Fitting rear shocks w/o air assist to 2014 Cayenne
10-04-2020, 02:13 PM
#1
Fitting rear shocks w/o air assist to 2014 Cayenne
So my simple rear brake job and brake fluid flush turned into a leaky rear shock also. Removed old strut and replaced shock before I realized the strut assembly is too long to reassemble easily. Compressing strut with a jack seems futile and possibly dangerous? Does hub assembly need to be lowered down by strategic removal of control arms?? Is there another way I haven't thought of to line up shock mount and shock? Is it time to flat bed it to a shop for completion? Help!!!! Thanks!
10-04-2020, 05:00 PM
#2
Instructor
You are correct. The rear shocks with steel spring suspension apply preload even with the suspension at full droop. This is because the rubber suspension bushings apply a force in the opposite direction, so "full droop" is just the point of equalization. I installed the Bilstein cup kit last year and had the same problem.
I think the easiest way would be if you can use a spring compressor to compress the spring installed on the shock and then use straps/wire/large zip ties to hold the spring compressed. Then cut them loose once you get all the bolts installed.
You can just barely get one spring compressor in there, but it needs to be a just the perfect rotation or it won't fit into the body cavity.
I ended up loosening all the control arm bolts and push down on the rotor hat with one foot and you can get the bottom bolt in there. They were really a giant PITA. I didn't expect a simple shock swap to take anywhere near as long as it did.
I think the easiest way would be if you can use a spring compressor to compress the spring installed on the shock and then use straps/wire/large zip ties to hold the spring compressed. Then cut them loose once you get all the bolts installed.
You can just barely get one spring compressor in there, but it needs to be a just the perfect rotation or it won't fit into the body cavity.
I ended up loosening all the control arm bolts and push down on the rotor hat with one foot and you can get the bottom bolt in there. They were really a giant PITA. I didn't expect a simple shock swap to take anywhere near as long as it did.
10-04-2020, 05:18 PM
#3
I had started to use 1 spring compressor with the upper strut installed but then thought there might be a better way....haha. I guess tomorrow I retry the spring compressor and maybe a 2x4 to help lever the hub down and try for alignment. Thanks for the info.
UPDATE: a 5 foot 2x4 to lever the hub down while a partner threads the shock bolt through, then jack the hub up to align the sway bar link and continue to thread the bolt through. What looked like an impossible job became pretty easy!
UPDATE: a 5 foot 2x4 to lever the hub down while a partner threads the shock bolt through, then jack the hub up to align the sway bar link and continue to thread the bolt through. What looked like an impossible job became pretty easy!
Last edited by bikemike; 10-05-2020 at 06:39 PM.
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Eskimo1 (10-09-2020)
06-15-2024, 07:45 PM
#5
Race Car
I had started to use 1 spring compressor with the upper strut installed but then thought there might be a better way....haha. I guess tomorrow I retry the spring compressor and maybe a 2x4 to help lever the hub down and try for alignment. Thanks for the info.
UPDATE: a 5 foot 2x4 to lever the hub down while a partner threads the shock bolt through, then jack the hub up to align the sway bar link and continue to thread the bolt through. What looked like an impossible job became pretty easy!
UPDATE: a 5 foot 2x4 to lever the hub down while a partner threads the shock bolt through, then jack the hub up to align the sway bar link and continue to thread the bolt through. What looked like an impossible job became pretty easy!