Replacing the Shocks - '99 tahoe 2wd

[COBALT]

Simple: old shocks are blown. New Bilsteins ready to go in (yay). Do I need to compress the suspension front and back to remove the old ones and put the new ones in? I don't have a spring compressor - last time I did this was on my '69 and It was super easy (KYB's that just bolted to mounts), but the look of these strut mounts on the front make me wonder.

[kSStamp0182]

Originally Posted by COBALT

Simple: old shocks are blown. New Bilsteins ready to go in (yay). Do I need to compress the suspension front and back to remove the old ones and put the new ones in? I don't have a spring compressor - last time I did this was on my '69 and It was super easy (KYB's that just bolted to mounts), but the look of these strut mounts on the front make me wonder.

nope just put it on jack stands and jack up the lower a arm just a little so you can get the shock out, change em. cake.

[COBALT]

Originally Posted by kSStamp0182

nope just put it on jack stands and jack up the lower a arm just a little so you can get the shock out, change em. cake.

Sweet. That's what I wanted to hear. We're down to one vehicle, and I don't wanna get everything ready to go and then have to put it all back together to go get extra tools...

Tomorrow the shocks go on. Can't wait. These Bilsteins are awesome.

[kSStamp0182]

Originally Posted by COBALT

Sweet. That's what I wanted to hear. We're down to one vehicle, and I don't wanna get everything ready to go and then have to put it all back together to go get extra tools...

Tomorrow the shocks go on. Can't wait. These Bilsteins are awesome.

lemme know how it rides! i wanna get some for my '82.

it is shocks tho right? not coilover struts? (where the strut is in the middle of the spring).

[COBALT]

Hmmm...I'll have to look when I get home. The front are struts. They're meant to bolt up through the upper A-arm, so I'm thinking it has to go through the center of the front coils, then bold to a mount below on the lower A-arm. The upper part of the strut assembly is literally a threaded rod about 6-8" long. No mount on the top.

[kSStamp0182]

Originally Posted by COBALT

Hmmm...I'll have to look when I get home. The front are struts. They're meant to bolt up through the upper A-arm, so I'm thinking it has to go through the center of the front coils, then bold to a mount below on the lower A-arm. The upper part of the strut assembly is literally a threaded rod about 6-8" long. No mount on the top.

if it is then its a bit more involved an yes you would need a spring compressor. they are easy to get out, but as far as getting the coil off and on the new one requires compressors, you COULD take them off an somewhere and just pay them to swap the struts out on the assemblies, thats what i would do but ive done a few of em. do NOT take off that top center strut nut or youll have a missile on your hands. but just jack up the lower just a tad to relieve pressure like i said before an there should be a few bolts that hold the entire assembly in at the top and of course the 2 on the lower a arm. the rears should be much simpler.

id say go for the rears, since you know how to change shocks already, but as far as the struts dont try it if you dont feel comfortable. a shop bill is better than a hospital bill