Community Forums

spritz · 09-17-2014, 01:35 PM

We can do our own maintenance on the 82 PA and a neighbor that likes too help us out and has more manically know-how. I am wondering if we could tackle removing the old shocks and re-place them with New shocks? We have a floor jack a 8 ton bottle jack and air tools, and a breaker bar. One tool I don't have is a torque wrench.

There are only 2 bolts, it can't be that hard is it?
Any one tackle this themselves?

Thanks, Tim

Mr_D · 09-17-2014, 01:47 PM

It easy to do.
I was testing shocks on our Dutch Star and did the front IFS 5 or 6 times. In ours the main bolts take something like 125 ft lbs but I do own several torque wrenches. You can get them at Harbor Freight pretty reasonably. I know there are lots of people out there that disapprove of Harbor Freights tools, but for an occasional or one time use they are fine. I prefer good tools though.

monkey · 09-17-2014, 04:32 PM

I installed front coil springs AND koni shocks on our 95 Chevy P32 with no special tools... Simple hand tools... Ok, I did have a ball joint fork, but you won't need that... Heck you don't even need to jack it up to replace shocks unless you want the extra room... Chock your wheels !!! You don't want that thing moving while you're under there.... Monkey

dirtmover · 09-18-2014, 10:15 AM

Yeah, it really is as easy as you suspect. Worst you may have to deal with a rusted/seized fastener.

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Davel · 09-18-2014, 10:35 PM

As Dirtmover said, rusted bolts will be the issue. I would start dousing them with some good penetrating oil a few days before you start. Also give them a few whacks with a hammer as the vibration helps the penetrating oil work.

good luck,
Dave

bruceh · 09-21-2014, 10:43 AM

A Harbor Freight torque wrench is not expensive. Air tools help a lot. The advice to slather the bolts with WD-40 or whatever is key.

Harbor Freight also sells a 3/4" drive set for about $40.

dirtmover · 09-22-2014, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruceh

The advice to slather the bolts with WD-40 or whatever is key.

Just a note on WD-40. It's great at displacing water, hence the name WD, but as a penetrant it is not the best. I've tried many of the commercially available preparations but switched to a simple 50:50 mix of power steering fluid and acetone a number of years ago. I found it works as well or better than anything else I'd tried.

benge1 · 09-22-2014, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spritz

We can do our own maintenance on the 82 PA and a neighbor that likes too help us out and has more manically know-how. I am wondering if we could tackle removing the old shocks and re-place them with New shocks? We have a floor jack a 8 ton bottle jack and air tools, and a breaker bar. One tool I don't have is a torque wrench.

There are only 2 bolts, it can't be that hard is it?
Any one tackle this themselves?

Thanks, Tim

A mechanic friend did the job in 45 minutes tops. That's after I jacked it up. My air wrench was not strong enough to break the nuts loose which I bought at Harbor.. You need two sizes of impact sockets. His impact wrench best I remember was 550 ft# torque.

spritz · 09-23-2014, 05:51 PM

Got her done was fairly easy. I sprayed them a few days in advance with WD-40. I have the air tools and it broke them lose in a few seconds. I really think they were the originals not much chush in them. They had springs on them that appear to be after-market. They have 4 hex bolts to remove them, After I see how she rides I might try to install them on the new Bilstiens.

I just can't wait for the rears too get here, I am going to try and do them too.
I took pictures and will upload them tomorrow.
Thanks for the advice, Tim