Front shock removal question.

[OIF1VET]

Need to send my front QA1's off for rebuild and have them revalved as an "R" series shock. Will I need a spring compressor to remove them or can I just remove the mount bolts and slowly lower the a-arm(with the car supported) to relieve the tension on the spring? Never swapped out front shocks, just want to make sure I don't eat a spring!!

[OIF1VET]

Did a little looking around, do 4th gen front shocks have a spring nut on top of the shock to hold the spring in place? If so looks like you have to have a spring compressor to remove the spring.. Anyone?

[ITSSLOW]

Need to send my front QA1's off for rebuild and have them revalved as an "R" series shock. Will I need a spring compressor to remove them or can I just remove the mount bolts and slowly lower the a-arm(with the car supported) to relieve the tension on the spring? Never swapped out front shocks, just want to make sure I don't eat a spring!!

Remove upper shock bolts (from eng. compartment), remove tire, seperate upper control arm and knuckle, remove lower shock bolts, pull out shock

[c0ncEpT]

Please god do us a favor and don't remove the top center bolt. We don't need another thread about someone is injured :-\

Yes you will need to take it somewhere to get the spring and shock separated.

But your going to need to remove the master cylinder from the drivers side. But other than that I think Tom hit the nail on the head.

[OIF1VET]

Please god do us a favor and don't remove the top center bolt. We don't need another thread about someone is injured :-\

But your going to need to remove the master cylinder from the drivers side. But other than that I think Tom hit the nail on the head.

Yes you will need to take it somewhere to get the spring and shock separated.

I won't be removing it until I have a spring compressor in place.. You can count on that.. And yes, I just went out and looked, it appears the master cylinder is in the way of one of the bolts. Do you think you can just remove the two M.C. mount bolts and carefully move it a little without removing the brake lines?

[1BADAIR]

pull the two master cyclinder nuts and move it out a little to get to the torx bolts and remove the two nuts. The pass side has two bolts(13mm) and two nuts. Then you have to unhook the sway bar links. Remove the two lower bolts 15&13. No need to unhook the ball joint.
On a qa1 you don't really need a compressor depending on your ride height.
WHen you remove the strut the spring may be loose( try to spin it in the strut) If not you can lower the adjuster till their is no tension on them.
measure from the bottom of the threads to the adjuster before you do this so you can reset the ride height easy.
When you put them back together put anti-seize inside the upper mount sleeve and the shaft threads. This is a know rust area on F-bodies and sometimes makes strut replacement very difficult and costly< see my wanted post. Broke a shock shaft on a Raj's car while trying to install lowering springs

[OIF1VET]

pull the two master cyclinder nuts and move it out a little to get to the torx bolts and remove the two nuts. The pass side has two bolts(13mm) and two nuts. Then you have to unhook the sway bar links. Remove the two lower bolts 15&13. No need to unhook the ball joint.
On a qa1 you don't really need a compressor depending on your ride height.
WHen you remove the strut the spring may be loose( try to spin it in the strut) If not you can lower the adjuster till their is no tension on them.
measure from the bottom of the threads to the adjuster before you do this so you can reset the ride height easy.
When you put them back together put anti-seize inside the upper mount sleeve and the shaft threads. This is a know rust area on F-bodies and sometimes makes strut replacement very difficult and costly< see my wanted post. Broke a shock shaft on a Raj's car while trying to install lowering springs

Cool, Thanks.. Don't have my front sway bar on so that's one less step.. You all know what I'll be doing this weekend!!

[WMCCjames]

You all know what I'll be doing this weekend!!

Drinking beer and napping on the couch?

[OIF1VET]

Drinking beer and napping on the couch?

Well, besides that..

[1BADAIR]

what springs do you have?

[OIF1VET]

what springs do you have?

They were on the car when I bought it.. I saw the tag on them the other day but don't remember the brand(The car is lowered).. Or are you talking about the spring rate?

