Hey guys. Anyone know if there is a step by step guide to replacing the shocks and springs on a kj verada? I'm hoping to change out the shocks on the GTV tomorrow and was going to wing it, but if someone has a link to a guide that would be handy. Thanks.

For a start I hope you have spring compressors.... :)

Othe than that I cant offer and reliable advice as ive never done it, only ever done swaps of complete struts

Yeah I have the spring compressors.

Personally I'd never do struts at home unless I also had a cage.

Id take them to a pro like Mal, or buy the best and most expensive spring compressors and cage that money could buy.

If the site search hasn't come up with anything, try google search of the site - I find it gives much more relevant results.

Go to google.com and type in "site:aussiemagna.com strut spring compressor" and you might get better results.

I think you will get a good understanding of the process involved by simply watching some 'how to' videos on Youtube of people changing the shock absorbers on cars that have the same suspension design.

Changing the front shock absorbers is not a particularly enjoyable task and on one of the shocks (can't remember which side), you'll need 4 compressors to get the sufficient compression in the spring.

I've changed the fronts twice now and although I've learned a great deal which should make a third time far smoother, I'll probably just take it to a shop. The rears by comparison are quite straightforward, almost easy.

I recently changed the struts on friend's vehicle from 300,000km dead ones to Sachs-Boge. Tried doing it with an ebay set of compressors but couldn't compress them enough to fit back in the strut, also the spring moved and they went flying in my face, luckily I wasn't hurt - just had to change pants.

I found a shop with a wall mounted spring compressor (big unit) and paid him $50 a pair to change the springs over. He also struggled with it a lot, not worth the hassle for the price of a carton - seriously. One last thing to take note, on the bottom shock plate there's a hole that has to line up with a hole on the strut top - if you don't align this properly the spring will bind when turning.

Oh and degrease the absolute shit out of the top bearing plate then relube (liberally) with your favourite wheel bearing grease.

I am in the process of gathering all the parts for a complete front suspension upgrade and new rotors/pads and there is no way I would be doing it myself, not worth the grief if something happened, I have heard of people being knocked out and others with serious injury trying to do it themselves to save a buck.

I recently changed the struts on friend's vehicle from 300,000km dead ones to Sachs-Boge. Tried doing it with an ebay set of compressors but couldn't compress them enough to fit back in the strut, also the spring moved and they went flying in my face, luckily I wasn't hurt - just had to change pants.


See my post above. This just isn't worth it.

People will continue to be killed by cheap, crappy spring compressors. Same way that people used to kill themselves all the time with split rims.

Buy the correct, top quality tools and safety gear - or leave it to the pros.

Buy the correct, top quality tools and safety gear - or leave it to the pros.

For $50 a pair... I would never bother again.

The guy that did mine had a tool like this http://www.agileauto.com/images/pages/equip-springcompressor.jpg

If someone was just replacing the shocks then those cheap spring compressors should be ok right?
Since they are just keeping the springs compressed, rather than compressing them?

You wont be able to compress them enough with 1 pair, with 2 maybe but considering how easily they slip - or unless you have the style that has the locking pin... just don't.