442 Need help with rear shocks please.

[pontiacgp]

So your telling me that installing the new springs isn't going to to be too bad?!?

rear springs are easy. I would pick up new isolators. When doing the springs if you have a sway bar you need to unbolt and remove the lower shock on both sides. If you try to do one side at a time the sway bar will work against you. Jack the rear of the car, use axle stand under the frame and then put your jack under the pumpkin of the rear end so you can let it down after you remove the bottom of the shock and jack the rear end back up as you put the new springs in place

 

[Flyers9928]

rear springs are easy. I would pick up new isolators. When doing the springs if you have a sway bar you need to unbolt and remove the lower shock on both sides. If you try to do one side at a time the sway bar will work against you. Jack the rear of the car, use axle stand under the frame and then put your jack under the pumpkin of the rear end so you can let it down after you remove the bottom of the shock and jack the rear end back up as you put the new springs in place

I'm dropping the rear out completely after I get done with the rear frame. I picked up backing plates with new shoes and hardware already installed. Picked up manual s10 wheel cylinders to go with that. Plan is to drop the rear, decrud it, it needs a new pinon seal, repaint and replace the hard lines. I'm hoping that the front springs will be easier since I'm dropping it at least 2 inches maybe more. sorry didn't mean to hijack the thread.

 

[pontiacgp]

if the pinion seal is leaking that usually indicates a problem with the bearing sitting behind it. I would have a good look at the bearing and it's race ( and I'm not being racist)......

 

[Jims442]

if the spring are short you may need short shock or the springs will fall out when you jack up the car. I have Bilstein AK1052 in the rear

Yes they do fall out when i jack it up even with the air shocks.

 

[Jims442]

How much did you drop it? I’m going down 2 in the rear, at least 2 in the front and using the regular replacement shock

I have no idea I got the car as is Although I do have the stock springs and they look new.

 

[pontiacgp]

Yes they do fall out when i jack it up even with the air shocks.

remove the shock and let the rear end drop to the point where the spring is still being a little compressed and them measure to see what the extended measurement of the shock you need. The AK1052 is 18.62" extended, a regular AK shock is 20.31" extended

 

[Jims442]

remove the shock and let the rear end drop to the point where the spring is still being a little compressed and them measure to see what the extended measurement of the shock you need. The AK1052 is 18.62" extended, a regular AK shock is 20.31" extended

Ty very much.

 

[pontiacgp]

Ty very much.

just measure your current shock at the extended length or if you can get the spec online about your shocks you can figure out if you need the short shock.