Re: Who has replaced their shocks, and why
A report card on the swap:
1) my boxes contained everything needed. Someone else's didn't.
2) comparing compression/rebound of old/new was interesting. ~ 150 lbs/200lbs (WAG) and rebound was about twice as slow for the new ones.
3) I would suggest removing all of the top nuts first. THEN proceed.
4) The KYB hardware assortment took a couple of minutes to figure out. Follow the diagrams (no actual words, of course) on the directions sheet.
5) The TOP soft parts should be re-used. KYB diagram shows where to put the new ones underneath.
6) Install the bottom cross-bolt first, Then let the car down, sloooowly while guiding the top rod through the body holes....
Oh, yeah: we had to use a scissor jack to force the rear suspension down to remove/install the shock in the rear. The shocks (old and new) are too long to remove.
The bottom is in a dish and the rod is still sticking through the hole!
The new ones are ~ 1/2" longer. We had to manually compress them and tether them short with cable ties. PITA.
My car rides on Eibachs. Lowered. I did NOT have to remove the bump stops in the new ones. There is a bridge South East of Lineville, AL that I call the "NASCAR Bridge".
At the bottom of a hollow, on a curve, and cambered for ~ 70 MPH. A real attention-getter. Posted speed limit is 45, but I hit it at 70. Didn't bottom out.
This, and the confusion about the soft parts swap probably explains the PITA report from the installer shop earlier in this thread.
Information is the most valuable commodity....
The ride quality has improved a whole lot. ~ 75% of the creaks/rattles that all Crossfire's have went away! Cracks in the pavement no longer bring on a cringe from me in anticipation of it rattling my teeth.
Best $200 I've spent on this car in a loooong time. And George and I got to trade barbs for a few hours: Priceless!
And, I failed to mention: we met JoeP. One of the nicest men I've met in quite some time.
Last edited by maxcichon; Apr 24, 2017 at 08:51 AM.