57 rear shocks

1930artdeco

Well-known member
I am going to try and install my rear shock on my wagon today. Do I need to rotate the little ‘bar’ that the bolts go through before I install them? Or will it rotate when I line them up with the lower plate? Just don’t want to warp anything on the frame or shock.

Thanks,

Mike
 
Got it. Well I cut the strap that keeps it compressed and now I can't get it compressed to get it into the lower plate. So I will have to concoct a plan to with a jack to try and compress it. I knew this would happen.....:rolleyes:
 
It shouldn't be that hard to compress.

The trick was with gas charged shocks to mount the upper and then cut the strap and point the lower mount towards the mounting plate.
 
K, well being on my back I just don’t have the leverage at the angle I am working at. But I thought of what you wrote-after I cut the strap. Oh well, live and learn. I have to pull the diff out anyways to work on it. So the shocks can just and hang for a bit.

Mike
 
Don't feel like the LONE RANGER. Old age has limited what I could use to do with ease.

Pull the rear? WHEW!

Yup, used to bench press FMX transmissions into cars from the ground, now use a floor jack with an adapter.....used to just lift FE intakes off the engine while in the car, now use a cherry picker to pull intakes.....built a bracket to hold 9" pumpkins to pull and install rather then lifting those big buggers up into the housing....funny how life changes, the mind saying "I can do this" and the body in no uncertain terms say "Oh no you don't"!
 
I just recently brought a 2005 TAURUS ABS system back from the grave. Working on the floor finally dealt the death blow to my knees. Look like Grandpa Amos hobbling around now ... :D
 
Got it. Well I cut the strap that keeps it compressed and now I can't get it compressed to get it into the lower plate. So I will have to concoct a plan to with a jack to try and compress it. I knew this would happen.....:rolleyes:
Undo the top bolts and take it off of the car as is. Maybe you have a long-ish bar clamp?
Compress it on the workbench then wrap some bailing wire around it from top to bottom to hold it, then reinstall.
If you're concerned about the new paint on it, a couple shop rags in the right places should take care of that.
 
Just put new gas shocks on my 57. Had the same ******** them you mentioned and I cut it and immediately wondered if that was a mistake. But since I had the car jacked up and the shackles were flipped down, they went on with little effort. Think I had to compress them maybe an inch which was fairly easy with the top already loosely attached. Then let it down and eased the shackle back to stock position.
 
Back
Top