how to replace shocks

[89LincolnTWNcar]

hey my origional shocks are totally gone, and I want to replace them this summer. Whats a good shock brand and how difficult is it to change shocks on a panther. Anything to do while im in there or watch out for? thanks!

[DuceAnAHalf]

What kinda ride you goin for?

[gadget73]

Front or back shock, or both? Neither are hard to do exactly, tho the back ones can be a bitch to access.

Cheater method of doing the fronts:
If the nuts won't come off the shocks, and the whole shock is just spinning, just take a socket that fits the nut, and attach a long extension, biggest you can get so its like 2-3 feet long. Rock the extension back and forth till the stud snaps. Unbolt the two bolts at the bottom and pull it out. Install the new ones.

Back ones, the top bolt is a pain in the ass. I've never done them so no useful advice there. I hear the easiest way to do them is to get a wrench on the nut and use a pair of vise grips to turn the shock itself till it unthreads all the way.

I'll let other people offer up shock advice, opinions abound. I have KYB GR-2 on the front of my car and I'm happy with them, but I'm sure others have more input based on what kind of ride you're looking for.

[89LincolnTWNcar]

id like a firmer ride, cuz right now its very sloppy and i can feel every bump in the road.

[Grand Marquis GT]

Get the KYB GR-2 shocks, for the police car application.

They will give you the ride you want, and I have htme in my car now, and lots of others do too.

I am only upgrading cause I want a more race ready setup...

[DuceAnAHalf]

The Carrera shocks i have(had) in both cars are a firm ride but not harsh, well to me atleast.

For the rear shocks i did kinda like Gadget said, but i rocked the shock around its top nut till it broke.

[mrltd]

Ditto for the removals. Just be careful with the shocks, you can unscrew the piston of the rod and the shock can explode....it's messy.

[gadget73]

Ditto for the removals. Just be careful with the shocks, you can unscrew the piston of the rod and the shock can explode....it's messy.


Had that happen. The shock spooged in my hand when I pulled it. Nasty stuff.

[mrltd]

Mine blew up at Jiffy Lube....covered one of the bays with oil. Not fun.

[Lincolnmania]

get a set of ratcheting wrenches to get to the top rear shock nut......hold the shock shaft with vise grips
kyb gr2's for the police cars are the best bang for the buck ($around100 for all 4)

[Archangel]

kyb gr2's for the police cars are the best bang for the buck ($around100 for all 4)
Unfortunately that's not what Advance have to say about that:
KYB GR2 for a cop 2001 Crown Vickie (http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?mfrcode=KYB&mfrpartnumber=344081&parttype=49&ptset=A)

[gadget73]

Sale Price: $25.48

Multiply that by 4 and you get $101.92. Sounds pretty close to $100 to me :)

[85crownHPP]

lol.....

ratcheting wrenches are a must for the rear - if you are lucky and the shocks have been replaced once, some aftermarket shocks have biult in areas you can hold with a wrench to keep the shaft from turning. My monroe's have these, and make me look forward to upgrading to KYB's :D :D

[89LincolnTWNcar]

actually the rear shocks pass the shock test, but the front are definately out.

[Archangel]

Sale Price: $25.48
WHERE???

[85crownHPP]

thats the price shown in the link you just posted mang

[Lincolnmania]

25.48 here minus my commercial discount

[gadget73]

thats the price shown in the link you just posted mang


what he said.

[zwack88]

This is probably a stupid question but do the new shocks come with a new top nut? If not what size and thread is it? I want to replace my sometime this summer so I will need a new one cause every othere nut and bolt on this turd has been seized on there so I don't see why the shocks would be different.lol

[gadget73]

They should. I've never seen shocks not come without the nuts for the stud. Might just have to get the shocks and match the hardware up then. Different brands might use different size and thread studs, metric vs standard shit.

[Archangel]

Well fuck, here the shocks from the link I posted have the sale price of $39.09 - that's wahy I was wondering where do you guys see the low prices... :2down: