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

[COBALT]

I just checked, and yep, the strut goes through the spring and mounts to the upper spring mount on the frame just behind the upper A-arm. The lower A-arm exposes the lower mount.

I think I'll look at renting a set of spring compressors at one of the auto parts stores. I've worked with front springs before, but it was when I was pulling the lower A-arms out. I don't want those detached at the cross member. that's a whole other problem.

[COBALT]

Well, my birthday WAS yesterday AND I've got some funds. Maybe a little gift to yours truly is in order:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...2&blockType=G2

[kSStamp0182]

i have those as well, they work pretty good, im sure you could pick up a manual for your truck that would have a step by step too, thats always a huge help especially to find hidden bolts haha

[usmcchevy]

You don't need a spring compressor. Look at the bottom of your lower A arms, there should be 2 bolts holding the shock in place. Then on top there should be one nut you need to take off. Remove that nut then bolts holding the bottom and the shock should just drop out the bottom of the A arm. If you have the selectable ride option, it gets a little more complicated.
If you create an account at Autozone.com and enter you truck in, they have a repair guide section that covers it pretty good. Hope this helps.

[COBALT]

I already have plenty of info on the rig, and as it turns out you're right I didn't need a spring compressor. I rented one and it basically just sat on the ground and watched me work. It was as easy as unbolting the nut on top, and dropping the two bolts below the lower A-arm just as described. The hard part was putting the new one in and not over-tightening that lock nut on top. Bilsteins come with a 17mm locknut on top and of course all of my nifty craftsman rachets are SAE, so I had to fudge it with a crescent wrench. Boo.

Those upper bolts on the rear shocks are a royal pain, but I got them in. The hard part on the backs was compressing the new shock enough to get that damn lower 13/16" bolt through the bushing.

But it's done and WOW does this thing ride better than it did.

[Boog]

What do those Bilsteins run? I believe that's what comes with the Z71 pkg, right?

[COBALT]

Originally Posted by Boog

What do those Bilsteins run? I believe that's what comes with the Z71 pkg, right?

They're about $61 a piece now. I got them about a month ago for a bit cheaper.

Fronts:

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/p...lstein-GM-SUVs

Rears:

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/p...lstein-GM-SUVs

[kSStamp0182]

Originally Posted by COBALT

I already have plenty of info on the rig, and as it turns out you're right I didn't need a spring compressor. I rented one and it basically just sat on the ground and watched me work. It was as easy as unbolting the nut on top, and dropping the two bolts below the lower A-arm just as described. The hard part was putting the new one in and not over-tightening that lock nut on top. Bilsteins come with a 17mm locknut on top and of course all of my nifty craftsman rachets are SAE, so I had to fudge it with a crescent wrench. Boo.

Those upper bolts on the rear shocks are a royal pain, but I got them in. The hard part on the backs was compressing the new shock enough to get that damn lower 13/16" bolt through the bushing.

But it's done and WOW does this thing ride better than it did.

awesome thats good. i wasnt sure how the setup was but i figured it would just have shocks not struts. always better to have too much info than not enough!