I have two stock front shocks ready to go in. They already have the spring compressed on it. How difficult is it to take out my current ones and put these in ? Should i just pay a garage to do it?

 

What is the brand? Are they adjustables? The difficulty kind of depends on those things.

 

It is enough work that I wouldn't waste my time if I was just replacing stock for stock.

You will need an alignment also since you will be removing the upper control arms.

Check out the shoebox site he has a good install guide.

Z28

 

They are stock orange decarbons. I just put on the rears in like 30 min. I might just pay a shop to do the fronts.

 

That might be the easiest route to go considering it doesn't cost that much to install them and they are going to have to do an alignment on the vehicle anyhow.

 

If you have the springs and shocks already assemble AND you are positive the upper spring seat is assembled in the correct position relative to the lower shock mount, it isn't that hard to swap them out. Its a matter of removing the 2 nuts and 2 bolts (Torx required) from the top of each shock tower, and forcing the suspension down to the point where you can pull the spring/shock assembly out of the a-arms. One way is to loosen at least one end link on the sway bar, and then separate the upper ball joint. The upper joint will often come apart with a few taps (on the side, not on the threads) of a hammer. And, in response to my online spring/shock removal guide, several people have told me they were able to get the spring/shock assembly out WITHOUT loosening the sway bar or separating the ball joint. You would really have to "muscle" the lower a-arm down to do it that way.

Although you are removing the upper A-arm, there is no "adjustment" provided in the way its mounted to the shock tower.... a fairly tight fit. Might not need an alignment, but its always good to have a check done.

http://members.aol.com/InjuneerZZ/HALEibch.htm

 

Its easy enough since you already have the springs on them.

 

If you have them assembled it really makes it a whole lot easier...the tricky part the other way is not killing yourself releasing tension off the coil...

 

To put it mildly. I tried to be civil replacing the fronts. I couldn't get the bottom of the shock out, so in a fit of rage I stomped on the control arm and it popped out. Poly bushings did not help.

I did apologize to her and told her it was for her own good.

 

I had the knuckles off of mine when I replaced my upper control arms last week, and I had to get after the spring/shock assembly like a deranged gorilla to get it loose. It would seem worth it to me to go ahead and remove the steering knuckle, as that isn't a difficult part of the process.

The worst part of swapping out the shocks is when you have to remove the rusty nut holding upper shock mount to the shock itself, and then get everything lined up correctly going back in. If you don't have to go through any of that, definitely do it yourself.