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Gabriel rear shocks to replace lifted EA81's


TheSubaruJunkie
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So i read a thread on this board that said Chevelle shocks would fit lifted EA81's, and eliminate the horseshoe adapter. So i ordered a set of Gabriel's, then i go to install them and find out the bolts to mount the top part of the shocks are too small.

 

Who else is running these and what did you have to do to get around this problem? I think i just completely fubar'd one of my shocks trying to drill the hole larger.

 

-Brian

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I think a lot of people drill and/or slot the holes to suit. I actually pressed out the pin and used an adaptor built buy a friend of mine that passes a bolt through the eye of the top. Is basically a piece of flat with the two holes drilled in it and a bolt passing through the centre ( welded on the back ) at an angle which goes through the eye and is nylock bolted on.

 

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I was in a hurry so I slotted the bolt holes on mine. (And I was in a bad mood and the grinder was laying too close.) This method works but depending on the shock used, there might not be much steel left after slotting the holes so do it at your own risk. With some amount of persuation and cursing, you can press out the Subaru style top mounting bars from your old shocks and install them in the new Chevy style shocks. Obviously lots of slimmy stuff helps the bar go through the rubber bushing but be carefully not to use slimmy stuff that will eat the rubber in time. An arbor press helps but BFH and blocks works. So which ever method you chose have fun and good luck.

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I submitted a small write up about rear shocks to zap awhile ago for the faq but I never got any response from him... pretty much what you need to do is measure how much length you will need and how much compression, and then find a specification chart from rancho(http://www.gorancho.com/products/appguides/2005/2005_productshock_spec.pdf) or from someone else, and find their shock that fits your specs and mounting type and order it. Don't have to deal with BS such as trying to find a shock off this vehicle, screw that and do it right. you MAY have to press out the top mounting pin on your old shocks and reuse that, but when I got my shocks from procomp they came with a variety of differant pins and one of them worked for me.

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Mike, i removed the bar from the stock subie strut, and in the meantime ovalled the hole on the side i was pounding from. So needless to say, that bar wont work any longer.

 

If i slot the stock bar, i will be left with very little material left on the mount itself.

 

-Brian

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