Springs & Shocks on a Regal

[sugarandopium]

How long does it take to change front & rear, springs/shocks/struts on our cars?

I just got 2 quotes in the 400$ range.
I know labor is not cheap here,
last time i had to get a shop to do something was about 2yrs ago
the going rate was like 100/hr.... so it's prob a bit more now...
But is this really a 3+ hour job(!??!!) for a professional with a lift/shop?

 

[TurboRegal84]

They are not too hard to do....why not do them yourself and gain the experience while saving the money?

 

[sugarandopium]

They are not too hard to do....why not do them yourself and gain the experience while saving the money?

i might do it myself, want to....
but never done springs and have heard they can be hard, so kinda hesitant.
i gotta get a new jack too.

as much as i hate someone else touching the car, was going to have someone
do the springs/shocks, then do the rest of the suspension myself.

400 bucks seems kinda ridiculous tho!!!

 

[scojack_2001]

Rear springs and shocks are cake. Same with the LCAs. I had my rear springs and shocks done in 1.5 hours with help on a lift. Should consider airbags as well. Easier to do them when you do the springs then it is later on.

Front shocks are easy as well. Did mine on a lift, but a jack can do it as well. As for the front shocks, thats a bit more involved IMHO. Means you have to separate the control arm, and the springs are under lots of tension. I'd leave that to a shop if it were me.

But the rears you can do yourself, and I'd estimate a $200 savings as well.

Just my .02.

 

[novaderrik]

rear are easy- pop unbolt the shocks andl et the rear hang. use a pry bar to get hte springs out.
fronts are also pretty easy- jack the car up as high as you can get it.
take out the shocks, loosen up the lower ball joint nut a few turns, hit the spindle next to the balljoint with a Ford tool until the balljoint pops loose.
put floor jack under lower balljoint and jack it up to take the pressue off the balljoint nut.
remove balljoint nut and slowly let the jack down until the spring comes out- you may need to pry it or kick it to get it to come loose.
if you are just throwing the stock springs away, then you can cut the spring in half after you use the spring pressure to pop the lower balljoint loose.
install is just the same steps in reverse- and if they are lowering springs, they are really easy to get in there..

 

[Junior Samples]

yep save your money

rears... another pointer
put car on jackstand, remove tires just to get em out of the way. undo shocks, you may have the woman stand on each drum a little to drop axle enough to pull spring out or to install. Install springs correctly with the ends pointed correctly as noted on paper that will come with them.

A lazy sunday in your driveway for a couple of hrs, take the money you would have spent after parts and put it in a jar for more parts

 

[Dennis Kirban]

kirban 2 cents worth

All the above advice is good....

I'd say do the rear first since that is the easiest.....keep in mind what you change up front may or may not affect wheel alignment meaning you may have to get your car realigned when done if you change out the front springs.

From a safety standpoint when doing the front springs I'd have someone else with you......

Not sure where you live but $100 a hour sounds like they are working on higher end cars than Buicks...

Not sure what year your car is but 1987s had pretty good springs up front its the 1986 and older that sat lower up front when factory new.

kirban

 

[charlief1]

.7 hours per shock so they're a little high from my sight.

 

[GregInAtl]

I think all the shocks were easy, and the rear springs unloaded can be removed w/ no tools at all, I got under the car and pushed them up and unloaded the off the rear seat w/o any issue at all. Front springs kinda sucked, and you need a friend to help.
BTW, I am not a "wrench" I am more of a washer/waxer.

 

[wile87]

if you have any wrenching ability you can pull the front springs with no problem. . . jack up the car and put a jack stand on a high setting. jack up lower a arm to relieve pressure some from spindle nut, pull cotter pin and remove bolt. SLOWLY lower jack on lower control arm until the spring can be removed. it's not hard if you take your time. i've done it more then i can remember and never had a spring fly out. just remember to SLOWLY lower the jack. it will make noise as it lowers this is normal