Front shock install instructions?
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: VA
Front shock install instructions?
Going to replace the front shocks on my 93 SC400 this weekend(already did rears). Anyone have instructions/posts on how to do this? I did a search but did not see anything of value. I have an Alldata account, but they tend to leave out important details. Any guidance would be appreciated.
Lexus Champion
Joined: May 2002
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From: California
dale88,
I posted instructs on this a few days ago...
For the fronts only... you need some tools..
Socket set
Jack
Pickle Fork or Puller for the Ball Joint
Spring compressors
Two people.
1) Jack up car.. use jack stands...pull off wheel
2) Take off 14mm bolts under the hood for the top of the shocks.
3) Unbolt lower shock mount.
4) Carefully remove the lower ball joint on the lower control arm. This is the bottom triangular suspension bracket mounting point where it meets the brake/wheel assembly. The nut has a cotter pin in it. Remove that.. then CAREFULLY unscrew it. If you have a correctly sized puller. Use that to separate the two pieces. If not, a pickle fork will do it. But take care to line it up over the seal to insure you do not damage the seal.
5) Now you can have one person hold the brake assembly, while putting his foot down on the control arm to swing it DOWN. This will give you enough space to remove the front strut.
6) Once the strut is removed with the spring. You need to compress the spring and remove the top cap. The top cap comes off when you remove the center bolt under the dust cap.
Good Luck.
MW
I posted instructs on this a few days ago...
For the fronts only... you need some tools..
Socket set
Jack
Pickle Fork or Puller for the Ball Joint
Spring compressors
Two people.
1) Jack up car.. use jack stands...pull off wheel
2) Take off 14mm bolts under the hood for the top of the shocks.
3) Unbolt lower shock mount.
4) Carefully remove the lower ball joint on the lower control arm. This is the bottom triangular suspension bracket mounting point where it meets the brake/wheel assembly. The nut has a cotter pin in it. Remove that.. then CAREFULLY unscrew it. If you have a correctly sized puller. Use that to separate the two pieces. If not, a pickle fork will do it. But take care to line it up over the seal to insure you do not damage the seal.
5) Now you can have one person hold the brake assembly, while putting his foot down on the control arm to swing it DOWN. This will give you enough space to remove the front strut.
6) Once the strut is removed with the spring. You need to compress the spring and remove the top cap. The top cap comes off when you remove the center bolt under the dust cap.
Good Luck.
MW
Driver
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 196
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https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ght=suspension
i guess you could remove the lower control arm from the lower ball joint but you don't have to.
you would gain more clearance to install and remove the new shocks/struts though.
however, you could save yourself some work by just pushing down on the lower control arm with a big bar or have some friend push down on the lower control arm (both front and rear) instead of removing the lower control arm from the lower ball joint. remember to remove the upper control arm bolt and the stablizer (sway bar) linkage before you press down as keith mentioned.
i don't think even the manual says to remove it.
i saw hermosa's shock install and i think they went waaay overboard in removing the entire front end. but i guess if you have access to a lift, you might as well go for it.
i guess you could remove the lower control arm from the lower ball joint but you don't have to.
you would gain more clearance to install and remove the new shocks/struts though.
however, you could save yourself some work by just pushing down on the lower control arm with a big bar or have some friend push down on the lower control arm (both front and rear) instead of removing the lower control arm from the lower ball joint. remember to remove the upper control arm bolt and the stablizer (sway bar) linkage before you press down as keith mentioned.
i don't think even the manual says to remove it.
i saw hermosa's shock install and i think they went waaay overboard in removing the entire front end. but i guess if you have access to a lift, you might as well go for it.
Last edited by 808state; Nov 11, 2002 at 06:36 PM.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Illinois
Lexus Champion
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,742
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From: California
Originally posted by 808state
i saw hermosa's shock install and i think they went waaay overboard in removing the entire front end. but i guess if you have access to a lift, you might as well go for it.
i saw hermosa's shock install and i think they went waaay overboard in removing the entire front end. but i guess if you have access to a lift, you might as well go for it.
However, we choose to go the lower arm route because Hermosa wanted to swap the bushing at the same time.
MW
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