Installing shocks/struts

Burn'nRubber · March 24th, 2008, 10:38 PM

I ordered a set of KYB GR2 shock/struts the other day, and am planning on installing them sometime this weekend. After looking around it all seems pretty easy, but i know looks can be deceiving. I was wondering if any of you have done this yourself? Any tips/pointers/instructions? Difficult? How long did it take ya?

Thanks

ryans88gt · March 24th, 2008, 10:42 PM

I believe you need to do a front end alignment after you replace the struts. Other than that, shouldn't be too hard. The rears shouldn't take more than an hour, should be less if the hardware is not rusted together.

Burn'nRubber · March 24th, 2008, 10:48 PM

Yeah Im planning on having an alignment done after the install.

ridebmxfbm · March 24th, 2008, 10:56 PM

The Shocks were really easy to get off, but the struts didn't come out easy I had to get an impact gun to get it to come off... It was stuck and make sure to get all brand new strut mount bushings etc...

nolife · March 24th, 2008, 11:01 PM

I did mine about 10-15 years ago. Very straight forward and it is an easy job. The only part I remember having any problems with was taking off the upper strut nuts. The whole upper part of the strut kept spinning instead of just the nut. I think I ended up cutting the upper plastic sleeve off the stock strut in the wheel well and using a pipe wrench to hold the strut shaft while turning the nut. It completely trashed the shaft but your replacing them anyway.
Looking at the top of the strut from the engine compartment, you will see a slot in the shaft that looks like you could stick an extremely large flat screwdriver or a chisel or piece of metal stock etc in there to hold the shaft while using a boxed end wrench to turn the nut but attempting that only lead to bloody knuckles. It wouldn't hurt to get some WD40 or PB blaster on all of your bolts now.

Burn'nRubber · March 24th, 2008, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by ridebmxfbm

make sure to get all brand new strut mount bushings etc...

I take it the bushing is between the strut and the strut tower? You have a link/picture of these?

Edit: These what your talking about?
Prothane Front Strut Mount Bushings - For 83-04 Mustangs - StangSuspension.com

ridebmxfbm · March 24th, 2008, 11:31 PM

yes... those lol I kept the old ones and now they're all messed up and have to change them...

Burn'nRubber · March 24th, 2008, 11:46 PM

Originally Posted by ridebmxfbm

yes... those lol I kept the old ones and now they're all messed up and have to change them...

yeah im not real sure how those 3 parts go together on the strut, but I guess ill find out this weekend. Im probably going to order mine threw autozone or O'reilly though, big spender here

!

Oh almost forgot...how much does a front end alignment usually run?

ridebmxfbm · March 25th, 2008, 12:14 PM

It will depend on where to go to get it done, I know mine is $60 for each side so $120 all together... Are you getting springs too or no?

Burn'nRubber · March 25th, 2008, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by ridebmxfbm

It will depend on where to go to get it done, I know mine is $60 for each side so $120 all together... Are you getting springs too or no?

Not at this time, due to not having the funds and not knowing if I want to lower the car or not. I know it would be best to replace the coils as well.

March 24th, 2008, 10:38 PM	#1
Burn'nRubber Regular 1992 Mustang GT Coming soon... Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Rushville, IN Posts: 209	Installing shocks/struts I ordered a set of KYB GR2 shock/struts the other day, and am planning on installing them sometime this weekend. After looking around it all seems pretty easy, but i know looks can be deceiving. I was wondering if any of you have done this yourself? Any tips/pointers/instructions? Difficult? How long did it take ya? Thanks __________________ 1992 Hatch: 306ci, gt40p's, comp xe270, Edelbrock Performer, 1.6 r/r, full bolt-ons, and some supension work

March 24th, 2008, 10:42 PM	#2
ryans88gt MM Fanatic Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bloomington, IL Posts: 4,210	I believe you need to do a front end alignment after you replace the struts. Other than that, shouldn't be too hard. The rears shouldn't take more than an hour, should be less if the hardware is not rusted together. __________________ 88 GT CHI headed 351w 10.8 @ 125 - still figuring it out. 03 Cobra 2.3 whipple 10.7 @ 129 - sold it 04 Mach 1 12.7 @ 109 mostly stock - sold it 89 LX procharged 302 515 hp 497 ftlbs 10.7 @130 mph - sold it

