IceMans Revenge
New member
Well all, today was shock day. If you decide to go with the 2003 Cobra Bilsteins like I did, make sure you get the CPE- Coupe ones..they are less stiff than the CVT- Convertible ones. The coupe ones ride beautifully and handle better than the OEM.
You'll need to remove the metal sleeve underneath the rubber Bilstein mount(thanks to Chris for "exactly" pointing the sleeve out to me). First step is to remove the rubber mount from the metal sleeve. Wedge a thin flathead in between the rubber and sleeve and then pry the rubber upwards with a shorty flathead. There is a gooey glue at the bottom that comes right off.
http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/00F/62/52/F6/B5/r1L81+eRszaAB6fqqTUdhyKcvMyly5QX0060.jpg
Second, take an ice pick...or similar long metal object and angle it in between the sleeve and thread. A few hard hits with a mallot takes it right off(the first one took me 45 minutes to do because I was trying to pry it apart from the center..you don't need to be that gingerly with it...the second one literally took me 45 seconds).
http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/00E/3E/C8/DF/4F/yvIzwv3fDES4aD5NqQ7xZi9Z2goJjT-e0280.jpg
http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/008/78/DB/9B/3E/lbApxM9rHZfIbsqx0UmDVnzG08QdGDjR0280.jpg
Third, Open up the trunk and pull back the liner on both sides to expose the shock mounts. Remove the three nuts- top nut is a 3/4 and the side nuts are 1/2 or 13mm. {notice the destroyed shock mount and rubber in my trunk..}
http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/00E/09/16/A1/E9/-YolVYyBKI34cCF-eeNEJhwrEEF92ivo0280.jpg
http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/00F/63/5A/C2/4B/ioyTdsRS-IdGoagTWGm3tsYPRjsi0NyI0280.jpg
The top:
http://pstr-m04.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/00C/73/E2/CE/EB/+rhwHrL5+Hx5UZWG3Xe4tMNOE3690L+S0280.jpg
Fourth, Jack the car up and remove wheel. The bolt that needs to come off on the bottom is a 3/4 with a 13/16 nut on the back.
http://pstr-m04.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/006/43/47/7A/BD/Qakgdt8a-NZLZfSov8He3dAgxet0qFBN0280.jpg
Pull the old shock out. But don't discard it just yet! Use a bench vice or plumbers vice and hold down the washer above the shock mount..there are two flat grooves right on the washer. Remove the 3/4 inch nut on top and remove the washer.
http://pstr-m04.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/00F/0C/98/81/D4/adwV01w1DaoFcnPR24r-iiUrilFlwh6l0280.jpg
Built Ford tough:
http://pstr-m04.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/006/50/B0/AD/EF/op8LS3pW9GZSETpeusbaowvfJVRTR+Im0280.jpg
New and Old:
http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/00F/03/5A/84/DE/ln9D7mMDjBmN6ryINyk+B+NVUNa5zLuQ0280.jpg
http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/003/24/ED/B8/A3/EXffxMDYD+SuBpX8cQSfwy+mQqFe4wB-0280.jpg
Fifth, Put the new Cobra Bilstein and shock mount into the three holes in the trunk. You'll need to physically compress the Bilstein slightly for the bolt to fit through the bottom shock mount.
http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/005/01/E4/EF/41/Tbc6WcEbbg6DWuaUahYZr5hXd0pKy4z90280.jpg
http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/005/7A/80/C7/CA/kxWuMHcHyRQLt7QpZgj3EHEK7xJv1RLt0280.jpg
Sixth, replace the two 1/2 nuts on the shock mount(inside the trunk). The thread on the Cobra Bilstein is smaller than OEM and requires a 10mm nut. Don't forget to replace the washer taken off the original shock. You might need to use an 11/16 wrench to fasten the nut if your socket driver is not long enough to accomidate the shock's thread.
Replace wheel and repeat.
