Cobra Bilstein shock bushings

black97lsc

black97lsc

New member
After some research, I decided to replace the rear shocks on my Mark with the Cobra Bilstein. I found a used set off a stock cobra coupe but when I looked at the bushings, it looked like I would have a problem.

The top bushing looked like it would not allow the mount to sit properly. I'm wondering if I have to remove the stock bushing and how I would do that?
And then I guess I would need a bushing kit like the one from supercoupeperformance.

Here are the pics to better describe this, any help is appreciated. Thanks
 

Attachments

black97lsc

black97lsc

New member
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7E18 Safari/528.16)

Thanks, there's a post that says I have to screw it off by using a wrench to hold the top of the shaft? I'll try that when I get home. I think I tried that but I remember it just spins. I'll try it though.
 
black97lsc

black97lsc

New member
I'm still trying to figure out how this thing comes off.
I pulled down the dust boot and saw a piece that may hold it on but it just spins. It spins independent of the part that has the rubber bushing. I'm not going to reuse it but I don't want to damage the shaft of the shock by forcing it off. I'm attaching a pic:
 

Attachments

budpytko

budpytko

Super Senior Associate
You are going to have to hold the shaft.... the silver part below the bottom arrow. Use a rag and vice grips. At the top of the assembly is a place to use a wrench on the flats. Do you need to re-use the shock? If not, use anything you wish to hold the bottom part.
 
black97lsc

black97lsc

New member
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7E18 Safari/528.16)

budpytko said:
You are going to have to hold the shaft.... the silver part below the bottom arrow. Use a rag and vice grips. At the top of the assembly is a place to use a wrench on the flats. Do you need to re-use the shock? If not, use anything you wish to hold the bottom part.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I'll try that. And this is the "new" shock that I'm putting in so I definitely don't want to damage it.
 
driller

driller

El Presidente
When I bought mine used, there were no upper bushings or sleeve, so it definitely comes off.

I bought a set of bushings from a parts jobber at our workplace that were actually off a set of Monroe shocks, IIRC.

 
Last edited:
black97lsc

black97lsc

New member
Thanks guys, I figured it out. They do come off and relatively easy. I'll post pics when I'm done to show you guys and anyone else that may need to figure it out.
Now I just need to look for pics of after market mounts to see how they install compared to stock mounts. :)
 
black97lsc

black97lsc

New member
Looks like the bushings were glued on to the washers and under it all was a crush sleeve. What I did first was pry off the bushings than expand the crush sleeve by "carefully" applying brute force to the seam. :D Once it widened a bit, it slid off. All set to install my new shocks.

I got the install complete and it wasn't difficult to swap. The most difficult part was a stubborn bolt on the drivers side shock mount. Luckily I had just enough room for my impact gun. The nut backed out as if the stud was made of butter.

Here are some pics.
 

Attachments

B

beerdog

New member
where did you get the mounting bracket? There was a guy selling those on Ebay a while ago but he stopped because he could not sell enough. He sent me a copy of his drawing and I sent off to someone on the board a year or 2 ago. I would liek ot buy another set.
 
tixer

tixer

Lincoln Evangelist
I recently performed the "burn the rubber off of the old shock mounts" procedure. it works pretty well. I'd recommend it. Just remove all three nuts in the trunk, and jack up that corner of the car. it'll pop right out. you don't even have to remove the wheel.
 
black97lsc

black97lsc

New member
beerdog said:
where did you get the mounting bracket? There was a guy selling those on Ebay a while ago but he stopped because he could not sell enough. He sent me a copy of his drawing and I sent off to someone on the board a year or 2 ago. I would liek ot buy another set.
Click to expand...
Got the mount from Eddie at American Air suspension. You have to call to order, this isn't on his website. They are the "solid" mounts.

tixer said:
I recently performed the "burn the rubber off of the old shock mounts" procedure. it works pretty well. I'd recommend it. Just remove all three nuts in the trunk, and jack up that corner of the car. it'll pop right out. you don't even have to remove the wheel.
Click to expand...
Yup, the old shocks popped right out as soon as the nuts were removed. I removed the wheel for better access to make installing the new one easier.
 
9

98mark8lsc

I make stuff
beerdog said:
where did you get the mounting bracket? There was a guy selling those on Ebay a while ago but he stopped because he could not sell enough. He sent me a copy of his drawing and I sent off to someone on the board a year or 2 ago. I would liek ot buy another set.
Click to expand...
You don't happen to still have that drawing, do you? If so, I would probably be able to have a small run of them made at work...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top