Tech Session for Shock Absorbers

[td3620]

My buddy has a brake shop (Chuck's Muffler and Brakes) with a great rack, I used it to replace all four shocks. The only thing better then a buddy with a great rack is a girlfriend with one.

[Snowdoggie]

If it's all the same to the rest of you, I would just as soon do this on a lift if there is one available. I used the lift at the Automotive Department of Eastfield College to install struts on an FWD car once. You can move it up and down quickly to reach the top bolt of the strut.

I don't object to Fort Worth. I live in East Dallas but I used to work in Downtown Fort Worth. I drive all over the place.

I do have one question about the shock boots. I am installing Bilstein HDs. Do I need a special shock boot for these. I know they were actually a performance option from the factory.

[dyoopties]

I definitely don't mind having the event at my shop and I would be happy to host more of them. We could even make it a monthly thing if you wanted to. I am open to any ideas.

We could do a session on brake change/bleed/bedding. I've got a hunter tire machine and a balancer so we could do a tech session on proper tire install and maintenance. We could even demonstrate the proper way to do a string alignment.

Its up to you guys, pick where and when and I will show up even if it is a drive.

[Snowdoggie]

I definitely don't mind having the event at my shop and I would be happy to host more of them. We could even make it a monthly thing if you wanted to. I am open to any ideas.

We could do a session on brake change/bleed/bedding. I've got a hunter tire machine and a balancer so we could do a tech session on proper tire install and maintenance. We could even demonstrate the proper way to do a string alignment.

Its up to you guys, pick where and when and I will show up even if it is a drive.

How about your shop on Sunday the 23rd. I like the idea of having a rack and it looks like more people can make it on Sunday. I don't mind driving to Fort Worth. Would 9 AM be good?

[Rogue]

OEM boots or reuse your old bumps and boots you can order from the O'O'O zone.
Personally, I will not replace shocks without Fat Cat bumps.
They are awesome and Shaikh is great to deal with.
www.fatcatmotorsports.com/

KYB bumps and boots will not fit Billies.

[RedHot-n-Red]

I am game for the West side of Fort Worth. If anyone is looking at replacing BumpStops, I just "upgraded" mine. I cut down the OEM's to allow using a $5.00 Rancho shock boot in place of the nearly $30.00 OEM.

[dyoopties]

9:00 in the morning is a bit early for a weekend day for me. I was thinking about having food here for everyone like pizza or firing up the grill, so lets plan for a lunch or dinner. Any time between 10:00 and 10:00 works for me.

Also, who is bringing their car to have the suspension replaced? What exactly are we replacing? Are you guys going to do the walk through or would you like me to do it? I don't mind lending my air tools+tool cart for the job if you would like to do it yourselves. If you would like, I can do a coilover removal and installation on one of my own vehicles since I don't own a Miata anymore.

Its up to you, just let me know.

[Snowdoggie]

9:00 in the morning is a bit early for a weekend day for me. I was thinking about having food here for everyone like pizza or firing up the grill, so lets plan for a lunch or dinner. Any time between 10:00 and 10:00 works for me.

Also, who is bringing their car to have the suspension replaced? What exactly are we replacing? Are you guys going to do the walk through or would you like me to do it? I don't mind lending my air tools+tool cart for the job if you would like to do it yourselves. If you would like, I can do a coilover removal and installation on one of my own vehicles since I don't own a Miata anymore.

Its up to you, just let me know.

10 AM is OK by me. I will be installing a new set of shocks, and since it is an old car with 140K on it, when I get it on the rack I want to check everything else out too. I would like to do as much of the work myself as I can because I want to learn this stuff. I have taken beginning Auto Tech Classes at Eastfield College so I am familiar with operating a lift and safety procedures. I just haven't replaced shocks on a double A-Arm suspension before.

Since it is my car I am getting help on, I will buy food and drink including bringing donuts in the morning.

[cone-cerned]

I hate to miss this tech session, but I'm out. Other, higher priority, things have come up.

I hope to be there next time.

[Walsted]

9:00 in the morning is a bit early for a weekend day for me. I was thinking about having food here for everyone like pizza or firing up the grill, so lets plan for a lunch or dinner. Any time between 10:00 and 10:00 works for me.

Also, who is bringing their car to have the suspension replaced? What exactly are we replacing? Are you guys going to do the walk through or would you like me to do it? I don't mind lending my air tools+tool cart for the job if you would like to do it yourselves. If you would like, I can do a coilover removal and installation on one of my own vehicles since I don't own a Miata anymore.

Its up to you, just let me know.

Grilling and Pizza both sound good. I'm in for either.

I am bringing my car, four new shocks, some hand tools that live in my trunk plus some that live in my garage but may be helpful, a real cheap Harbor Freight spring compressor set, and some tasty beverages. Is there anything else I need to bring/should bring?

I'll be doing it myself, but welcome help since this will be my first time doing coil-overs, and I have been known to do things the incredibly hard way.

By the way, what is the address?

[Snowdoggie]

Grilling and Pizza both sound good. I'm in for either.

I am bringing my car, four new shocks, some hand tools that live in my trunk plus some that live in my garage but may be helpful, a real cheap Harbor Freight spring compressor set, and some tasty beverages. Is there anything else I need to bring/should bring?

I'll be doing it myself, but welcome help since this will be my first time doing coil-overs, and I have been known to do things the incredibly hard way.

By the way, what is the address?

How about some grilled pizza?

[Walsted]

Grilling and Pizza both sound good. I'm in for either.

How about some grilled pizza?

Probably too much work to try to do while we are doing shocks, but I'm willing to try some if someone wants to cook it.

[mikeytx]

Grilled pizza ? Cool !

[Snowdoggie]

Since I am going to have the car up on the lift anyway, I might as well drain and replace the transmission oil.

[dyoopties]

This event would match my schedule much better if we do it on Sunday around noon. I am in the middle of some work on a customers car and the lift would be nice to have on Saturday to finish up the job. So, unless everyone objects, I vote to have the tech session at my shop on Sunday at noon.

I don't mind ordering Pizza for everyone who shows up and if anyone wants to supply beverages I will too. I'll have a cooler and fridge at the shop so we can keep them cold.

Is this intended to be a tech session to show others how to do perform a simple suspension swap? If so, lets swap suspension on one car and leave the other endeavors to another tech session. I think you will find that using the tools out of my roll around tool cart as well as air tools on this job will make things a lot easier.

Here is my address:

ProTuningPerformance
8851 West Freeway
Suite 107
Fort Worth, TX 76116

Anything else you need can be found on our website:
http://www.protuningperformance.com

[Snowdoggie]

Sounds good to me. I will be there on Sunday at noon with the car the shocks and the boots.

I will leave the transmission oil till later.

Any good pizza places near the shop?

[dyoopties]

Any good pizza places near the shop?

Mr. Jims on Camp Bowie is pretty darn good:

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&...i=lmd&z=14&t=m

[Snowdoggie]

Mr. Jims on Camp Bowie is pretty darn good:

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&...i=lmd&z=14&t=m

I will bring some with me at 12. Any special requests?

[Walsted]

I'll be there at noon with beverages and new shocks. If anyone knows how to plug a tire and doesn't mind showing me, let me know what else to bring (besides the nearly new right-rear tire with most of a thick nail stuck in the center of the tread).

I'll try to remember to bring a digital camera with decent resolution - that way, we can get a lot of pictures and make a good tech article. When finished, I'll host/post it, and everyone can critique/send corrections until I have it the way everyone wants. That is, unless someone has a better idea.

[dyoopties]

I've got a tire machine and I can show you how to plug or patch a tire if you would like. It's really quite easy.