Installing Shocks

[VtAudi]

Hard to do? Anyone have a write-up? My Billsteins come in today.
DIY or pay to have installed?
TIA

[Daft]

Do you have access to a spring compressor? If not, you'll need one. Please do yourself a favor and stay away from the cheap-ass bracket style spring compressor. Those things are so friggin dangerous to use. They put these cheesy little metal "saftey" hooks on them in case the bracket pops open. I'm sorry but, the person standing there would be quite dead if the bracket poped apart.....

The process itself isn't terribly hard but, you do need a fair amount of tools and patience.

The rear struts come out very easily. Two nuts on the top bracket and one bolt/nut on the bottom and she's out.

The front is far more difficult. You have to unbolt the bolt holding the strut to the lower front control arm, remove the lower rear control arm from the wheel bearing housing and then loosen the three nuts that hold the strut to the engine bay (plastic covers in the engine bay hide the nuts). Then you have to move the control arms up while tiltin the strut assembly towards the front of the car and pulling it down through the wheel well.

Then you can begin the strut swapping process.....

[EnvyJK]

so how much does it cost to have shocks installed? same price as spring installs?

[VtAudi]

Anything out of the ordinary tool? Other than spring compressor(which i have) Other than that all I have are regular old tools, sockets/wrenches, and a really cool cordless drill, lol.

[DRA4]

I paid a friend $120 to have my shocks and springs installed.

[audispeed]

Originally posted by VtAudi
Anything out of the ordinary tool? Other than spring compressor(which i have) Other than that all I have are regular old tools, sockets/wrenches, and a really cool cordless drill, lol.

ball joint seperator for the front end lower control arm. its not a hard job, just time consuming.

[DDQ]

I paid about $200 for my install of shocks/springs at an indy shop. You should also get an alignment afterwards.

If I had to do it again, I'd rent the spring compressor, and find someone local to help me out.

[SEXICÄN]

Originally posted by audispeed
ball joint seperator for the front end lower control arm. its not a hard job, just time consuming.

I replaced my front control arms and i dont see why you would need to remove the lower front control arms to install shock?

[audispeed]

Originally posted by Audi_A4_Quattro
I replaced my front control arms and i dont see why you would need to remove the lower front control arms to install shock?

Just the rearward one in the front. The reason is, the way Audi installs the shock mounting bolt, it has to be pulled out towards the other conrtol arm (because the nut is on the other side). There is not enough clearance to do this, so one control arm must be lowered. When you reinstall it, you can put in throught the other way so you wont have to pull an arm next time you do it.

[VtAudi]

Can you pick up a ball joint puller up anywhere? or is it an Audi only kinda thing?

[SEXICÄN]

I didn't have any problems removing my spring/stuts lower bolt. It was very simple and i didn't use a ball joint sep. hummmm.?

Yes you can pretty much pick on us at any hardware store. Just be careful not to get the "universal" ball joint seperator, If you have a Chitons or something like that fora manual, there is a picture of then one you want.

[SSiNeDD]

i got quoted $480 + they do the allignment which i asked do i need 2 realign he stated that je the car would be all over the place if u dont do the alignment =\

i dont kno if thats tru or not
this was for the quattro

[OverSpun]

Originally posted by SSiNeDD
i got quoted $480 + they do the allignment which i asked do i need 2 realign he stated that je the car would be all over the place if u dont do the alignment =\

i dont kno if thats tru or not
this was for the quattro

it wont be all over the place, youll just get uneven tire wear..