Need Help! Trying to lower my car

epreski7 · Nov 24, 2014

I tried lowering my car today and it was just a disaster. My biggest question is why when I try unloosening the center bolt on the top of the shock it just spins the entire shock with it making it impossible to take off can someone help me out with this. My second problem was that it was a complete nightmare trying to my rear shock back is there any specific way to put them in? My last question is how do the front shocks come out am I suppose to remove the entire wishbone shaped mount with it? If anyone can help me please. P.S I don't have air tools or anything like that.

RamenPride · Nov 24, 2014

epreski7 said:
My biggest question is why when I try unloosening the center bolt on the top of the shock it just spins the entire shock with it making it impossible to take off can someone help me out with this.

If the shocks are stock, you can put pliers/vice grips, or a crescent wrench on the tip which should be flat on both sides. This will keep the shaft from spinning and allow you to remove the nut. If they're aftermarket, there should be a flat spot near the top where you can use a wrench to keep the shaft from spinning. If all else fails and you're replacing the shocks anyway..... clamp some vice grips right onto the shaft.

epreski7 said:
My second problem was that it was a complete nightmare trying to my rear shock back is there any specific way to put them in?

On the bottom mount of the shock, one side is actually larger than the other and tapered. This side slides onto the bottom mount first. Other than that, just line up the two studs with the holes up top...... Push the suspension up/down as needed.

epreski7 said:
My last question is how do the front shocks come out am I suppose to remove the entire wishbone shaped mount with it? If anyone can help me please. P.S I don't have air tools or anything like that.

You have to unbolt that fork mount, but once you get it off the bottom of the strut you can just leave it resting on the axle. Make sure to remove the swaybar link also. Once I remove the top bolt that cinches it onto the bottom of the strut, I just whack it with a hammer or mallet to get it off. Air tools aren't needed, basic hand tools will do.

pauleyman · Nov 24, 2014

You are using coil spring compressors? Yourr not just blindly trying to remove the top nut are you?

epreski7 · Nov 24, 2014

RamenPride said:
If the shocks are stock, you can put pliers/vice grips, or a crescent wrench on the tip which should be flat on both sides. This will keep the shaft from spinning and allow you to remove the nut. If they're aftermarket, there should be a flat spot near the top where you can use a wrench to keep the shaft from spinning. If all else fails and you're replacing the shocks anyway..... clamp some vice grips right onto the shaft.

On the bottom mount of the shock, one side is actually larger than the other and tapered. This side slides onto the bottom mount first. Other than that, just line up the two studs with the holes up top...... Push the suspension up/down as needed.

You have to unbolt that fork mount, but once you get it off the bottom of the strut you can just leave it resting on the axle. Make sure to remove the swaybar link also. Once I remove the top bolt that cinches it onto the bottom of the strut, I just whack it with a hammer or mallet to get it off. Air tools aren't needed, basic hand tools will do.

I didn't notice that, which tool would you recommend because that flat spot looks extremely small I'm not sure what would get a good grip on it. I have stock struts in it.

So there shouldn't be any need to remove any control arms and stuff in the rear? No matter how much I tried pushing on the suspension down it wouldn't give me enough room to put the shock in. I had to disconnect it from the damper near the top and that was a nightmare getting that back in

Alright Thanks that's what I was assuming just wanted to make sure, do I have to remove that one bolt that in the y fork I believe which is the camber bolt? Alright thanks I just wanted to make sure no one told me to use an air ratchet for the bolt on top because that's what most people say to do[DOUBLEPOST=1416880393][/DOUBLEPOST]

pauleyman said:
You are using coil spring compressors? Yourr not just blindly trying to remove the top nut are you?

Yea I have compressors but the bolt wasn't coming off withier they were tightend or off but I didn't notice that flat spot he was talking about

Maes · Nov 24, 2014

It will be hard if you don't have air tools. It will be much easier if you do. impact gun and it will come off easily without that I hope you have big muscles LOL

and good luck my friend

epreski7 · Nov 24, 2014

Maes said:
It will be hard if you don't have air tools. It will be much easier if you do. impact gun and it will come off easily without that I hope you have big muscles and good luck my friend

No I don't have any special tools like that I cant afford it wouldn't it just spin the whole shock like it does when you use your hands anyways just really fast

pauleyman · Nov 24, 2014

You need to remove the unit as a whole, then compress springs then remove the nut. Why are yountrying to remove the center nut with the unit still on the car?

