[WesH8398]

Well, I was hoping to get to this sometime this week, but that's becoming less and less likely. However, I'm trying to prepare myself for the job. I have all the parts and tools that the FAQ's GC install says to have, as well as what I've read around here to have. These include Z06 end links for the front and mightymouse spacers for the rear. After thoroughly reading over the GC install instructions from the FAQ, and the mightmouse install instructions, as well as Autozone's repair guides on shock and coil spring removal/installation, I'm left with a concern/question or two. Here goes:

1) For the rear, how exactly am I going to get the spring out? FAQ instructions say to support the "cradle" (is this the spring perch?) with a jack, then remove the cradle's front and rear mounting bolts. I was under there having a look today, and I'm not entirely sure which bolts these are. The ones the FAQ has circled/pictured don't seem to have anything to do with the spring perch. Are they the two bolts that hold the cast aluminum arm to the body/frame of the car that are shown here:

I have to admit that I'd be a little uneasy unbuttoning those with the jack under the spring...I feel like the spring might shoot out to one side if the jack isn't EXACTLY under it.

2) The rhino ramp method of removing/installing the front end links doesn't seem to provide next to any room to work. How are people doing this? There's no way that with the car on ramps (which = wheels on), you can get in there with a drill to drill out the holes for the Z06 links. Are people just putting it on ramps to un-do the mounting bolts, then taking it off the ramps and putting it on jackstands (wheel off) to do the rest of the work? Then back onto ramps to button up new links?
I understand you want both sides of the suspension loaded equally to take pre-load off the links/stabilizer bar, which is why the ramp method is suggested... But what about if both sides are up in the air (thus totally unloaded) via jackstands? Will this take preload off the links as well, or no?

3) Autozone's repair guides say that to remove the rear coil springs, the "adjusting link" (i'm assuming this adjusts for tow) needs to be disconnected, but the GC install instructions don't mention this. Is this an unnecessary step?

4) Any other tips/tricks/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[WesH8398]

Thanks to you both. I should clarify that I'm not installing the GC kit. Just springs.

and loosen the rear cradle bolts a fair amount (don't have to remove them).

I'm not sure of what exactly these "cradle bolts" are. Can you explain? Pics?

... I unbolted the sway bar, then the lower control arm bolt...

Which bolt are you referring to exactly?

The shock removal is straightforward (are you familiar with how to get it out? interior removal etc?) 2 bolts on the top, 2 on the bottom. The whole thing comes out.

Yes, I'm pretty well versed on how the shocks are removed, thanks to the GC install instructions.

Put your jack under the end of the lower control arm and jack it up an inch or so. Loosen the upper control arm nut and carefully remove that bolt. The control arm might slap up so be careful. Lower the jack slowly until it is just holding the arm up...

I'm assuming that the more you jack up from under the lower control arm, the less the upper will snap upwards when you take the bolt out, right?

questions-

re: the rear spring bottom mount- i's a aluminum piece with the rubber isolator. Did yours (this question is for those who have installed as well) fit all the way down into the metal frame hole to the edge of the ring, or did they go in sort of halfway and allow a swivel type movement. 1a- Did you guys leave the lower rubber spring isolator from the stock setup in or remove it?.. Before I raised the rear of my car back up, the spring just kind of sat there crooked. I realize it trued up when I lowered the car back down. It also made a bang noise


can you take pictures of the whole kit before you install, and please measure the length/width of the supplied yellow bumpstop for the front shocks?

thanks

Sorry, can't help ya since I'm just doing springs and not the GC kit.

 

[WesH8398]

Thanks EdmundGTP. I printed those GC install instructions a long time ago and it didn't print those pictures! Geeze. I was definitely looking at the wrong bolts.
So by dropping the cradle a bit, this drops the lower spring perch as well, right? Thus, releasing any remaining tension on the spring. Wouldnt that bushings install mean that the springs would have come out when he did that? Also, the cradle is one solid piece from what I can see. So does that mean you have to drop both sides at once? Or can you drop one side at a time?

 

[WesH8398]

Great info, thanks a bunch. I think I've got the rear all figured out (in my head) now. Still unsure of the best way to get the front endlinks out/in though. I've heard lots of guys say they had a hell of a time with theirs, so I just want to try to avoid that. I just need to dig in and get at 'er. Hopefully in the next few weeks. The garage is still freezing and we're still getting effing snow. lol