abe_lincoln78
Active LVC Member
Alright, so no doubt many of you have experienced the frustration of trying to remove the rear shocks on your TC without having the proper instructions before you (I know I did), so in order to make this job easier for everyone else who attempts this project in the future, here is my how-to guide. . . sans pictures.
Tools you will need:
Overall, this is a fairly straight forward and easy install if you know how to do it. I was on the verge of going somewhere and letting somone else cut those things off but when I cooled down and did some web surfing I was able to find enough information for me to peice together how to do this. Now its all in one place.
For my install I used OEM shocks. They cost me about $100 from the Ford dealership. I must say the suspension now has much better control over the motion of the body. The ride is a touch more stiff in the back than with the shocks I removed, but this is likely due to the fact that the old ones were worthless.
Happy mechanicing!
Tools you will need:
9/16" open or box end wrench
Crescent wrench (1-1/16 jaw opening or bigger)
Impact wrench (this is important)
18mm 1/2" drive socket
18mm open end wrench
Floor jack (duh)
Jack Stands
Whatever size socket fits your lug nuts (1/2" drive)
- Now that you have all of your tools gathered, turn off the Air Ride and jack up the rear of your car using the differential housing as the lift point.
- Place the jack stands under the frame and lower the vehicle until part of the car's weight is on them (I would leave most of the weight still on the axle, the jack stands are more there for safety than anything else. If you let the suspension extend a half inch or so you should be ok. The system will still let out some air and put more weight on the stands.
- Remove your tires.
- Place the 9/16" wrench on the nut securing the top of the shock to the frame, get underneath the car, and use the crescent wrench to grab onto the hex at the very top of the shock (this will be a tight fit, but it works). Use the crescent wrench to break the top nut loose.
- Now take the impact wrench and place it on the nut that faces the rear of the car. Use the 18mm open end wrench to hold the bolt on the other side of the mounting point (this is important as the nut will not come off without this held still). You may have to remove some isolators from the exhaust to get your impact wrench on the nut, but trust me, without it that nut won't come off.
- Remove the bottom nut and twist the shock with your hands to remove the top nut. Try not to let the nut and bushing fall between the body of the car and the frame. They're hard to get back out.
- Install the new shock using all hand tools (you don't want to ruin the mounts of the new shock with your impact wrench) and repeat the process on the other side.
- To let the car off the jack stands, first jack the rear axle up as far as your jack will go and turn on the air ride. Put the ignition in ON and the pump will come on and lift the frame off your jack stands. Let the car down and away you go with new shocks and (in my case) a much safer ride.
Overall, this is a fairly straight forward and easy install if you know how to do it. I was on the verge of going somewhere and letting somone else cut those things off but when I cooled down and did some web surfing I was able to find enough information for me to peice together how to do this. Now its all in one place.
For my install I used OEM shocks. They cost me about $100 from the Ford dealership. I must say the suspension now has much better control over the motion of the body. The ride is a touch more stiff in the back than with the shocks I removed, but this is likely due to the fact that the old ones were worthless.
Happy mechanicing!
