Shocks on a Q45

Hagrinas,

Thanks for the input and encouragement. I am going to do this myself being
my system is Non Active. It looks pretty simple. There is 1 nut at the
bottom and 2 at the top on the front shocks. The rears look the same accept
I don't know how to access the top nuts. Do I gain access through the trunk
or what?

Bob King
rlking.TakeThisOut@sprintmail.com

"Hagrinas Mivali" <remove.to.reply.TakeThisOut@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:wuCdnX642-tTNK7fRVn-tQ@giganews.com...
 >
 >
 > rlking wrote:
  >> Has anybody in this group ever changed the Shocks on the front and
  >> rear of a 1994 Q45? I have a Non-Active system. The dealership
  >> wants me to take out a 2nd Mortgage to pay for it. Don't think so!
  >> Any help would be greatly appreciated.
  >>
  >> thanks
 >
 > I haven't done it (mine is not a 94) but if you are not the type to do it
 > yourself, I'd suggest getting other estimates from Midas or whoever is in
 > your area. On my 91, it's a relatively simple job. It's not as simple as
 > it was on cars back in the early 80's or before when there were no springs
 > around a typical shock, but on mine, you unbolt three nuts (not the piston
 > rod lock nut!) and then put the whole thing (shock and spring assembly) in
 > a
 > vice. Use a spring compressor until the mounting insulator can be turned
 > by
 > hand, and then remove the piston lock nut.
 >
 > You didn't say how much was parts and how much was labor. Aftermarket
 > performance shocks are about $170/pair. Spring compressors are typically
 > under $30, but are as cheap as $11 at Harbor Freight. If you don't have
 > air
 > tools, you can expect to spend a few minutes or more twisting with a
 > socket
 > set. But even cheap air tools are cheaper than a second mortgage, and
 > it's
 > still not that bad a job to do.
 >
 > Unfortunately, the 93 and 94 use different front shocks (same rear) so I
 > can't say what changed between yours and mine. I'd suggest checking your
 > service manual if you have it. The bottom line is that I don't think it
 > would be any worse than any other car of that year, although the parts
 > might
 > be a bit more. Since it's not active, I can't see what would be so special
 > about it.
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Shocks on a Q45 

rlking wrote:
 > Hagrinas,
 >
 > Thanks for the input and encouragement. I am going to do this myself
 > being my system is Non Active. It looks pretty simple. There is 1
 > nut at the bottom and 2 at the top on the front shocks. The rears
 > look the same accept I don't know how to access the top nuts. Do I
 > gain access through the trunk or what?
 >

I don't know off the top of my head, but if you can see it from the bottom,
you should be able to figure it out. Again, keep in mind that mine is not
the same year as yours so it might not be identical. But the rear (which I
think is the same part number as for your year) should have the piston lock
nut loosened BUT NOT REMOVED before the spring compressor is used, according
to my service manual.

My post was to give you an idea of what's involved, not to outline the
actual procedure, so make sure that you find out what has to be done for
your model. It might be the same, or the same level of difficulty, but you
should check a manual to be sure.



 > Bob King
 > rlking RemoveThis @sprintmail.com
 >
 > "Hagrinas Mivali" <remove.to.reply RemoveThis @sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
 > news:wuCdnX642-tTNK7fRVn-tQ@giganews.com...
  >>
  >>
  >> rlking wrote:
   >>> Has anybody in this group ever changed the Shocks on the front and
   >>> rear of a 1994 Q45? I have a Non-Active system. The dealership
   >>> wants me to take out a 2nd Mortgage to pay for it. Don't think so!
   >>> Any help would be greatly appreciated.
   >>>
   >>> thanks
  >>
  >> I haven't done it (mine is not a 94) but if you are not the type to
  >> do it yourself, I'd suggest getting other estimates from Midas or
  >> whoever is in your area. On my 91, it's a relatively simple job.
  >> It's not as simple as it was on cars back in the early 80's or
  >> before when there were no springs around a typical shock, but on
  >> mine, you unbolt three nuts (not the piston rod lock nut!) and then
  >> put the whole thing (shock and spring assembly) in a
  >> vice. Use a spring compressor until the mounting insulator can be
  >> turned by
  >> hand, and then remove the piston lock nut.
  >>
  >> You didn't say how much was parts and how much was labor. Aftermarket
  >> performance shocks are about $170/pair. Spring compressors are
  >> typically under $30, but are as cheap as $11 at Harbor Freight. If
  >> you don't have air
  >> tools, you can expect to spend a few minutes or more twisting with a
  >> socket
  >> set. But even cheap air tools are cheaper than a second mortgage,
  >> and it's
  >> still not that bad a job to do.
  >>
  >> Unfortunately, the 93 and 94 use different front shocks (same rear)
  >> so I can't say what changed between yours and mine. I'd suggest
  >> checking your service manual if you have it. The bottom line is
  >> that I don't think it would be any worse than any other car of that
  >> year, although the parts might
  >> be a bit more. Since it's not active, I can't see what would be so
  >> special about it.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Shocks on a Q45 

I bought some Tokico Blue shocks off EBAY and installed them on my
neighbors Q45.

FRONTS: Lift front wheel off the ground and place a stand or support
under the car. Remove the wheel. Remove the nut on the bottom (Note how
the Shock's bushing is oriented or you may put these on the wrong
sides.(One end is tapered; faces nut)), remove the two bolts on the
strut tower and remove the shock assembly. Using spring compressors,
compress the spring just enough to take the tension off the top plate.
Remove nut and spring. Installation in reverse. You can also opt to
take your assemblies to a shop and they can compress and swap shocks
for you. $AVE.

REARS: Very similar to front but...your must carefully remove the trunk
panel under the rear dash. The fasteners are black plastic "screws";
use light force to unscrew them, in fact once started you can pull the
little screw striaght out. Remove panel. On both sides you'll see large
rubber caps on the strut tops; remove them to reveal the nuts.

DUST BOOTS: Mine were rotten and the dealer wants $25 each for front
boots, $55 for rears. I went down a good parts store where they sell
off-road shocks (Rancho) and I bought 4 Rancho shock boots for $3.00
each.
FRONTS: the boot and the bumper can be seperated from each other. Boil
some water and bring it to your work bench. Stick the narrow end of the
Rancho shock boot into the water for a few minutes to soften it. Once
the boot has softened you can stretch the narrow end over the end of
the shock bumper.
REARS: Bumpers and boots are one peice. Cut the boot flush from the
bumper and prepare your boiling water. Stretch narrow end of boot over
the bumper.

After we installed the Rancho boots both my neighbor and I stated that
this was better than the original boots.

Its a good job, but not difficult if you have air tools and spring
compressors. Oh Yes! Never ever ever take the shock nut off without
compressing the springs first. It could kill you.

HTH,
Blake Dodson
 >> Stay informed about: Shocks on a Q45