to a shop.

It was the first job I did on my Z and it was really good to do it myself.

You do need a few tools, but nothing really exotic, and a bit of patience but there is a great tutorial at www.atlanticz.ca . Have a look at the walkthrough and it should give you a much clearer idea of whats needed.

[TomoHawk]

It is possible to do the springs without a compressor, but you'll need some friends to sit on your car to cpompress the springs while you undo the nuts.

[Bambikiller240]

Speaking of NUTS! It's a completely UNSAFE way to work on a car.

Might as well skip the jackstands as well!! :stupid: :stupid: :stupid:

[TomoHawk]

It is a recommended way of removing the spring & strut from the car without the compressor, according to the Haynes manual.

Personally, I would just take it to my mates service place. it would only take him an hour or so for the four corners.

[zguitar71]

Loosen the nut at the top of the strut. It is on the top of the strut assembly, you get to it from inside the car. Take off the the strut tower cover and it is the nut in the middle, LOOSEN IT DO NOT REMOVE IT, IT HOLDS THE SPRING UNDER PRESSURE. Jack the car up, put it on stands and remove the wheel. Disconnect the sway bar and put a jack under the suspension to keep it from falling down when you take off the strut retaining nuts. remove the strut retaining nuts on the top of the strut tower (inside the car, three nuts in a triangle), lower the jack and the hole assembly should come down far enough to pull the strut out from under the car (it will take some muscle) YOU DO NOT HAVE TO REMOVE THE SPINDEL PIN CONNECTING THE LOWER ARM TO THE STRUT ASSEMBLY. Be careful of the brake lines. Use a spring compressor to compress the springs (get a good compressor, the job can be dangerous with a crapy one). When the spring is compressed enough to turn side to side then you can take off the strut nut at the top then remove the upper spring perch. Take off the spring and carefully remove the compressor. at the top of the strut tube is the nut that holds in the strut. Remove it and pull the strut. This can be a pain if they have been in for a long time. Reverse the process with the new springs and struts. If you put in stiffer lowering springs you will not need the compressor in the future, if not compress the spring to reasslemble. I have the Arizona Zcar heavy duty springs, when the car is jacked up the springe are loose, this makes life much easier. If any one notices things I have left out please include them. If you take you time and be careful the job is not hard but is time consumming.

[LanceM]

I used a compressor on the fronts, won't ever use them again as they seem to be a hazard in themselfs and since after I was done I find out that neighbors have a comercial wall mounted unit.... Did the rears as mentioned above except I used the cars weight to compress the springs putting it back together, real PIA to get all back together by yourself, a second person would have defentitly made the job easier and faster.

All in all it is a fairly easy job, just that you have to remember that the springs under compression are extreamly dangerous and must be handled with caution.

[bpilati]

If you're good at opening a bottle champagne, you may be able to handle the spring removal without the spring compressor. Hahah, j/k. I'd add to Carl's suggestion a medium to large vise that is mounted to a work bench. Makes a nice place to clamp your strut while you remove the spring and strut cartridge/guts.