Sup guys. I need a little help with my Dropzone shocks/coilovers. The instructions are very vague on how to assemble them so tell me if this sounds right.

This is just for the fronts.

I then used O-Rings to make it look like this:


Then I put the adjustable sleeve onto the shock... But now I get confused.

Do I use the stock bump stops or not? Cut them in half and use them?

I really have no idea how to assemble this... Does anyone have any pictures showing assembly?

 

Front and rears will be assembled the same way. They will be configured in the same order as the stock parts.

Trim 1/3 of your bumpstop to account for lowering. You may want to trim your dust boot accordingly.

The order of assembly, starting at the bottom:
Damper (shock/strut)
Coilover sleeve with o-rings on shock body
Bump stop
Bump stop plate (metal washer/disk)
Dust boot
Dust boot plate (metal washer/disk)
Put Spring onto sleeve
Spring mounting rubber (fits inside mounting base)
Strut mounting base (fits inside cutout of mounting base)
Strut mounting base (large disk with two bolts that mount onto frame)
Metal cylindrical mounting collar
Mounting rubber
Mounting washer
Self Locking Nut

It will look just like the stock suspension, just susbstitute the new parts. If you have a Haynes/Chilton's/Helm, follow their pictures. The above list is just from reading the Helm diagram (page 18-18). Good luck!

Edit: better descriptions.

 

Thanks a lot man that's what i needed.

Do I really need the dust boot? Some people say you do and some say you dont.

 

I would definitely use it, unless the boot hits your springs. I trimmed my boots down, but there are still some contact marks from the springs. Check for fitment and make the call. The dust boot is there for a reason.

This is the only experience I have with the dust boots - someone else will have a better idea. (Just saying don't take my words as stone, I have a lot to learn!)

 

Okay I just assembled the shock... here's how it came out











I didn't use the bump stops or the dust cover... I don't really care at this point I just want my car to have suspension again. Does everything look okay? Thanks guys.

 

It looks like there's too much sticking out above the mounting plate...comparing that to pics from my install, I think one of those inserts should be underneath, in the raised "cup" portion of the plate.

There are two rubber inserts - one goes under the base plate, one goes above.

The metal disk between those two rubber pieces is the dust cover plate and should be below the rubber.

Yours looks like: (from the top)
Nut
Washer
Rubber
Metal Dust Cover Plate/Disk
Rubber
Mtg Base

It should be: (from the top)
Nut
Washer
Rubber
Mtg Base
Rubber
Metal Dust Cover Plate/Disk

I would use a bump stop. It's much better to bottom out onto the bump stop than having your whole assemblyy collapse onto the strut housing.

So just switch the items as mentioned, and then put the bump stop washer and bump stop.

 

OK ask yourself "I wonder what a bump stop is for?" Now answer yourself - "when I hit a big pothole, the suspension bottoms out. The spring and shock collapse as far as they can go. Since the shock might have less travel than the spring the shock takes all the weight on a 2500 pound car slamming down on it at high speed. Gee, I wonder if that might break all the delicate parts in my new shock and waste all the money and time I put in assembling this suspension. Gee I wonder if I should spend an extra 3 or 4 minutes trimming one a them thar bumpstops and mounting it like it's supposed to be to protect my suspension. Nahh, f'ck it. I wanta have my suspension on now and I don't have any easy way to trim the bumpstop and I am a lazy fool"