Managed rear shocks change ! BUT...?

[livi]

ToOK me over two hours to change the rear shocks. After I finally mastered the lower nuts, the left side was rather easy.

The passenger side was another story. ToOK 80 % of the total time spent in the garage. And the hard part was not the shocks themselves, it was getting access to the upper bolt in the engine compartment. Eventually had to remove the whole air filter housing and the metal part that connects the filter to the large hose (donīt know the name of it).

Now my sequel question: No matter how I turned, twisted and stretched my arms I wasnīt able to fasted the inner lower clip for the cover of the air filter box.

Does it matter ? Is it OK to leave it ? The box halves seem rigidly stuck to each other anyway.

Pleaaase donīt tell me itīs necessary to fasten it !!!!

[RickM]

You're fine. My arm will not fit into that space. Many leave it unclipped.

Someone did have a clever solution though. I'll have to try and look it up.

ADD: Now I remember. Wil Ferch recommended the "Cup" airbox cover modififaction as it allows one to access the bottom, rear clip. It entails cutting the center of the cover out and leaving only the frame intact to secure the element.
I drilled holes in my cover and leave the clip undone.

[SpeedracerIndy]

That clip is a pain in the a$$. On my dad's Carrera I put an electrical tie on that clip. I reach my hand in there and can just barley get the clip into position around the box, and then grab the electrical tie and pull it closed. That way i don't ahve to go fishing around with my fingers to try to pull it closed. So far it has worked pretty well.

For that passenger side shock tower bolt, the best way I have found to get to it is to drop the motor a few inches. I just did this last night. At first I tried to do it withough lowering the motor. I gave up, once I lowered the motor about 2 inches, I had to bolt tightened within 1 minute.

[livi]

Thanks a million, guys !

As long as I can leave unclipped without any harm I am happy. I mean I canīt even reach to touch it with my fingertips, make me wonder how they do it in the shop...

Anyway I am off to test drive my new Bilstein. Yeehaa !

Be back later with a report on the drive quality. It is immensely satisfying to have done it myself !

Cheers,

[aj88cab]

You don't mention if you reach in from the top or bottom but I have found it is best to reach in from the bottom for both upper and lower clips. The other item that gets me is that it is the wide part of the metal clip that must fit over the tab on the airbox. For some reason the narrow part always want goes in first and is almost impossible to hook and snap shut that way.

[450knotOffice]

Markus, good job!

You did exactly what my friend, who actually works for Porsche as a mechanic, told me to do. You pulled the box and the Air Flow Sensor. It really opened up the work space, didn't it.

As for the lower rear clip, It's a pain, for sure, but it can be done. I do it all the time. I think it just takes practice and a willingness to get your upper arm dirty as you reach all the way back there and kind of work through feel.

[rjp911]

Remove your oil filter and go in that way.

[livi]

Good points, thanks !

I will give it a try again tomorrow. Right now I am bushed and here in Sweden itīs late in the evening.

Went for a drive though. Very happy with the result. Fells like driving an almost new car. NOW the irritating matter is that the new shocks make the old ones in the front really feel worn and soft.
I chose to change only the rear ones partly because the seemed more vital in terms of weight distribution, partly because 101 Project lays it out as the more easy part.
Well, after that struggle - how much worse can it get..

I guess Iīll just order the front pair tomorrow.