Received my KYB front and rear shocks today.

[kensmith]

Well, the fun begins as I received my set of 4 shocks today. Not sure how I am going to get the front driver side off. Looks like a real pain as no room at the top mounting area. Guess I'll have to get my 4 letter words out a few times!

[azygoustoyou]

Hi Ken,
I had to use vise grips to hold the shaft to loosen the nut.
I can't remember if you have to remove the springs but if you do, just use a chain with a chain link connector. Jack the control arm as high as you can, put the chain around the spring with the connector as tight as you can, and slowly lower the control arm the spring can be removed easily. Do it in reverse to put back on. just make sure the chain is strong enough. If you don't have to touch the springs, ignore this

[kensmith]

Wow, it was a real pain but I got it off. Had to use a strap around the top half of the shock between the spring to keep it from turning while I turn the top nut. No room for a wrench on the nut, had to use a socket. Passenger side was easy, I could use a wrench on it with lots of room. Come to find out the old ones are also KYB and look to be in good shape. Think I take on the rears tomorrow. Sure hope they are easier?

[kensmith]

Did the rears yesterday. They were also KYBs and pretty bad. One had hardly any rebound left, the other rebound was very slow. Installing went better than expected. 2 Jack stands, a floor jack, and 1 scissor jack makes the project easy. I jacked the car up with the floor jack under the pumpkin so the tires were about 3 or 4 inches off the ground and then placed jack stands at the rear rocker areas designed for jacking. Removed the wheels, removed the old shock top nuts and bottom nuts. Let the floor jack down just enough to make sure no pressure on the rear brake line. Then took the scissor jack under one rotor and raised it about 6 inches which in turn lowers the opposite side 6 inches so I could pull the spring out from the lower perch and slide the old shock out and new one in. Then lowered the scissor jack and repeated the process on the other rotor. After securing both the shocks with nuts, reinstalled the wheels, raised the rear pumpkin to remove the jack stands, lowered the car and torqued the wheels. I work slow so it took maybe 2 hours. To me, fronts were harder due to limited space on the driver side. Did a bounce test and the rear now is much firmer and rebounds much faster than before.