Rear Shock DIY

[seattlematt]

I searched, but couldn't find a DIY for the rear shocks without replacing the springs or installing coilovers. I don't need to remove the springs to replace the rears correct?

[old guy]

I searched, but couldn't find a DIY for the rear shocks without replacing the springs or installing coilovers. I don't need to remove the springs to replace the rears correct?

That is correct. All you need to do is to remove the wheel well liner and the shock is right in front of you. Two bolts up top, one large bolt on the bottom and it's out. You don't even have to remove the liner, but it just makes things easier to get to.

[seattlematt]

So is the shock compressed at all when the car is on jacks? Does the control arm fall when when you remove the bolts then?

[alpinestar180]

the rear shock is really easy to get out. all you need is a ratchet and a long extension. just jack it up and put the car on stands but dont support it by any suspension component of the wheel you are working on. then, as old guy stated undo the two green bolts up top with the ratchet and extension then the bolt on the bottom. if my memory serves me right you need a wrench on the other side of the bottom bolt. it may be under some pressure form the spring when the car is up in the air so if its hard to get the bottom bolt out, leave the car on stands and put the jack under the lower control arm and jack it up until the pressure is off it.

[seattlematt]

Follow Up: I did this, it was easy as everyone noted. Unfortunately I'm not very happy with the results, the Koni's are no improvement over stock and may actually be more stiff and harsher ride.

[a4darkness]

Koni's are adjustable. Now begins the game of finding the best setting.

[old guy]

What setting are you running? Personally I like a setting of around 40% for the rear shocks. When I went over 50% the ride became unacceptably harsh.

[a4darkness]

x2

[Saturnine]

I was under the impression that the purpose of upgrading shocks was to stiffen up the ride

I think Koni's are probably the stiffer shocks to buy, i've heard that bilsteins are a litte less harsh..

Are you running the stock OEM springs? The spring rate might not match well with the Koni's

Follow Up: I did this, it was easy as everyone noted. Unfortunately I'm not very happy with the results, the Koni's are no improvement over stock and may actually be more stiff and harsher ride.

[a4darkness]

Since Koni's are adjustable, they can either be harsher or milder than Bilsteins. Or exactly the same, lol.