where to put jack stands for shocks

[V Ro]

Hi all got the reflex shocks and wanted to know where to put my jack stnads.



Do I want the tire to dangle or should I have it supported?



Right now I have the jack in the front in the middle, but the nut is hard to turn to get off. Should the shock be compressed to get it off?



Thanks

 

[James FreemanJr]

I jacked my ST up by the jack points when I changed my shocks and had no problem getting them off. I took my front tires off when I changed the shocks and my shocks weren't compressed when I took mine off.

 

[Mark Grumpy]

Unless you are very large or your ST is lowered you do not need stands. No need to raise at all.



grump

 

[Todd Z]

I used ramps.....



But if you feel safe with stands, put the back under the axle tube ( 1 on each side) and the fronts UNDER the control arm, IF you use the frame the shock will be in tension and the tire can drop when you remove it...

The best fro the front would be ramps, OR if you use jack stands on the front frame, place the jack under each tire and use it to hold the tire from springing down...

Todd Z

 

[TrainTrac]

When I installed my RSX's, I didn't jack my ST up at all. I just lowered and removed the spare. There should be plenty of room to get under and install the shocks. For the front ones, you should just need to turn the front wheels all the way to the left or right to allow for better access.

 

[TomT]

Like TrainTrac said, no real need to jack the ST up. Will not help with the compressing of the shocks. You will find the stock ones don't have hardly any compression and come off real easy. Compressing the rears with my new PorComp 9000's was kind of a bitch.

 

[Scott Heckler]

Just don't remove the wire compressing the new shock until you get it in place. Once the wire is removed the shock wants to expand. As TomT pointed out, it is a bitch to install if you let that happen.

You can install all 4 with out jacking the trac but it is easier IMO to at least jack the rear a bit along with removing the spare. You can get to the top of the shock better. As Todd Z said, jack on the axle tube.



Good luck



ScoTt

 

[Nelson Atwell]

ScoTt, what wire? Mine had no wire. At least with the ProComps, I had no issues with compressing the shocks by hand as I installed them. I figure they only take around 70 - 80 lbs of force to compress. The way some folks talk, its like Hercules himself couldn't do it.

 

[TrainTrac]

Nelson,



I think ScoTt is referring to the Reflex/RSX shock. My RSX's came with a wire wrapped around them, holding them in a compressed position. They are difficult to compress by hand, so leaving this wire in place during install makes the process a little eaiser.

 

[Kevin Palmer]

If you remove the emissions box located by the left rear shock you will find it much easier to replace that shock. The box is perfectly in the way.

 

[Michael Cacioppo]

Coastitejo, I second that. It is a PITA with the box in place.

 

[Scott Heckler]

NelsonOKC - TrainTrac has the same shocks as I, the RSX. Neat little wire to hold them compressed. You cut that wire with out the shock in place you have to be a gorilla to get the shock compressed and put in place. I did the shocks by myself. One of them I cut the wire too early. With out that extra hand it was very difficult to compress and hold the shock in place and get the bolts back in.