Miata Mailing List: April 1996, Message #83
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   From: balf@golden.net (PETER & LYNN BALFOUR)
Subject: Re: Ingenious Shock Replacement
   Date: Mon, 1 Apr 1996 20:56:35 -0500

Well....John Bowles an I are also self proclaimed shock & spring changing
experts
and I would add a few things to this.
>
>1. Loosen the shaft's upper mounting bolt a few turns on each shock before
>working on anything else.  It's a little tough getting this guy off once the
>spring/shock assembly is out of the car. (your car on jack stands with no
>wheels of course)

Good idea.  We too figured that one out.  But the best idea is to remove the
nut after the spring has been compressed, then you can remove the entire
upper shock mount allowing more room to remove the shock/spring assembly.
>
>2. Disconnect the sway bar from the links on both sides so you can get it
>out of the way.

Yup...done that, been there.
>
>3. Remove the shock bolt in the lower A arm and push the shock back toward
>the inner A-arm to gain access to the lower ball joints vertical bolt.

Nope...don't have to do that lower ball joint thing.  The trick is to of
course compress the spring, then have your partner step on the lower control
arm.  Then push the top of the shock plunger down by hand, and the thing
pulls right out.  This was of course done after the upper shock mount was
removed.  It took John and I about 4 hours to do his front shock & springs
until we discovered the plunger thing.  Did my front springs in just a tad
over 1 hour.  Just our little $.02 worth eh John?


Peter
  
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Peter Balfour                                
A.K.A. Prez Pete                            
Trillium Miata Club Inc.             
Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Red 91' alias "Red Baron eh!" Who loves to drive the QEW, pot holes n' all

(Home Of Miata 96')

"coming in second only means that you will be the first loser. -John Force"

                              
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