lsbrodsky

For any of you who have replaced shocks on the FE1, stock suspension:

Is this a simple remove the wheels, unbolt, and bolt in the new ones job? The shop manual calls for a leaf spring compression tool and the instructions for the non-F55 rear just are not in the manual. I have some Koni FSD's coming and I am considering doing this myself if I don't need any special tools or tricky procedures. In advance, thanks

Larry

HuskerBullet

I had the Koni FSD's installed in mine. At first, I tried to do it myself, too, but when it came time to compress the old shock so you can get it out, I wasn't strong enough to do it by hand and getting a pry bar in there as leverage to compress it, well it kept slipping off. So, after about 2 hours of screwing around with many sores on my hands, I finally took it down to the local Corvette shop and had them do it for about $275 of labor. They completed it in about 2 hours. Good luck!

timd38

Compressing the shock is a real...

Take the lower ball joint loose and that makes it allot easier because then you don't have to compress the shock.

CMY SIX

you can DIY I am not that strong and it was not that hard, the new one's should be compressed when you get them if no,t get some mechanics wire or bell wire and compress them yourself install one end and then loosen or cut the wire, it{shock} will expand slowly

miami08VETTE

This is what I had to do when I did my own swap to the FSD's. I spent about and hour messing around trying to avoid it but in the end it was a 10 minute deal once the I loosened the lower ball joint. Save youself the time and aggrevation and do it this way. By the way this is the biggest challenge to the job. The rest was easy. There was a significant drop in ride height, enough to warrant an alignement. keep that in mind.

The FSD's are great by the way. You will love them!

nwc6

Compressing the stock shock is a pain, but you don't have to take the car apart. Go to Walmart, Harbor Freight or a motorcycle shop and get a Ratchet tie down strap..
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=47708
Take off the top nuts holding the shock on the car..I hooked the strap to the lower a-arm, then just used the strap material wrapped around the top of the shock and tied off. You then ratchet the strap and the shock compresses..Less than 1.5 hours to do all four Z51 shocks, with 20 minutes spent on figuring how I wanted to attach the strap on the first one..You will like the Koni FSD's. They will compress by hand for the install. Remember you will have to reuse the top stock components on the Konis..

lsbrodsky

Thanks for all of the good advice, as usual. Reuse the top stock components on all 4 shocks? Did most of you get an alignment after the install?

Larry

timd38

I didn't until I put coilovers on it because that changed the ride height. When I changed the shocks and bars I did not.

lsbrodsky

Sorry, I did not do a good enough search before. I found all of the answers. I really apologize because I hate it when someone can find the answer with a search.
Larry

timd38

Not a problem, at least you didn't want to talk about Mazda's and Honda's......

HANNY

is there enuf room to get a die grinder in there and just hack off the old shock at the chrome shaft part?

cclive

There is no reason to disconnect anything in order to replace the shocks. Applying gentle, steady pressure will compress the original (junk) shocks that are on the car. Then compress the new one and put a piece of string on it to hold it compressed, fit it in and then cut the string and the shock will extend into place while you guide it. The last thing you want to do is disconnect suspension components as you can screw up the alignment of the car by doing that. I put Bilsteins on mine and it took a couple of hours doing a calm careful job. A mechanic with a lift who is familiar with the job could do it in less than an hour, and then charge you for 2 or three hours labor....

If you don't disconnect suspension components but just R & R the shocks, the alignment will not be changed.

They call for a spring compression tool because the shock itself keeps the spring held in place, so just lower the suspension onto a block of wood to keep the spring in place, then the shock won't have tension on it.

wallyj

I put Koni FSD's on my car a couple months back. I saw a post where the guy removed the upper A frame where it attaches to the car. That's what I did and it made changing the fronts a breeze. Rears are dead easy, no tricks required.

3 Z06ZR1

I put the car on the jack stands. Then use a small hyd jack to compress them
from the bottom and hold them compressed with a strap.
New ones come strapped. Don't cut them until they are in place.
Or compress them before you put them in.
I've done shocks and springs both. Not a bad job!

bosco 08

i couldn't compress the front shocks on my base car so i cut them off and trashed them the Bilsteins went on easily then. no joke

'06 Quicksilver Z06

http://gfacter.smugmug.com/gallery/2...709_tkf6K-A-LB

http://fuzzydiceracing.com/test.htm

lsbrodsky

Geat stuff, thanks!
Larry

davekp78

Check the ride height before removing the OEM shocks. Mine changed with the Koni FSDs.

timd38

Make sure you drive it before checking. When I did Bilstein's, it was high until I drove it a bit then went back to normal.

nwc6

I dropped a 3/4" in front, and 1/2" in rear after putting 20 miles on them so they settled. Alignment wasn't off too much, but had it redone anyway.