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Old 08-18-2007, 06:53 PM   #1
wcamarors1992
 
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97 Camaro needs struts!

Hi guys, I havent really posted much before but I have a couple questions:

Today I just bought a 97 camaro ss. Anyway first, the one problem it has is struts, they are sqeaky and just feel terrible. Are they easy to do myself or would it be better to have it taken somewhere. Lastly could anyone give me any prices or good brands to buy? Thanks alot!!
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Old 08-19-2007, 10:12 AM   #2
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Rears are a piece of cake, if you don't know what you are doing and don't have a spring compressor I would stay away from the fronts and have someone do it for you.
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Old 08-19-2007, 05:45 PM   #3
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Rear shocks are a 30-40 minute job for someone who hasn't done them before - very simple. Fronts are much more difficult......

- Justin
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Old 08-19-2007, 08:28 PM   #4
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Fronts are much more difficult......

- Justin
Not to mention dangerous, I'd hate to eat a coil spring.
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Old 08-19-2007, 10:21 PM   #5
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Thanks for the replies guys, it's the front struts in need of replacement. I guess I will have to get a shop to do it.
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Old 08-21-2007, 04:57 PM   #6
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Thanks for the replies guys, it's the front struts in need of replacement. I guess I will have to get a shop to do it.
best bet. I did mine a month ago and its not a fun job.
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Old 08-26-2007, 05:30 PM   #7
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Not to mention dangerous, I'd hate to eat a coil spring.
ive seen them shoot through fenders....its not pretty
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Old 08-27-2007, 01:01 PM   #8
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ive seen them shoot through fenders....its not pretty
through??? like "big hole"????
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Old 08-27-2007, 02:49 PM   #9
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through??? like "big hole"????
ya once...and ive seen videos....

a couple years ago i used to have a friend who worked in his dads body shop...and they had rooms up stairs where we would all party and what not....but anyways...this kid didnt know a piston from a pushrod so to speak, although he liked to think he knew everything....so hes doin work on this car and i honestly can remember what it was but i know it had fiberglass fenders as well as other body panels. So hes swappin the spring out and were all just hangin out and all of a sudden u hear a loud BANG! and i look over and hes covering his head and laying on the floor and theres a spring sticking halfway through the passanger side fender! now granted the fender was alrady a lil damaged it was still crazy...

He wasnt hurt thank god but still to this day i dunno how that happened but i could have been alot worse...people who werent there dont believe me but i assure u it happened... i know cuz i remember dropping my beer
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Old 08-27-2007, 02:52 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Predator86 View Post
ya once...and ive seen videos....

a couple years ago i used to have a friend who worked in his dads body shop...and they had rooms up stairs where we would all party and what not....but anyways...this kid didnt know a piston from a pushrod so to speak, although he liked to think he knew everything....so hes doin work on this car and i honestly can remember what it was but i know it had fiberglass fenders as well as other body panels. So hes swappin the spring out and were all just hangin out and all of a sudden u hear a loud BANG! and i look over and hes covering his head and laying on the floor and theres a spring sticking halfway through the passanger side fender! now granted the fender was alrady a lil damaged it was still crazy...

He wasnt hurt thank god but still to this day i dunno how that happened but i could have been alot worse...people who werent there dont believe me but i assure u it happened... i know cuz i remember dropping my beer

It does happen. If you do the spring force calculations you know how much force gets stored in them, and it can be enough to kill you or disfigure you if you aren't careful.
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Old 08-27-2007, 02:56 PM   #11
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It does happen. If you do the spring force calculations you know how much force gets stored in them, and it can be enough to kill you or disfigure you if you aren't careful.
agreed...so bottom line is do your homework before before the exam..

we were doing the springs on my buddies 90 something jetta...and i like how they have it because the spring is wrapped around the strut and incased so u dont need to compress anything...alot of new cars have it that way now
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Old 08-31-2007, 12:07 PM   #12
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Could be worse, try changing them in a 3rd gen
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Old 08-31-2007, 12:13 PM   #13
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i can do them too pm me with what ur willing to pay
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Old 08-31-2007, 10:52 PM   #14
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Could be worse, try changing them in a 3rd gen
you are correct sir
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Old 09-01-2007, 03:39 PM   #15
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sorry guys i already have a shop doing my tires+struts.
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Old 09-02-2007, 02:30 PM   #16
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Could be worse, try changing them in a 3rd gen
Long pry bar ftw!
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Old 09-02-2007, 03:41 PM   #17
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Only took me about 3 hrs for both sides in front with brakes the first time. Not so bad if your careful. Saves ya alot of $$$$$$$$ doin things yourself! Hope you went with good struts. I got the KYB adjustables and they are awesome. Bilsteen supposed to be good too.
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Old 09-02-2007, 08:31 PM   #18
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Front struts and springs on a 3rd gen aren't too bad. Mine were done in my driveway by Tim and my little brother.

- Justin
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Old 09-07-2007, 03:06 PM   #19
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all you need on a thridgen is a set of jack stands, a good jack that you can let down slow, and a rachet set.
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