March 24th, 2008, 10:48 PM	#3
Burn'nRubber Regular 1992 Mustang GT Coming soon... Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Rushville, IN Posts: 209	Yeah Im planning on having an alignment done after the install. __________________ 1992 Hatch: 306ci, gt40p's, comp xe270, Edelbrock Performer, 1.6 r/r, full bolt-ons, and some supension work

March 24th, 2008, 10:56 PM	#4
ridebmxfbm Regular 1988 Mustang GT Vert Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Colonia, NJ Posts: 401	The Shocks were really easy to get off, but the struts didn't come out easy I had to get an impact gun to get it to come off... It was stuck and make sure to get all brand new strut mount bushings etc... __________________ 1988 GT Vert- 306 AOD built Trans, K&N Cold Air Intake, Mac Catback, many more mods... MAC Long Tubes Coming soon, Dr. Gas Custom X Pipe, 347 Stroker Kit Coming Soon...

March 24th, 2008, 11:01 PM	#5
nolife Hardcore Enthusiast 91GT, 88GT, 02GT Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,723	I did mine about 10-15 years ago. Very straight forward and it is an easy job. The only part I remember having any problems with was taking off the upper strut nuts. The whole upper part of the strut kept spinning instead of just the nut. I think I ended up cutting the upper plastic sleeve off the stock strut in the wheel well and using a pipe wrench to hold the strut shaft while turning the nut. It completely trashed the shaft but your replacing them anyway. Looking at the top of the strut from the engine compartment, you will see a slot in the shaft that looks like you could stick an extremely large flat screwdriver or a chisel or piece of metal stock etc in there to hold the shaft while using a boxed end wrench to turn the nut but attempting that only lead to bloody knuckles. It wouldn't hurt to get some WD40 or PB blaster on all of your bolts now. __________________ Looking for a decent 90-92 Titanium hatch pull cover and retaining clips Last edited by nolife : March 24th, 2008 at 11:11 PM.

Sponsored Links	Remove Advertisements
Forums at Modded Mustangs Advertisement

March 24th, 2008, 11:31 PM	#7
ridebmxfbm Regular 1988 Mustang GT Vert Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Colonia, NJ Posts: 401	yes... those lol I kept the old ones and now they're all messed up and have to change them... __________________ 1988 GT Vert- 306 AOD built Trans, K&N Cold Air Intake, Mac Catback, many more mods... MAC Long Tubes Coming soon, Dr. Gas Custom X Pipe, 347 Stroker Kit Coming Soon...

March 25th, 2008, 12:14 PM	#9
ridebmxfbm Regular 1988 Mustang GT Vert Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Colonia, NJ Posts: 401	It will depend on where to go to get it done, I know mine is $60 for each side so $120 all together... Are you getting springs too or no? __________________ 1988 GT Vert- 306 AOD built Trans, K&N Cold Air Intake, Mac Catback, many more mods... MAC Long Tubes Coming soon, Dr. Gas Custom X Pipe, 347 Stroker Kit Coming Soon...

Threads Similar to: Installing shocks/struts
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Shocks and Struts?	chris1	4V / SVT	17	May 12th, 2009 10:16 PM
Installing New Shocks/Struts On A 95	SPF0percent	Suspension	1	December 7th, 2007 06:24 AM
Shocks Struts, and Quad Shocks?	2000roush	99-04	2	December 4th, 2007 08:27 PM
KYB shocks and Struts	ridebmxfbm	5.0 Mustangs	2	August 19th, 2007 02:34 PM
shocks and struts?	MisterFast3	V6 Mustangs	2	July 31st, 2007 08:01 AM

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:40 AM.
Contact Us - Modded Mustangs - Privacy Statement - Top
Modded Mustangs is ©2005-2008, All Rights Reserved, And is Not Affiliated with Ford Motor Company. Forum is powered by vBulletin ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Ent. Ltd. & SEO by vBSEO 3.1.0 ©2007, Crawlability, Inc.