Upper shock nut, and then UCA bolt? I'm tempted to try it this way because fully assembled it's tough to get the exact clocking for the upper mount bolts and lower shock bolt right
Not quite, all these pics were during the install rather than removal but my method is as follows:
Removal
1) unbolt Sway bar link from the knuckle
2) unbolt caliper from the bracket and set aside towards the front (without hanging it off the brake line! I used a convenient box to set mine on)
3) unbolt the UCA from the knuckle
4) unbolt the lower shock bolt from the LCA and remove the bolt and replace with a sturdy screwdriver from the back(handle towards the rear of the car)
5) place a jack under the LCA (I try to get it as close to the ball joint as possible but as long as it’s outboard of the shock mount you’re good) and jack it up until the car barely starts lifting
6) unscrew the upper shock bolt. If you have an impact zip it off, if not an open end wrench and an adjustable wrench at the top to keep the shock from spinning will work too
7) slowly lower all the way to bottom
8) grab the shock absorber with one hand and pull out the screwdriver from step 4 with the other
9) using your foot push down on the LCA or strut rod and pin the loose spring shock and shock out. top first.
Reinstall (mostly repeat in reverse but since it’s fresh memory…)
10) place the spring over the shock and put it in top first
11) push down on the LCA and reinsert the screwdriver where the lower shock bolt would go
12) guide the upper shock threads toward and through the hole in the upper shock mount(this is trickier with longer springs as you’ll need to compress a little, look, readjust and repeat until it’s in the hole)
13) jack up the LCA until there are enough threads through the washer where you can thread on most of the top nut (at this point it’s basically safe) and continue jack it up until the car lifts again and go full send on tightening it all the way down
14) relax the jack and remove the screwdriver
15) replace the lower shock bolt itself(using the jack still in place helps align he holes to make it easier). Partly thread the nut but don’t tighten yet
16) reinstall the brake caliper onto its bracket
17) reinstall the sway bar link to the knuckle
18) reinstall the knuckle to the UCA
19) Torque the the three above things to spec(still not yet the LCA to shock though)
20) reinstall the wheel and set the car down
Last steps
21) Gingerly take the car around the block and when back drive the car up ramps(or in my case the curb) so you can get underneath with full vehicle weight on the springs and fully tighten the LCA to shock nut.
22) loosen and retighten the 4 UCA nuts in the engine compartment(this is only necessary if you change ride height with lowering…or in my case “heightening” springs)
200 per car (expires in two years)
