///BHRpowered Posted October 26, 2006 Report Share Posted October 26, 2006 Not for a mazda, but I have never actually changed out shocks before and was just wondering how most people do it. I mean if I unbolt them top and bottom , is it going to try and shoot to full lenght, and with the new shocks, what do I do. move the axle up and bolt it in while the shock is compressed, or extend it out and bolt it? Also, just random question. But I'v been told that I can't reuse the factory bolts which sounds like crap to me. If I take out the bolts, put in a direct replacement, why can't I use the same bolts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mts Posted October 27, 2006 Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 Once bolts have been torqued, and hammered by the suspension, you should always replace them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
///BHRpowered Posted October 27, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 Would they be brittle? or is it one of those, "you if you have to, but its better to just replace them" Because I have no idea where I would get new bolts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohamedeladawy@hotmail.com Posted October 27, 2006 Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 i think if they are fine, then they are fine. however, if they look visually messed up, its a good idea to replace them or u could mess up more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renboy Posted October 28, 2006 Report Share Posted October 28, 2006 Fuck that, if they're not corroded to hell, put them back. The only bolts I would replace even if the old ones look good are head bolts, the rest are reusable. And the reason they say to replace them is that bolts stretch, and after stretching the factory torque specs don't apply anymore. On top of that, there are corrosion issues, and in some instances hardening issues due to heat cycles. As for suspension, if they're not fucked, then they're good. What are you replacing shocks or struts? If you're replacing shocks, then there's no danger of anything, they move so slowly that if it did expand and hit you in the head, you wouldn't even feel it. It would be more of a gentle push. If replacing struts, then you have to worry about the mounts. When you unscrew the mounts from the top of the strut, you have to have pressure on the spring so that it's compressed. If you don't, and the mount hits you in the head as it flys off at vicious speeds, it will in the very least tear your jaw off with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
///BHRpowered Posted October 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2006 Ren, I'm replacing the shocks in my jeep which only have about 20k on them. I'm replacing them because I need shocks with more travel for the lift. They are bilstein 5150's if that helps. Everything looks good, no corrison or anything. I was just wondering how I get the shocks on and off. I have a spring compressor (outside gripping design) I was told to unbolt the sway bar, then drop the axle somehow with the jack slowely. Afterwards the shock is fully extended, so I figured just 1 bolt at the top, 1 at the bottom and its out. But getting the new shock back is the issue. They came semi compressed and I didn't want to risk damaging them by letting them fly free, or risk them being 2 long to bolt in and myself not being able to push them back in without special tools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renboy Posted October 29, 2006 Report Share Posted October 29, 2006 You can let them fully extend without any problems or risk of damage. And squeezing them back into place can be done by hand. Shocks are only dampeners, they don't carry the weight of the car, the springs do. The rest of the instructions you got were probably accurate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
///BHRpowered Posted October 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2006 I wouldn't call them the best instructions ever, especially this rear sleeve mount. http://www.kevinsjeepparts.com/wj/wjinstal...nstallwjbb.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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