Drive around and enjoy! =D
Found another use for rims today:
http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/005/22/DA/A4/B4/X4EoKcjyH40rEoxWJ2TAlhy3bqyC5T0l0280.jpg
http://pstr-m04.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/00F/77/6F/83/F4/9Sn82i9PWCTETkC2kGH2qDJpd15qmYJa0060.jpg
You'll need to remove the metal sleeve underneath the rubber Bilstein mount(thanks to Chris for "exactly" pointing the sleeve out to me). First step is to remove the rubber mount from the metal sleeve. Wedge a thin flathead in between the rubber and sleeve and then pry the rubber upwards with a shorty flathead. There is a gooey glue at the bottom that comes right off.
http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/00F/62/52/F6/B5/r1L81+eRszaAB6fqqTUdhyKcvMyly5QX0060.jpg
Second, take an ice pick...or similar long metal object and angle it in between the sleeve and thread. A few hard hits with a mallot takes it right off(the first one took me 45 minutes to do because I was trying to pry it apart from the center..you don't need to be that gingerly with it...the second one literally took me 45 seconds).
http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/00E/3E/C8/DF/4F/yvIzwv3fDES4aD5NqQ7xZi9Z2goJjT-e0280.jpg
http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/008/78/DB/9B/3E/lbApxM9rHZfIbsqx0UmDVnzG08QdGDjR0280.jpg
Third, Open up the trunk and pull back the liner on both sides to expose the shock mounts. Remove the three nuts- top nut is a 3/4 and the side nuts are 1/2 or 13mm. {notice the destroyed shock mount and rubber in my trunk..}
http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/00E/09/16/A1/E9/-YolVYyBKI34cCF-eeNEJhwrEEF92ivo0280.jpg
http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/00F/63/5A/C2/4B/ioyTdsRS-IdGoagTWGm3tsYPRjsi0NyI0280.jpg
The top:
http://pstr-m04.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/00C/73/E2/CE/EB/+rhwHrL5+Hx5UZWG3Xe4tMNOE3690L+S0280.jpg
Fourth, Jack the car up and remove wheel. The bolt that needs to come off on the bottom is a 3/4 with a 13/16 nut on the back.
http://pstr-m04.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/006/43/47/7A/BD/Qakgdt8a-NZLZfSov8He3dAgxet0qFBN0280.jpg
Pull the old shock out. But don't discard it just yet! Use a bench vice or plumbers vice and hold down the washer above the shock mount..there are two flat grooves right on the washer. Remove the 3/4 inch nut on top and remove the washer.
http://pstr-m04.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/00F/0C/98/81/D4/adwV01w1DaoFcnPR24r-iiUrilFlwh6l0280.jpg
Built Ford tough:
http://pstr-m04.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/006/50/B0/AD/EF/op8LS3pW9GZSETpeusbaowvfJVRTR+Im0280.jpg
New and Old:
http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/00F/03/5A/84/DE/ln9D7mMDjBmN6ryINyk+B+NVUNa5zLuQ0280.jpg
http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/003/24/ED/B8/A3/EXffxMDYD+SuBpX8cQSfwy+mQqFe4wB-0280.jpg
Fifth, Put the new Cobra Bilstein and shock mount into the three holes in the trunk. You'll need to physically compress the Bilstein slightly for the bolt to fit through the bottom shock mount.
http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/005/01/E4/EF/41/Tbc6WcEbbg6DWuaUahYZr5hXd0pKy4z90280.jpg
http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/005/7A/80/C7/CA/kxWuMHcHyRQLt7QpZgj3EHEK7xJv1RLt0280.jpg
Sixth, replace the two 1/2 nuts on the shock mount(inside the trunk). The thread on the Cobra Bilstein is smaller than OEM and requires a 10mm nut. Don't forget to replace the washer taken off the original shock. You might need to use an 11/16 wrench to fasten the nut if your socket driver is not long enough to accomidate the shock's thread.
Replace wheel and repeat.
Drive around and enjoy! =D
Found another use for rims today:
http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/005/22/DA/A4/B4/X4EoKcjyH40rEoxWJ2TAlhy3bqyC5T0l0280.jpg
http://pstr-m04.ygpweb.aol.com/data3/00F/77/6F/83/F4/9Sn82i9PWCTETkC2kGH2qDJpd15qmYJa0060.jpg