I just checked off changing out rear shocks from my projects list. I got the Bilstiens from Rock Auto and followed a tutorial from a YouTube video by Autodoc and also guidance in my Haynes manual. I bought an extra lower shock mounting bolt reading horror stories of people having to cut them off. Not the case with mine. It was fairly easy job with the only challenge being getting those lower shock bolts off. Assuming that everyone knows how to properly jack and safely chock the wheels while doing so -it's critical on this

1. Loosen lug nuts while on ground then jack up a rear side and remove tire
2. Use jack stand under jacking point having weight of car rest on jack stand
3. Use a jack to then compress the rear spring to simulate ride height
4. Use 18mm and breaker bar to undo lower shock bolt. My air tool didn't budge
5. Move lower shock eye bolt out of mounting bracket after bolt totally removed
6. Use 13mm deep socket on 20-23 "of socket extensions. I used 2 ten inchers
7. This long length is needed to reach up to undo upper nuts at top of shock
8. Take out old shock and place new shock on studs at top mounting
9. Using loctite, put nuts on by hand and then tighten top nut@ 18 foot pounds
10. Adjust the jack under spring to align lower eye hole and install lower bolt
11. Replace tire and lower car , then torque the lug nuts to 76 foot pounds
12. Torque setting in Haynes manual shows 90 ft pounds for the lower shock bolt, while car weight is on ground

Repeat for other side. The first one driver's side took me about 1-1/12 hours and then the second only took me maybe 20 minutes tops after the learning curve. My passenger lower bolt did also come off easier and my air tool spun it off after I broke torque. The first side was long and slow cranking off the lower bolt. This job is not that bad at all and was very satisfying to do.

 

Yep, my story exactly about them lower shock bolts. They was a b*tch - and my car hasn't been on the Northeast or Canada salted roads. I bought and installed new OE bolts just for good measure, although I doubt I'll ever need to do this job again.

 

I second that, now need to replace the front struts.....