1999-2009 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Key words: rear FSD drs_install
Went OK, replacing FSD with FSD.
20mm spacers on right, 25mm on left. Ride noticeably better on a burger run.
My 67YO muscles are definitely sore today.
The bolts that hold the shocks to the hub castings are 21mm, 13/16" will do in a pinch, needed to drive 13/16" on with hammer and remove with a screw driver. The bottom of the shocks have a steel center, rubber section then the outer steel. In both cases, the inner steel was stuck in the recess of the hub castings. A good blow from a hammer as low as you get be on the shock body and/or lateral impact on the outer end of the steel center will do. This area wants neverseize. Long breaker bar seems essential!
The 4 bolts mounting the upper mounts are 16mm which is not in most tool sets. 5/8" works perfectly. There is room in the fender well for a large size impact wrench for ease of work. With neverseize on fasteners from before, removal was not a problem. Note that the black plastic fender liner gets in the way of the top rear fastener. Do your self a favor and cut some of that away if you have left and right cutting aviation snips. Or heat gun and post-form it.
The FSD's take a 5mm hex in the shaft end. The shaft nuts are 17mm. You really need a deep offset wrench and a 5mm bit for a ratchet wrench. I had no problem removing the shaft nut with these tools. The shaft threads were coated with neverseize from 6 years ago and were rust free. Note where things were as you take apart and take pictures. Pieces inside may tumble out separately and be disorganized. The steel sleeve in the upper rubber needs to go down and rest against the ring on the shaft. The bump stop needs to be down to have that detail flush with the top of the bump stop. The bump stop and other rubber bits were in good condition after 101,000 miles and 14 years.
I put some white grease around and in between the snap ring, aluminum spacers and steel spring perch. These spacers are Koni Sports and FSD specific and sold by genuinesaab.com. The snap rings come on the lower of the two snap ring grooves and must be moved to the upper groove 20mm higher.
I got a really good spring compressor that is fast and low effort. I am OK with the cost even if this is last suspension job I do. Too many times I have had the cheap Harbor Freight compressors slip and they are a PIA to use on a good day.
posted by 108.207.118...
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