Replacing shock absorbers on 1977 Targa

[keith912]

Hi, I need to fit new shocks and wondering about doing it myself. Black fronts and red rears. I think the front are just inserts. Questions really about how hard it is to do, rears I know can be an issue with lower bolt and access to the top nut but not much info on the fronts (some say disconnect brake calibers etc). Also will the ride height change? Best Keith

[keith912]

Bad photos from a while ago but can take more tomorrow 

[keith912]

Clearer pic of top 

[SilverWT]

Easy DIY, but it will need camber and caster redoing after.

There have been a number of threads on hear over the years covering the various details/permutations.

Mark

[keith912]

Thanks Mark 👍

[angusb]

On paper this is quite a easy diy job , but things can get quite awkard quicly with the Fronts

For the Rears these are quite straight forward, a ratchet spanner , allen key or vice grips will remove the top nut.Big bar for lower nut.

The Front s  if you can get away with loosing the Gland Nut on car fine, but more likely the strut will need to come off before this can be done.Be prepared for a fight if the Ball joint is cosy with the strut. You need either a C hook spanner or Pipe wrench. There are various makes of strut & shocks inserts, some which are  non compatible with each other, as some had a internal threaded nut , and lower roll oin. There is a identifcation guide in the workshop manuals,

  If your intention to to change to Bilstein shocks, yes these will increase the ride height, as Mark said this will alter the alignment specs.

 

 

[Nige]

Big ass ball joint fork, put some plate steel between it and the A arm for protection and belt it as hard as you can with the biggest lump hammer you can handle.

Also removing the pinch bolt can awkward and might as well replace the lower balljoints whilst you're at it.

 

Make sure the car is rock steady on supports.

[keith912]

Thanks for replies, no roll pin so not Bilsteins and hoping to keep same ride height 🤞

[Chris_911]

I fitted new Bilstein inserts to my Boge legs without removing the struts from the car.

[keith912]

A fairly easy morning taking out the front inserts and the rear ones have no seized bolts so all good. Koni sports on the front and passed it 

One weird thing is that the collars were not fully screwed in as though the inserts are too tall for the Boge struts

[sladey]

Could possibly be the wrong inserts? I know you need to get inserts for boge struts or bilstein struts but I don't know the difference between the two - maybe one is longer? OR something could have dropped down inside the insert before it was fitted and it's forcing the shock up (You'd think that would have been checked when fitting them though)

[keith912]

Koni sports fitted and all good 👍 Ride height unaffected as well 😀