By WVA (Vince) on Friday, May 25, 2001 - 01:26 pm: Edit

Can I get a response regarding the ease of installing front and rear shocks on my 97 Disc? I learned from elsewhere on the search here that fronts should not be difficult?! How about rears? thanks

By John C. on Friday, May 25, 2001 - 01:29 pm: Edit

Rears are easier than fronts.

By Ron on Friday, May 25, 2001 - 01:33 pm: Edit

Rears are about 20min each TOPS.

With the fronts take off the shock and tower in one piece should be 30min each TOPS.

Ron

By MTB on Friday, May 25, 2001 - 03:14 pm: Edit

Vince
when & if you change your shocks the front are a PITA WD-40 the hell outof the shock tower nuts & bolts several apps. I did and still broke a bolt on the shock tower. And you may want to get Big channel locks or a plumbing vise grips and use a rag around your new shocks when tightening the bottom bolt

Michael B

By WVA (Vince) on Friday, May 25, 2001 - 04:17 pm: Edit

Thanks, Jon, Ron, Michael, I think I now know it would be OK to do it myself and order the Biltsteins. That was great advice!

By wes on Friday, May 25, 2001 - 04:44 pm: Edit

Specifically, what kind of tools would one need in order to do this?

By Ron on Friday, May 25, 2001 - 04:48 pm: Edit

A 3/4 in wrench or socket (metric 19mm I think) a 12 extention or two 6in extentions (four the front tower nuts). Something to hold the shock from turning (big channel locks) and some small metric wrenches and sockets. Easy task. There is a write up in the tech section on this site.

Ron

By Jeff Bieler (Mrbieler) on Friday, May 25, 2001 - 05:20 pm: Edit

To keep the shock from turning, put a 5/16 wrench on the end just above the threads when turning. Works the originals I just took off and the Old Man Emu's I just put on. I used 3/4" for the nut.

By Mike on Friday, May 25, 2001 - 07:13 pm: Edit

Use Penetrating Oil to help loosen the nuts. WD-40 is designed to displace water, not loosen up old bolts. Also, clean the underside with a pressure sprayer. The job is much easier with a clean place to work. Spray the Penetrating Oil on 24 hours in advance.

LoL,
Mike

P.S. - Get the stinkiest Penetrating Oil that you can find. The worse is smells, the better it works!

By Paul L on Sunday, May 27, 2001 - 10:29 am: Edit

BE CAREFUL. This past Friday, I busted the rear shock mount on mine trying to get the OEM shock off and now I have to wait until Tuesday to get a replacement ($92.00). Damn....

By Ron on Tuesday, May 29, 2001 - 09:20 am: Edit

Paul,

If you mean the upper mount I can pretty much garauntee you that a dozen people here have a spare one and would be more than happy to send it to you for cheap. They are replaced with the rockware or rovertym kits.

Ron