In the midst of replacing front shocks and upper shock mounts.

First caution - acquired spring compressor(s) from Harbor Freight (they are very similar to those available for loan from multiple parts houses). Even though the warnings that came with them said to only use hand tools and not air tools, I used an impact wrench to run the compressing nuts down. Still my impact wrench ran out of power before compressing the spring far enough to fit the new shock/mount. Took the whole assembly to a local alignment shop and they put it together for $20. Will do the other side tomorrow. The amount of power needed to compress the spring makes for a very loaded gun! For $20/side, this is a very worthwhile investment.

Installing the new shock into the car revealed a new problem. Make sure you chase the threads on the new shock mount! (8mm x 125) The new ones come coated with tough paint. Tried installing them without chasing he threads and twisted one of the captured bolts off! Managed to save enough to do the install but was very lucky. Save yourself my heartburn by chasing the threads BEFORE installing.

Query - the remaining bolt was too short to accommodate the brace that runs from the shock tower to the cowl. So, I have to find a way to fasten the brace.

Anyone have a reasonable suggestion?

 

Whoever made that shock mount, it's nothing like mine. I was even able to put a 3/8" spacer on top of the shock mount to compensate for a tired spring, and still had plenty of thread. As to the spring compressor, I used parts of the Harbor Freight unit and part of a JC Whitney that I bought a few years back. Neither one would work on it's own.

 

Jim, I did a write up on just this problem, "shock mounts part 2" about two months ago. I knocked out a stud from the old shock mount and replaced the broken one. I did a little spot weld on the bottom side to keep it from spinning. After doing this I realized, since I had the one on the stabilizer bar brake, I could have loosened the shock center nut and put a bar in the bottom shock mount and twisted the whole thing around and there was plenty thread left.
Good luck.

Wayne

 

How much a shop charges to compress a spring varies by location. Where I am, they get pissed off at you for cheating them out of the high dollar work. $90/pair, I change them myself.

 

Everyone's different, I had absolutely no problem changing the shock, loaner spring compressor worked like a charm, no issues. I used a die to clean the threads on the shock mount and still had to be careful. That's some tough paint on them.

 

I think the paint is actually "Powder Coating", some real tuff stuff, almost becomes part of the metal.
Looks like the maker of the product would know about the bolt problem and do something about it, but then again they just makeum they don't useum............Hey retailers, do your part here......

Chuck
05/XK8 Conv.

 

Think about this. Wouldn't it be wonderful if auto manufacture's would undercoat our cars with [powder coating]. End of rust for the life of the metal...........actually, it would be great to Powder Coat the whole darn car........

Chuck
05/XK8 Conv

 

try telling that to a tvr owner!