So I failed at the rear shock swap earlier this month.....

[Tweek's Turbos]

I had to be back in CNY for classes the begining of May, and I thought, take another day, and do some stuff to the 85 SPG.

Well, I was succesfull in installing the brake master I rebuilt myself. Although it was very grimey and the drive down to the gas station was a little hairy, but the brakes eventually worked again.

I moved on to the rear shocks. I asked my 2 sisters to each give me a Bilstein shock for Xmass, and they did. I was pretty sure they were both rears. So I spent a few hours dismantling the LR. It was a little bit of a fight, but everthing did come out in the same number of pieces the parts went in originally. Of course when I opened the shock boxes, they turned out to be fronts.

So today I ordered up the rears from Partsgeek, along with the LH side front lower controll arm. I have the RH already, but didn't replace it yet because it was fused to the stock shock.

My goal before next weekend, (Euro Cheesesteak Rally), is to R and R the 4 shocks with bilstein HDs, replace both front lower control arms and install the SOY Bean harness replacement. I'm waiting to hear from Delo and PaulH, to see if I can get a ride to NY from PA, and bring the car down to the EPL compound for the work.

I also have a nice new looking freshly powedercoated rear sway and rear trailing arms. I am also going to use some oven cleaner on the rear spring dishes. Also the back rest portion of the rear seat to replace.

Hopefully I can get it down to VA for the Summer for runs and shows, I also want to let Paul Immo see how it is progressing.

[rpiereck]

Ouch on the front shocks...

Just curious, what is the SOY Bean harness?

I think I might have to do my front right ball joint on the C900 as it is clunking on hard right corners. Or maybe I should stop taking hard right corners...

[Tweek's Turbos]

Many European cars used a soy bean based wire harness sheath back in the mid 80s. They thought it would be better for the planet if the harness was more able to return to the earth. The harnesses started going way before the car was ready to.

[rpiereck]

Ah, I had heard of the organic harnesses, didn't know you were referring to that. The way you wrote it (SOY Bean), looked like a trademark...

[SPGreg]

I am also going to use some oven cleaner on the rear spring dishes.

I've never heard of using oven cleaner in automotive applications. Is this common? Have you used it elsewhere (e.g., under the hood?). Does it work better than Gunk or other similar products? Are you pulling our legs?

[Tweek's Turbos]

I am going to try this later today. It is common to use it when cleaning out T7 oil pans. I wouldn't use it on anything painted. But for the galvanized bits I am sure it will work fine.

Also PartsGeek.com seems to be staffed with fools. 1 box is coming from Washington State and instead of telling me the contents that I would wait all week for, told me instead I couldn't cancel the order. I sent a nasty email telling them I wasn't trying to cancel the order, but trying to plan my week since the car is in NY and I am in VA.

[Tweek's Turbos]

It was a success, Thursday all day project.


This was the task.


Jeff set to work replacing the harness.


I used an angle grinder on 3 of 4 shocks.


Rear shock in the Spring Cup.

[s900t8v]

wow why'd you remove the spring links?

I just used a bottle jack to compress the old shocks out of their lower mounts in spring links! But this definitely looks slightly easier....

Good job though, wish I knew someone with Bilstein HDs I could ride with to see how they go, can't decide whether I want to go with original sachs shocks or Hd/s