Maes · Nov 24, 2014

Yes exactly what pauleyman said remove it as a hole and then use an impact gun to take the nut off the top. its really that easy. if you don't have the tools then find someone that does or take it somewhere and ask if you can borrow theirs don't be afraid to ask man there are a lot of good people on this planet still. I would let you use mine if you were near me

epreski7 · Nov 24, 2014

pauleyman said:
You need to remove the unit as a whole, then compress springs then remove the nut. Why are yountrying to remove the center nut with the unit still on the car?

Im not it was out of the car, I did that but I have to figure something out with that nut

Maes · Nov 24, 2014

Either vise grips or a vise would prolly be your best option

epreski7 · Nov 24, 2014

Maes said:
Either vise grips or a vise would prolly be your best option

Im going to have to try something like that, if not id have to bring them to a mechanic shop I don't know anyone with a impact gun, people in my town are real mechanic dependant

Maes · Nov 24, 2014

doesn't hurt to go to a shop and ask if you can use an impact gun or even a tire place

epreski7 · Nov 24, 2014

Maes said:
doesn't hurt to go to a shop and ask if you can use an impact gun or even a tire place

If I cant take it off at home I might have too and they'd probably charge me too

Maes · Nov 24, 2014

just ask if you can borrow and that you will do it yourself man if they say it cost this amount say that you will do it yourself and give them 5 bucks or something

epreski7 · Nov 24, 2014

Does anyone know how hard that bolt is to remove would I be able to remove it by hand with a wrench and vice grips or adjustable wrench to hold down the flat spot[DOUBLEPOST=1416885538][/DOUBLEPOST]

Maes said:
just ask if you can borrow and that you will do it yourself man if they say it cost this amount say that you will do it yourself and give them 5 bucks or something

You think a major mechanic shop would let me do that, that's mostly what we have here like Pepboys, tire kingdom, places like that.

Maes · Nov 24, 2014

Yes I don't see why not. Those are franchises. Just regular people

briansmith · Nov 24, 2014

Sounds like no offense u have no idea what u are doing. Removing the top nut on the strut assy with out a spring compressor and knowing how to use it correctly can land u in the hospital quick. U need to take it to a shop and let them do it a few 100 bucks now is way better than a trip to the emergency room or dentist

epreski7 · Nov 24, 2014

briansmith said:
Sounds like no offense u have no idea what u are doing. Removing the top nut on the strut assy with out a spring compressor and knowing how to use it correctly can land u in the hospital quick. U need to take it to a shop and let them do it a few 100 bucks now is way better than a trip to the emergency room or dentist

I have spring compressors I know that part im not going to end up im hospital, my questions is the nut to remove the the plate holding the spring to the shock just keeps spinning with the rest of the shock

briansmith · Nov 24, 2014

That nut is a nylon lock nut under the top hat between the spring coils vise grip the shock shaft tightly then hold the vise grips and remove with a ratchet. If it's rly stuck on the u might have to let pressure off the spring compressor to alow the spring to put tension on the strut hat just don't remove the nut fully until u re compress the spring. This is the way u must do it without a impact gun. Remember the install the vise grips towards the top of the shaft. This will score it and if u ever plan on re using the strut u want to keep the scores as far away from the seal in the lower strut body[DOUBLEPOST=1416886716][/DOUBLEPOST]If u can't follow it YouTube it they u will see the dos. And most Def the don't of spring removals

2ndGenOrDie · Dec 30, 2014

I'm confused. Are you installing lowering springs? The shock is OFF the car? You kinda need an impact tool to tighten the spring compressors.... If the spring compressor is tightened down correctly, you shouldn't have any issue with getting that nut off with some vice grips and a wrench.

PS: DON'T AIM THE SHOCK AT ANYTHING YOU WANT NOT DEAD (hahaha just a joke, but be cautious.)

epreski7 · Jan 1, 2015

2ndGenOrDie said:
I'm confused. Are you installing lowering springs? The shock is OFF the car? You kinda need an impact tool to tighten the spring compressors.... If the spring compressor is tightened down correctly, you shouldn't have any issue with getting that nut off with some vice grips and a wrench.

PS: DON'T AIM THE SHOCK AT ANYTHING YOU WANT NOT DEAD (hahaha just a joke, but be cautious.)

Thanks I already put them on though. Yes I was installing springs but I compressed them without a impact gun most of them you can compress with a ratchet just a lot easier with an impact. I was able to remove the nut it with 2 wrenchs

Slahm · Jan 1, 2015

You can do anything to the car without impact tools. Glad to hear you got it done. You may want to keep an eye out for a big giant ratchet though!

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