Yes or No question on front shock change

[livi]

Planning on changing the front shocks next week. Have read EVERYTHING on the subject including using the search button.

In one of the earlier threads a very respectable member of the P-car community argues that you donīt even have to take of the road wheel to change the front shocks !

True or false ?

Thanks,

[Shuie]

maybe.

i guess respectable means the guy knows what he is talking about. If he knows what hes talking about, it must be a true statement.

I guess the inserts could be changed without removing the wheel, but i cant imagine why you would do it that way. It just seems like it would be easier to remove the wheel.

[JonT]

Dont think you would need to take off the wheel but why wouldnt you for the easier access?

[livi]

I think it was John Walker suggesting it and since I really value his opinion I thought maybe there was a point in leaving the wheel on.

John, if I remember wrong I am really sorry !!!

[Shuie]

Ive only replaced strut inserts once. John Walker has probably done it 1000 times. He obviously knows more about it than i do.

[Early_S_Man]

Markus,

Some people like to cut corners and finish every job on their car in the least time possible ... YMMV!

I tend not to put dirty parts back on the car, and like to check & clean everything that is accessible when a specific procedure is being done ... it seems to be a good idea to check for play in the tie-rod ends, ball joints, evaluate control-arm bushing wear that may be near to causing rubbing/squeaking against the suspension crossmember, brake pad and caliper conditions, flex-hose condition, etc.

Short-cuts are feasible in many procedures, but the prudence of doing so needs to be evaluated very carefully, IMHO! If you aren't getting paid to move cars through a shop at the maximum rate possible ... maybe taking your time would produce some long-term benefits, such as being more in-tune with your cars current condition and future maintenance needs???

When I replace strut inserts ... I remove the strut entirely, clean, treat any rust found, and repaint ... trying to prepare the strut for the additional miles it will see in service with the new shock inserts.

[livi]

Thanks Warren, its just that I fear that is a too complicated project for a newbie like me. But perhaps...

Shuie, nobody here knows less than I do and thats why I post all these stupid questions. I do learn a lot in the process though..

[1972_911T]

You sure he didnt mean rear struts Ive just done all four on my car did rears without jacking car up or anything just unbolted pulled them out and put new ones on! Would imagine it would take longer to do fronts without taking wheel off just from a space and access point of view! May be possible but not sure how practical!

[livi]

Almost certain. Did the rear myself the other week. Same procedure as you mentioned. Hardest part was to close the lower, rear clip on the cover to the air filter. A real bugger !

[syncroid]

I just changed the strut inserts on my 87 Carrera yesterday. I did not remove the wheels. I also had the car up on a hoist when I did it though. You need to be very carefull doing it with the wheels on. Brake lines can be stretched out if the wheel is not in the right position or the top, threaded end of the strut can damage the fender lip.
Early-S-man gave some good advice. If you have the time, great!
I had already done my tie rods, checked ball joints...etc.

[livi]

Thanks everyone,

I guess the general consensus is equivalent to - Sure, you could drill a hole in the bottle and suck up the liquid with a straw, but why would you when you can just take off the darn lid ??

[zachsbug]

If you are just replacing the inserts you don't have to take everything apart. Just take the strut nut off & lower the strut out of the housing. Be careful not to raise the car to much or you could damage your brake hose. Remove the dust cover & loosen the collar that holds the insert in the strut. Pull insert out & replace with the new one. Get everything lined up with the hole & slowly lower the car back down. You may want to have someone help guide the strut back into the hole while the car is being lowered. This would be a good time to replace the upper strut mounts also if they are the originals. Once you have the car back down just tighten everything back up. This will not mess you alignment up either.

[73911guy]

Remember, if your old inserts have any gas charge left in them they'll try and extend whenever possible. Usually at the time when you least expect it or need it to - like when you have to stop halfway through the job when you find the brake hose is too short to let everything swing out like you thought it would - and then you'll find the top of the strut rod trying to run through the fender (Yep, I know, one for the dumbest thing you've ever done thread..).
And if your new ones are gas charged it'll be even more fun compressing them to swing past the fender lip if you are fighting the weight of the wheel and tire too. My advice is the same as Early S Man - take your time, check everything out while you have everything apart.

Jim

[livi]

Good advice everyone, as always.

I will return with the, hopefully not disastrous, result when I am done.