6.
Remove the cotter pin from the lower ball joint and loosen the castle nut. Do not remove the nut.
7.
Separate the lower ball joint from the spindle using a ball joint separator.
8.
With a spring compressor, compress the coil spring to remove tension from the lower control arm.
9.
With the spring tension off of the control arm remove the ball joint nut and spring from the car.
10.
For GM cars, it is necessary to remove the welded nuts or “U” clips for the stock shock mount on the factory control
arms. This can be accomplished with a grinder or hammer and chisel. The holes may then need to be enlarged to 3/8”.
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
1.
Screw the aluminum lock nut (shoulder up) and the spring seat adjuster nut (shoulder up) down to the last thread -
NO FURTHER. Now is a good time to lubricate the threads of the shock with
Permatex® Anti-Seize lubricant.
2.
QA1 highly recommends using the QA1 thrust bearing kit (P/N 7888-
109) for ease of adjustment. If the thrust bearing kit is used, coat both
sides of the washers with
Permatex® Anti-Seize lubricant
. Install the
stainless steel spring seat washer, then the bearing, then the second
washer.
3.
If the thrust bearing kit is not used, coat the stainless steel spring seat
washer with
Permatex® Anti-Seize lubricant
. Place the lubricated side of
the washer down on the spring seat.
4.
With the piston rod fully extended, install a washer and bushing on the
piston rod. Slide the small diameter end of the spring over the shock
down to the spring seat adjuster.
5.
Insert the assembly into the upper spring pocket. Install the other
bushing, washer and nut. Do not tighten the nut at this time. Align the
pig tail on the spring with the recess in the upper spring pocket if the
spring has a pigtail.
The adjusting knob should face the spindle.
6.
GM Cars: With a jack under the lower control arm, raise the lower control arm up to the lower shock mount and
install the supplied 3/8” bolts. (Figure 2)
Mustang II: Install the supplied 7/16” or 1/2” lower shock bolts supplied. For Mx301 shocks, install a spacer on each
side of the spherical bearing.
7.
With the lower shock bolt(s) installed, jack the lower control arm up and reconnect the lower ball joint and tighten
to the factory specification. Install a new cotter pin.
8.
Using a spanner wrench, adjust the spring seat adjuster about 1½” to
2” above the bottom-most thread for a factory ride height. If you
have not done so, lubricate the threads on the shock with
Permatex®
Anti-Seize lubricant
prior to making any ride height adjustments.
9.
Re-install the sway bar end links
10.
Re-install the front wheels.
11.
Lower the car to the ground and bounce the suspension to seat the
springs. Check the vehicle ride height referring to your notes from
step 1 of disassembly. Raise the car off the ground and adjust the
ride height as necessary using a spanner wrench. Once you have the
ride height set, tighten the lock nut against the spring seat adjuster.
12.
An alignment should be performed by a reputable alignment shop after any changes to the suspension.
Figure 2
Figure 1
