QUICK! How do you compress new hood shocks!!!!!
10-03-2005 | 05:06 PM
#16
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,558
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From: Los Angeles
I did it by hand. Try resting the shock part on the ground, and put your weight on the top to compress. I didn't do that, since I was able to compress by hand, but that may help you. 30 seconds a side here as well.
~Eyal
~Eyal
10-03-2005 | 05:22 PM
#17
Wax On, Wax Off
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From: 5280 ft above the sea
I also did it by hand, about 20 minutes a side... had dad hold the hood so I wouldn't kill the new windshield, compressed it with all my force, lost grip, cursed, repeated about 20 times per side, then finaly got it... what a PITA!
10-03-2005 | 05:30 PM
#18
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,456
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From: Canyon Country and San Diego, CA
hold up the hood with a broom or something.. get someone to help get the pins lined up.. 2 person operation and ur done in 3 minutes.. including taking old ones off and new ones on...
10-03-2005 | 06:02 PM
#20
Thread Starter
Race Car
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Washington, D.C.
I can compress the shock easily. Its no big deal. However, it then decompresses back to length! Once i mount the bottom portion to the car though, I no longer have enough leverage to compress it so I can get it in the hood portion to pin it!
10-03-2005 | 08:13 PM
#21
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Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Barcelona
Originally Posted by axhoaxho
And whatever you do, please don't repeat my mistake -- pushing up the hood too much while installing the shocks, and cracking the front windshield!
I got my brother to hold the hood and put a folded towel between the hood corners and the windshield for some protection. The hardest part besides compressing the shock is getting the pin to line up without pushing the hood too far backwards, but it can be done.
My arms hurt the following day, so quite a bit of force is necessary. Otherwise, I guess if you could get a big enough C-Clamp, you could somehow compress the shocks before fitting them.
10-03-2005 | 11:09 PM
#22
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 411
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From: East Valley of the Sun
GET A SHOCK BUDDY (or wife) -
Do one side at a time
Hook the shock to the body side first
One compresses the shock while pushing/pulling down while the other locks the hood side in
Took 45 mins to do one by myself (cussing included). Hollered for the wife, took 2 minutes to figure out hooking to the body first was easier, and another minute it was all done....
Do one side at a time
Hook the shock to the body side first
One compresses the shock while pushing/pulling down while the other locks the hood side in
Took 45 mins to do one by myself (cussing included). Hollered for the wife, took 2 minutes to figure out hooking to the body first was easier, and another minute it was all done....
10-03-2005 | 11:41 PM
#23
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From: Austin, TX
Hold it like this, forefinger wrapped around the bottom of the strut pulling up, with your other hand assisting. (Had to leave one hand free to take the picture). Picture shows the driver's side and my right hand. Do one side at a time to prevent the hood from getting pushed up too much and damaging the windshield.
Took me about 20 seconds per side, a one-person job.
That's a big wart on my forefinger.
Took me about 20 seconds per side, a one-person job.
That's a big wart on my forefinger.
10-04-2005 | 12:27 AM
#25
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From: CT
After breaking my windshield 10 seconds or so into the job the first time, I got alot of help (one guy holding, two guys keeping an eye on the hood corners with plywood barriers, and one guy compressing). Then, when the other shock failed, I used a pair of vice grips to hold up the hood. Of course I stupidly gripped the piston of the good shock marring its surface, cutting the o-ring and destroying the new shock. Then I built this (worked so well it made me giggle):
