Front shocks

[Big Block]

Hello folks thanks for taking the time to read my post. When you are replacing the front shock absorbers on a fuselage c-body which 13/16 nut do I remove of the ball joint the upper or lower .Certainly by removing the nut I can move the control arm to pull out the shock if it is the lower do I have to do anything to the torsion bars my car is a 71 New Yorker. .thanks for any insight..all the best

 

[Big_John]

You would have to back off the tension in the torsion bars. Otherwise, you can get hurt badly.

After relieving the tension, I would remove the spindle from the lower ball joint. Take the drum (or rotor) off and you will see the two bolts/nuts that hold the ball joint to the spindle. Take those two bolts off and you can move the lower control arm. This saves you the pain of having to separate the lower ball joint at the lower control arm.

 

[polara71]

All to replace front shocks? I know they're tight but not that tight ...Ive never had to remove anything to replace the front shocks

 

[Big Block]

I removed the top nut on the shock absorber and removed the bottom bolt and nut and the shock is still in there fairly tight. I was under the impression that once the shock was unbolted it just have to be compressed somewhat and it should come out. The car is on a jack stand with the tire removed of coarse unless the shock is still under tension but unbolted i can move the shock some what but not enough to pull it out..thanks for you reply brother.

 

[commando1]

When removing worn out shocks for new ones, it's fairly common practice to simply cut the stud on the shock. It will then come right out

 

[Big_John]

Stan and Dave are right and I've changed shocks without taking everything apart too. I should have noted that when I responded....

 

[commando1]

Remove worn out shocks that are going into the trash in one piece?