[1BADAIR]

just wondered if they were stock style or QA1

[OIF1VET]

just wondered if they were stock style or QA1

They're not stock.. That I do know.. Guess I'll find out Saturday..

[TSTONE]

2002 Pontiac Firebird | Camaro, Firebird (VIN F) Service Manual | Suspension | Front Suspension | Repair Instructions | Document ID: 716134
Shock Absorber Replacement
Tools Required

• J 34013-B Strut Spring Compressor
• J 34013-114 Shock Compressor Adapter
• J 34013-88 Strut Compressor Adapter
• J 39549 Ball Joint and Tie Rod End Separator
• J 39642 Modular Shock Nut Removal Tool Set
• J 34013-115 Modular Shock Alignment Rod

Removal Procedure

1. 
   
   Notice: Use care when handling the coil springs in order to avoid chipping or scratching the coating. Damage to the coating will result in premature failure of the coil springs.
   If servicing the driver side shock absorber, perform the following:
   1.1. Remove the brake master cylinder nuts.
   1.2. Gently move the brake master cylinder to one side.
   Remove the shock absorber upper mounting bolts (18) and nuts (17). Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information. Remove the tire and the wheel. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels. Remove the stabilizer shaft link. Refer to Stabilizer Shaft Link Replacement . Remove the shock absorber lower bolts (11) and nuts (3). Remove and discard the lower control arm cotter pin (7). Remove the lower control arm nut (8). Using J 39549 separate the lower ball joint (10) from the steering knuckle (6). Remove the lower control arm (12) and lower ball joint (10) from the steering knuckle (6). Important: Use chalk or paint in order to mark, do not scribe the lower mount location relative to the upper mount location before removing the shock absorber and coil spring.
2. Remove the shock absorber (13) and the coil spring (14) from the vehicle.

Disassembly Procedure

1. 
   
   J 34013-B .
   
   
   Install J 34013-114 to J 34013-B using the following mounting holes.
   • For the driver-side shock absorber and coil spring:
   - C-H, lower left corner
   - P, upper right corner
   • For the passenger-side shock absorber and coil spring:
   - A-X-P, upper left corner
   - C-H ,lower right corner
   
   
   
   Important: Align J 34013-114 and J 34013-88 so that these tools may open and close together. If J 34013-114 and J 34013-88 do not align properly, the tools will not open.
   Install the shock absorber and coil spring to J 34013-114 and J 34013-88 .
   
   
   Important: Align the top of the shock absorber flat against J 34013-114 .
   Install the driver side shock absorber (2) and coil spring (1) to the top of J 34013-114 .
   
   
   Install the passenger side shock absorber (2) and coil spring (1) to the top of J 34013-114 .
   
   
   Install the shock absorber (1) to J 34013-88 . Close J 34013-88 and install the locking pin. Important: If the mounting ears of the shock absorber are not facing downward, toward the rear of J 34013-B , the shock absorber will not align properly.
   >Turn the screw on J 34013-B counterclockwise in order to raise the shock absorber up to J 34013-114 . Align the top of the shock absorber flat against the tool with the studs going through the guide holes in J 34013-114 . Caution: Do not over compress the spring. Severe overloading may cause tool failure which could result in bodily injury.
   Compress the coil spring approximately 13 mm (0.50 in). Insert J 39642 -1 on the shock absorber nut, then insert J 39642 -2 through J 39642 -1 in order to hold the shock absorber rod in place. Remove the shock absorber nut using J 39642 -1 while holding the shock absorber rod from rotating with J 39642 -2. Discard the shock absorber nut. Turn J 34013-B clockwise in order to fully relieve coil spring tension. Remove the coil spring from the shock absorber.
2. Remove the shock absorber from J 34013-88 .

Assembly Procedure

1. 
   
   Install the shock absorber (1) to J 34013-88 . Install the coil spring to the shock absorber.
   Important:
   • Face the mounting ears of the shock absorber downward, toward the rear of J 34013-B or the shock absorber will not align properly.
   • Before removing the shock absorber, use chalk or paint in order to mark the lower mount location relative to the upper mount location, or you will not be able to properly reinstall the shock absorber. Do NOT scribe.
   
