raxxus

Do you need to compress the spring when putting it back together? Putting on the washer with the rest, it looks as if I could easily just tighten the nut to the 33 ft lbs required. But if I use my compressor, I don't know how I'd know what torque I install it with? Thanks!

raxxus

NM, found a good writeup here.

Koni Shocks

Looks like you don't need them to install the springs.

Injuneer

I did the front shocks/springs on my 94, and you need a spring compressor. The article you linked shows the spring compressor:



You compress the spring with the bottom of the spring in the lower seat, then with the spring compressed, you put the top spring seat/shock mount on and tighten the upper shock nut enough to be sure the spring seat will stay in place. Remove the compressor, then worry about torquing the top nut.

Note that when you assemble the upper spring mount, it has to be correctly oriented to the lower shock mount, or you will not be able to get the two bolts for the shock in the lower a-arm, at the same time you fit the upper spring seat/shock mount studs into the shock tower. Once the spring is assembled, you can't rotate the position of the upper spring seat studs to get the correct alignment with the lower shock bolts. An excpetion would be if you have an adjustable height lower spring seat that will rotate freely on the shock, like the QA1's.

raxxus

Thanks! Luckily, I haven't driven it anywhere. I'm going to take it apart tonight and torque that nut with the spring compressed. First time ever tearing struts apart.

Whoops!