Last edit by: IB Advertising
See related guides and technical advice from our community experts:
Browse all: Steering and Suspension How-Tos
- How to Install Shocks
Step by step instructions for do-it-yourselfers.
Browse all: Steering and Suspension How-Tos
How Do You Replace C4 Shocks
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Member Since: Jun 2004
Location: Macomb MI
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How Do You Replace C4 Shocks
Does anyone have a link to how to replace the shocks on a 91 Coupe? I have checked the tech section without finding what I am looking for. Appreciate any help.
#3
Team Owner
Member Since: Sep 2003
Location: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
Posts: 20,161
Received 640 Likes
on
444 Posts
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
You need to access the top bolt of the rears under the carpet.
BTW use lots of PB blaster on those bolts.
#5
Tech Contributor
The Factory Service Manual is your friend.
Just my respectful opinion...if you're asking such a basic question, I highly recommend you take the car to a shop.
Just my respectful opinion...if you're asking such a basic question, I highly recommend you take the car to a shop.
#6
Race Director
I think the 91 uses a bracket, adapter, plate (pick one) that bolts on to the top of the rear shock and then bolts onto/into the frame with two 13mm bolts.
#7
Tech Contributor
#8
Team Owner
Member Since: Sep 2003
Location: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
Posts: 20,161
Received 640 Likes
on
444 Posts
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Maybe it was a mod...
#9
Tech Contributor
Only if you use a hole saw and cut thru the top of the frame rail after cutting thru the body. Many people with dedicated track cars will do that in order to more easily adjust Koni adjustable shocks.
#10
Instructor
Member Since: Nov 2010
Location: Corpus Christi Texas
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok, instead of the one bolt from shock, there are two bolts facing upward holding the bracket remove those two bolts and the bottom part of shock and it comes out. Then you remove that two bolt bracket and put it on your new rear shocks before it goes back in.
#13
Racer
Member Since: Jul 2004
Location: Pembroke Pines Florida
Posts: 383
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
4 hours
If you are handy you can do the complete job in less than 4 hours. If you are not handy have a friend come over that is handy and buy a case of beer and have at it.
#14
Team Owner
The later C4's had a separate upper mounting bracket that attached to the shock. Those shocks attached to the bracket similar to the way the front shocks are attatched on the upper part. The bracket then was inserted into a hole on the underside of the frame rail and bolted in with two small bolts.
The front shocks are pretty straight forward, a nut on top of the shock rod for the upper end and two bolts that hold the lower end of the shock to the lower control arm. You don't even need to raise the front of the car to replace the front shocks. The nuts on the lower bolts are easily accessible with a long socket and the nut on the shock rod can be removed with a box-end wrench.
#15
Melting Slicks
Torque on all bolts and top studs is 20 ft lbs. The big nut on the lower rear is torqued to 60 ft lbs.
#16
Race Director
Plan on doing very little wrenching and a lot of drinking. Start an hour before superbowl and still not miss kickoff.
#17
Team Owner
It's not hard to do. However, one thing to be aware of, which I just encountered, is that the upper half of the top bushing (that sits up inside the frame rail, can be swollen. On mine I really had to struggle to get it out of the hole in the frame.
Torque on all bolts and top studs is 20 ft lbs. The big nut on the lower rear is torqued to 60 ft lbs.
Torque on all bolts and top studs is 20 ft lbs. The big nut on the lower rear is torqued to 60 ft lbs.
#18
Melting Slicks
Shock replacement is pretty straightforward, right, but here's a small dilemma. In general the top nut should be tightened to expand the bushing out to the dia. of the washer. The previous post said 20 ft. lbs. on the nut. Replacement washers are a harder urethane than the stock rubber ones so maybe 20 ft.lbs. isn't enough to properly expand the bushing. Comment? One other point, the stock bushings have a nice male female arrangement to them to keep them centered on the stud. Replacements will probably be the generic donut type. If the stockers are in perfect condition, as mine were, can or should they be reused?
#20
Melting Slicks
Yup. You unbolt the plate and then pull the shock assembly out of the hole in the frame. If the bushings are swollen, you may need to use some persuasion.