REAR SHOCK REPLACEMENT 1996

[Red Rocket]

I'm currently replacing the brake pads and shocks on my 1996 LT4. One side done and one to go. The brakes are as easy as everyone has said they are. The front shocks are no problem either, its the rear shocks that have me worried. The upper shock mount has 2 bolts holding it to the frame so the upper end of the shock is burried inside the frame rail. To get the shock off the upper mounting bracket must be removed. My concern is that I don't know what those bolts are attached to. In other words I don't know if there are nuts on the other end that will disappear into the frame rail when I remove the bolts. I can't see any way of getting at the top end of those bolts. My shop manual doesn't say specifically how to complete this task. I'm hoping someone has experience doing this job and can offer some advise. I'm putting the tires back on until I find out for sure.

[air1jpg]

Does anyone know about how long the original shocks last in a LT1?

[Ugolino]

I have changed rear shocks before, the top mount is just the bolt, you don't have to worry about the nut.

[Red Rocket]

Originally Posted by air1jpg

Does anyone know about how long the original shocks last in a LT1?

The shocks on my car are original, thats 1996. The car has 56,000 on it. I'm changing them because one on the front and one on the back is leaking. The car was acting unusual on the highway when I encoutered a bump with just one side of the car. It would almost jump to the left. So I figure I might just as well change all 4. I went for the Bilstein's

[warren s]

I just replaced the shocks on my 95, the two bolts are pretty long and have a medium to fine thread. They seem to be tapped into the frame itself. There doesnt seem to be a nut welded onto the inside of the rame, but I cant really tell for sure - for obvious reasons.

Very easy job.

[Red Rocket]

Originally Posted by warren s

I just replaced the shocks on my 95, the two bolts are pretty long and have a medium to fine thread. They seem to be tapped into the frame itself. There doesnt seem to be a nut welded onto the inside of the rame, but I cant really tell for sure - for obvious reasons.

Very easy job.

You were right, it was no problem at all. Those bolts seem to thread into nuts that appear to be welded into the frame rails. The hardest part was getting the big nut off the lower stud. I needed a two foot pipe on the end of the wrench to loosen the thing. I wish that I had a can of Rust Check spray handy at the time though. It would have been a great opportunity to spray some rust inhibitor directly inside the frame rails. As it was though the interior of the frame rails looked quite good. Sure glad I did this job. What a differnece a set of new Bilsteins has made in the handling of my LT4.