Front shock change

[vilant]

Originally Posted by Franke

Vilant, I have a service bulletin on the front suspension nut torque specs that indicate a change from 19 ft lbs to 31 ft lbs for the upper front shock retaining nut. Bulletin number 90-297-3C. Corp bulletin number 013301 July of 1990.

Thanks for info, I'll make sure they're still tight when I work on the car again, which will be soon.

[Dynomite]

Originally Posted by vilant

When the SRC light was on, and I knew there was a problem with the right front shock, someone told me to first pull the actuator off and check to see if any of the plastic teeth inside the actuator were broken, then second, turn the ignition to "ON" and see if the gear spins (which I had to run around the car to get to the other side, lol). If no broken teeth and gear spun the actuator was OK and the shock was the problem. I'd be lying if I said I knew exactly what it's doing, but my educated guess is it will spin the gear all the way in one direction, then return to whatever the selected setting is. I spun the gear on my shock too. Don't think it matters where it is, but if your unsure, spin it to the middle position and let the actuator do the rest. I don't think it matters what setting it's on either. At least I never took mine off of ""Tour".

Got a new front actuator on Ebay and installed it with shock gear centered. Appears the positon of shock gear makes no difference because the actuator does a self alignment on startup. Got rid of Service Ride Control warning ......it went away immediately and never returned

[DennisC]

Nice Job nothing like the feeling of accomplishment and saying I did this, no doubt you saved money by doing it yourself. I'm restoring Carpet in my 93 LT-1, practicing so I can do My ZR-1 is next, a lot of fun a hobby doing a couple hours a day.

[vilant]

Wanted to post an update. After pulling my hair out trying to figure why my SRC light was on. Figured it out. The code kept coming up right front shock, but I could see nothing wrong with shock, so I thought it was the actuator. Bought a new one, and still have the code. Finally I noticed the gear on top of the shock was stripped, would just spin round and round. I was able to replace the gear with one from the original shocks that are going out to re-build (actually just sent them out this week). I asked Bilstein to if they could sell me a few extra gears just in case. He asked why, I explained, and apparently it is important the gear on the shock be in the "open" position when putting your actuator on. Here's his response to our talking "Basically on your application the actuator rotates 160º as well as the adjuster on the damper. Shocks are always shipped with the adjuster rotated clock wise to the open position. It’s my understanding that the control module is regulated by the MPH and at slower speeds the actuator sets the damper to the open position. If the damper was not at the open position or if the actuator did not reset to the open position when the shock was installed then the actuator would have over rotated the gear.
This is for a 1990 not sure about the later years, but I think it still applies. So, make sure it is clockwise or you'll strip out your gear like me.

[365gtb4]

Joe, how many miles on your car? I have 23k on mine and the shocks seem to be working fine.

[mike100]

What is the deal with the fat stud on the top of the new shock- a bushing they ship it with?

[Schrade]

Good job photo-doc'ing the work!

Keep the pics coming for study there...

[vilant]

Originally Posted by 365gtb4

Joe, how many miles on your car? I have 23k on mine and the shocks seem to be working fine.

34K. Brand new replacement shocks are a year old, accidentally spun the gear and didn't know which way it was. Didn't think it mattered, but apparently it does.

[vilant]

Originally Posted by mike100

What is the deal with the fat stud on the top of the new shock- a bushing they ship it with?

If I remember correctly its a new sleeve for where the shock passes through the upper rubber bushing.

[vilant]

Originally Posted by Schrade

Good job photo-doc'ing the work!

Keep the pics coming for study there...

Thanks. Here's a pic just for you The stripped gear is on the right. See how the metal tab that stops the gear from spinning all the way around is shaved down.