   Close J 34013-88 and engage the locking pin. Position the upper and lower coil spring seats correctly. Important: Align the top of the shock absorber flat against J 34013-114 .
   Install the shock absorber to the top of J 34013-114 . Important: Only turn the screw until the shock absorber secures itself in J 34013-B . Do not load the coil spring.
   Turn the screw on J 34013-B counterclockwise in order to raise the shock absorber up to J 34013-114 without compressing the coil spring. Important: Ensure that J 34013-115 is straight with the shock absorber.
   Place J 34013-115 down through the top of J 34013-B to the top of the shock absorber. Caution: Do not over compress the spring. Severe overloading may cause tool failure which could result in bodily injury.
   Turn the operating screw clockwise in order to compress the coil spring until the threaded portion of the shock absorber is through the top of the shock absorber mount. Remove J 34013-115 . Important: Always use a new shock absorber nut. Never reinstall the original nut.
   Insert the new shock absorber nut on the shock absorber. Place J 39642 -1 on the shock absorber nut. Notice: Turning the shock absorber while tightening the nut may damage the shock absorber. In order to prevent damage, keep the shock absorber in a stationary position while tightening the nut.
   Insert J 39642 -2 through J 39642 -1 and tighten the shock absorber nut. Tighten the shock absorber nut while holding onto J 39642 -2.
2. Remove the shock absorber and coil spring from J 34013-B .

Installation Procedure

1. 
   
   Align and install the shock absorber (13) and coil spring (14) to the lower control arm (12). Notice: Use the correct fastener in the correct location. Replacement fasteners must be the correct part number for that application. Fasteners requiring replacement or fasteners requiring the use of thread locking compound or sealant are identified in the service procedure. Do not use paints, lubricants, or corrosion inhibitors on fasteners or fastener joint surfaces unless specified. These coatings affect fastener torque and joint clamping force and may damage the fastener. Use the correct tightening sequence and specifications when installing fasteners in order to avoid damage to parts and systems.
   Install the shock absorber lower bolts (11) and nuts (3). Tighten
   Tighten the shock absorber lower nuts (3) to 65 N&#183;m (48 lb ft).
   Align and Install the lower ball joint (10) to the steering knuckle (6). Install the lower ball joint nut (8). Tighten
   Tighten the lower ball joint nut (8) to 110 N&#183;m (81 lb ft).
   Important: Never loosen the control arm nut in order to align the cotter pin slot, it is permissible to over torque the control arm nut 1/6 of a turn MAX.
   Install the new lower ball joint cotter pin (7). Install the stabilizer shaft link. Refer to Stabilizer Shaft Link Replacement . Install the tire and the wheel. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels. Lower the vehicle. Install the shock absorber upper mounting bolts (18) and nuts (17).
   Tighten
   • Tighten the shock absorber upper mounting nuts (17) to 41 N&#183;m (30 lb ft).
   • Tighten the shock absorber upper mounting bolts (18) to 50 N&#183;m (37 lb ft).
2. If servicing the driver side shock absorber, perform the following:
   10.1. Gently, reposition the brake master cylinder into position.
   10.2. Install the brake master cylinder nuts.
   Tighten
   Tighten the brake master cylinder nuts to 29 N&#183;m (21 lb ft).

&#169; 2008 General Motors Corporation. All rights reserved.

[GETGONE]

A little tip for future removal, swap the torx bolts on the drivers side with the regular bolts from the passenger side. You can take them out with a box wrench(ratcheting ones are great!) and not have to loosen and pull out the master cylinder again. I did this on both my cars when I had them apart. I bought a heavy duty spring compressor but the hooks are so large it's difficult to get it apart and back together without them being in the way. NAPA will charge about $30 to remove the springs for a pair.