Mounting JDM front shocks - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

kevinr1970 · 07-09-2007, 12:51 AM

So I bought some JDM front CalMax shocks for my '06 GMC.
I tried to instll them yesterday but for the life of me couldn't get the top "shaft" to poke through far enough to get the nut started.
I tried to get a C-clamp on both sides of the rubber grommets but even then I couldn't get enough of the shaft through to see any threads.
Holding the stock shock and the new shock side-by-side the JDM shock shaft is probably 1-1/2" shorter than the stock shock. I checked the numbers stamped in the shock body against the website to make sure they didn't send me the wrong ones.
Is their some special tool required I just don't have?
Any one else have this problem?
Also, I didn't read the reviews of the shocks on the Stylin'Concepts website until I was double checking the numbers but their was only three reviews and they all seemd to be pretty bad. Did I just buy some lemon shocks?

droppedgmc · 07-09-2007, 08:01 AM

have the truck jacked up in the front on stands, then put your jack under the front a-arm and compress it. it should go in then

kevinr1970 · 07-09-2007, 01:32 PM

Thats pretty much what I did. But you can't compress the suspension enough to bottom the shock out. If I could bottom the shock out I might be able to compress the grommets enough to show some threads.
I am going to talk to them and see what they have to say. If they can't suggest anything I am going to buy another Vise-Grip C-clamp and weld some large plates that will surround the shaft but still allow access to the threads. Think a flat "U".
Seems like a lot of work to install shocks though?

droppedgmc · 07-09-2007, 02:01 PM

you might wanna look, those shocks may be for a 4" drop

kevinr1970 · 07-09-2007, 06:22 PM

I double checked - I have a 2" drop with control arms
I talked to their tech and he was supposed to "call me right back" around 10:30 this morning with some measurements. But I have yet to hear back.

droppedgmc · 07-10-2007, 01:32 AM

figures...you can usually get away with running a stock length shock for a 2" lca drop or any 2" drop at that

07-09-2007, 12:51 AM	#1
kevinr1970 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 2,316	Mounting JDM front shocks So I bought some JDM front CalMax shocks for my '06 GMC. I tried to instll them yesterday but for the life of me couldn't get the top "shaft" to poke through far enough to get the nut started. I tried to get a C-clamp on both sides of the rubber grommets but even then I couldn't get enough of the shaft through to see any threads. Holding the stock shock and the new shock side-by-side the JDM shock shaft is probably 1-1/2" shorter than the stock shock. I checked the numbers stamped in the shock body against the website to make sure they didn't send me the wrong ones. Is their some special tool required I just don't have? Any one else have this problem? Also, I didn't read the reviews of the shocks on the Stylin'Concepts website until I was double checking the numbers but their was only three reviews and they all seemd to be pretty bad. Did I just buy some lemon shocks? __________________ 2009 Honda Fit CfC (bsf 44.9 mpg) 2000 Tahoe Limited 1991 GMC CrewCab Dually 2wd, will end up swb, not dually and replace CCswb below 1991 GMC CrewCab Dually 4x4, just going to fix things up for now 1982/1989 K5/GMC Jimmy 2wd 1987 GMC 1/2 ton swb 2wd Crew (sold)

07-09-2007, 08:01 AM	#2
droppedgmc Truck Enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Arlington, WA Posts: 1,346	Re: Mounting JDM front shocks have the truck jacked up in the front on stands, then put your jack under the front a-arm and compress it. it should go in then __________________ '85 swb

07-09-2007, 01:32 PM	#3
kevinr1970 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 2,316	Re: Mounting JDM front shocks Thats pretty much what I did. But you can't compress the suspension enough to bottom the shock out. If I could bottom the shock out I might be able to compress the grommets enough to show some threads. I am going to talk to them and see what they have to say. If they can't suggest anything I am going to buy another Vise-Grip C-clamp and weld some large plates that will surround the shaft but still allow access to the threads. Think a flat "U". Seems like a lot of work to install shocks though? __________________ 2009 Honda Fit CfC (bsf 44.9 mpg) 2000 Tahoe Limited 1991 GMC CrewCab Dually 2wd, will end up swb, not dually and replace CCswb below 1991 GMC CrewCab Dually 4x4, just going to fix things up for now 1982/1989 K5/GMC Jimmy 2wd 1987 GMC 1/2 ton swb 2wd Crew (sold)

07-09-2007, 02:01 PM	#4
droppedgmc Truck Enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Arlington, WA Posts: 1,346	Re: Mounting JDM front shocks you might wanna look, those shocks may be for a 4" drop __________________ '85 swb

07-09-2007, 06:22 PM	#5
kevinr1970 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 2,316	Re: Mounting JDM front shocks I double checked - I have a 2" drop with control arms I talked to their tech and he was supposed to "call me right back" around 10:30 this morning with some measurements. But I have yet to hear back. __________________ 2009 Honda Fit CfC (bsf 44.9 mpg) 2000 Tahoe Limited 1991 GMC CrewCab Dually 2wd, will end up swb, not dually and replace CCswb below 1991 GMC CrewCab Dually 4x4, just going to fix things up for now 1982/1989 K5/GMC Jimmy 2wd 1987 GMC 1/2 ton swb 2wd Crew (sold)

07-10-2007, 01:32 AM	#6
droppedgmc Truck Enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Arlington, WA Posts: 1,346	Re: Mounting JDM front shocks figures...you can usually get away with running a stock length shock for a 2" lca drop or any 2" drop at that __________________ '85 swb

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