I was wondering how to change a front shock on a 63 Dart? I don't know how it is set up in there. I forgot to take a look earlier today, and now it's too dark to see. So if someone could tell me how to do it, that would be great. Are there any special tools I need? Any tips are appreciated. thanks.

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1963 Dodge Dart -225 Slant 6, 904, 2.76's, 18.84 @ 73
1970 Nova 12.53@108
1970 Bug 15.38@87

Take the nut or nuts off the top of the shock tower in the engine bay. remove the wheel. remove the nut and bolt from the bottom of the shock that go thru the lower control arm. lift up the shock (force it to compress- slow and steady gets the job done) and pull it sideways down and out.

The new shock gets rubber bushings up top, thread it up into the hole and then comes the tricky part. The new shock will be way stiffer than the old one, so it will be hard to compress unless you are a strong guy. I like to get the shock situated so that it is sitting on the lip of the lca then get my bolt ready with one hand while i pop the shock into place and slow its extension down with my right hand (braced against lca, using friction of my grip, not muscles of my forearm!)so that I can stick the bolt in when it lines up, then tap it thru with a mallet.

You can use a prybar to get the shock in position, usually I just try to compress it by hand. It doesn't take tons of force, but you can't let up! If you are not up to it, don't cut the strap that comes on them until you are ready to slide the bolt through the bottom, and when you cut it, let the shock rest on the side of the lca near where it drops in.

Kevin

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madam im adam

Two IMPORTANT caveats.......

1. Tighten the LOWER part of the shock ONLY with the wheels resting on the ground with the full weight sitting on them....IOW at normal ride height.

2. Tighten the TOP of the shock ONLY until the rubber bushing reaches the edges of the washer.....DO NOT tighten until it stops tightening! Use the PAL nut correctly - with the open side facing UP.

Thank you guys, I'll be doing it this week.

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1963 Dodge Dart -225 Slant 6, 904, 2.76's, 18.84 @ 73
1970 Nova 12.53@108
1970 Bug 15.38@87

You cannot get the top nut off without some way of holding the shaft from rotating. There is a special tool to do that. YOu might be able to buy one at Pep Boys, but most new cars have struts up front, and most modern DYI parts stores are set up for modern cars. If you cannot find the standard tool, you can hold the shaft from rotating with a needle nose pair of vice grips, but it is tricky.

Sam

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take a deep 9/16 socket and a fairly long extension and bust the tops off as I doubt you'll be reusing the old shocks anyway.

I think it was 1/4" but im not sure. it is that tiny open end wrench that is always trying to strike out alone because the others make fun of it...

Kevin

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madam im adam

Well, I did the driver's side today, and it was very easy. The only hard part was the lower bolt, which was stuck on. It probably took less than 10 minutes total.

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1963 Dodge Dart -225 Slant 6, 904, 2.76's, 18.84 @ 73
1970 Nova 12.53@108
1970 Bug 15.38@87