Best video I've seen so far in my search for info on the rear shocks. I'm hoping I can just snap them off like you did.

Thanks Ben. I just acquired a 93 caprice and need to replace the shocks. Your video gives me the confidence to try it myself. All the best. Jay

I just did the rear shocks on a 95 Roadmaster. The key point to remember is the nuts on top of the shock tower are 1/2" and the bolts used a 10mm. I plan on doing the fronts tomorrow and am sure they will be a whole lot easier. The shocks I replaced were original to the car with 98k miles and were completely worn out.

I remember doing upper reaer shocks not too long ago! PITA. I used a wrench up top, wedged it againist the frame, Then attached it w/ an air ratchet. The best is all the junk/ rust that collects up there on the frame that falls on your head!

Thanks so much Ben! From an Olds Custom Cruiser owner :)

The following is for cars that the vise grip method isnt enough to hold the shaft due to rust. Unfortunately the vise grip method didn't work for me until the very end, so I went on Impala SS forums and found out there is a tool for this! I will post a link at the end of my comment. This tool is awesome, but you need to have technique and a bottle of map gas. Before you attempt to break it loose with the Lisle tool, you should have applied some Zep 45 or whatever your liking and hit the nut with the map gas. This will keep you from rounding the tip of the shock that indexes in the tool. Hit the nut again with penetrating lube and back it off as far as you can realizing you may feel the nut stopping. When it stops reverse and turn the nut clockwise to maintain the threads of the nut, because the rust is attempting to ruin the threads in the top of the nut. Hit the nut with map gas again. Repeat until the nut gets to the top. At this point the tool runs out of room and that's when you need the vise grip to hold while you finish removing the nut. If at any point the tip of the shock rounds off like it did on the first one when I got too greedy and impatient, dont worry, use a die grinder with a new 3" cutting wheel and cut strait down the shaft and through the nut until the nut is in half. Use a hammer and punch to pop them off the threaded shaft. the shock will hit the floor. If that isnt an option, then re apply the bottom bolts, put socket on the top nut with an extension and rock it back and forth as hard as you can to break the top off. If you dont have the strength, you will have to revert to the die grinder method regardless of expense. As a side note, the shank of the cutting wheel has to be long enough that the chuck isnt rubbing the raised flange of the upper a arm. Mine did clear, but I'm not aware that this is necessarily a standard length. Also do yourself a favor and the same day you buy the shock tool, go to Home Depot and buy a Husky 7/8 gear wrench too. If you don't, I guarantee you will regret it. Worth every penny of the $18.32 in my opinion. One more thing when you are holding the chrome portion of the tool with a 1/2 wrench, push down on it to keep it tightly indexed in the entire tip, that is what also caused me to strip the first one. www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/lisle/lisle-shock-absorber-tool/lis0/20400/v/a/3355/automotive-car-1996-chevrolet-impala?q=Lisle+Shock+Absorber+Tool&pos=0

Many thanks. Just did both on my 95 impala. Replaced with ac delco 5193 and 51936 for front.

thank you, i have a 1993 caprice myself. thanks for the visuals.

love the video, I've seen this wagon in the parking lot of the Cole Museum in Bangor. Sweet ride

Changing the rear shocks for the 1990-1996 B body I left to my mechanic for my 1995 Caprice Classic sedan, he had to remove the springs to get access. I previously worked on a 1984 B body sedan, and I was able to change the rear springs with only minor difficultly as there was much more room.

Another awesome video man! Glad to see the summer tyres back on the old girl too!

very well done better than watching a tv show.

Some very interesting an helpful hints i like that you talked an explained what you were doing an what size tools you were using 🙂 keep it up..

Great video, later today I'll change all 4 shocks on my -95 Impala SS to Gabriel Ultra, I still have the original DeCarbon shocks on my car but they are not good anymore..

man you made this video in 2010? Wow! You must've had access to a good video camera, or digital cam. Quality is good for this year. You can see the Rust on that Chassis very good. lol

thanks ben. I feel like I can change my shocks now. save me some money

Good vid brother! Next make a video changing your upper and lower control arm bushings for the front of the Caprice.

cool never knew it was that easy ..you just saved me a few hundred bucks

thanks ben for great video i think i might be able to finally change my rear shocks on my 95 caprice sedan lol

same layout on my '78. Helpful vid, thanks a bunch :]

KDS Performance has a Shock Bolt Kit (U-bolts) that replaces the upper rear shocks bolts.

Nor was mine, the filming was ok, but I did hit some unreleased issues. If the shaft won't stop moving, use another set of vice grips...2 will usually stop things if they are really tight. Second, and this is what I normally did before I had my impact wrench, was to just use a dremel tool and cut the top of the shock off. Out back, I ended up cutting a 3/4" nut off the lower shock support, it was just too frozen to move.

nice smiley face @ 7:09 :)

Thanks for making this great tutorial.

Thanks for sharing this 👍👍

Great vid man

great videeo love the how-to's!!!!!

Awesome video, thanks!

Way-da go Ben, :-) * * * * * I bet the tails not "Waggin" any more... LOL Hows the ride feel with the shocks absorbers from NAPA !?!?!

@cassaroll Just a rotary tool and cut it off. No clamps required.

Time and caring...I can afford better shocks later...I can get 4 napa shocks for the price of one KYB ones. This car is driven a lot and rust is a factor, throw on some new shocks now and beat the crap out of them daily driving it, decided if its worth it later. For the price of entry, nothing is really lost. My other cars that I need performance, I run gas-a-just shocks.

awesome video and very helpfull!!!!! thanks a bunch. and those summer tires are sweet! where can i find those and about how much?

thanks ben i thought this was gonna be so much harder lol what kind of shocks did u go with most bbody owners r telling me to go with either monroe severe service shock or bilstein b6

Yes

It helps if when you do the drivers side you work with legs going towards back of car. Just use open end wrench up top. Not that hard. Then do a 180 and put legs going toward front of car to do passenger side rear shocks. I'm having a hard time getting the top bolts off the front shocks. Doing what your doing too.. Ugh..Only me...

J nuts broke on the front of my 93 caprice wagon. Any recommendations on replacement of parts for those? The new bilstein shocks came with new bults that were too big for the old j nuts

@ghtowagon i know how that feels when i was replaceing the fuel pump in my first caprice it seemed like the trunk was made of rust lol

My question is when putting the bolt back on the top of the shock how do you put the bolt back on without the shaft spinning with the bolt And without removing the upper control arm ball joint

I couldn't get the top bolt off no matter how much muscle I put on vise grip kept spinning any other suggestions..

I have had so many of these GM cars that have the shaft that is threaded on the front shock. I've never had one I couldn't get off until my 96 Impala SS. I used my Milwaukee vise grip and turned the tensioner with a punch until I couldn't and it still spun while I tried to loosen it. Because the rubber is still in tact, I didn't use and impact. Is that the trick even if it does spin? If I had a torch I would just make a mess and start a rubber fire, but I dont.

I have a question. were having a hell of a time getting that top bolt out we used the vices but we don't have a tool with air compressor like you do. what can we use to get it off other then that tool?

Can you leave the wheels on to do this? Front and Rears?

I got a 93 and yeah it. Need to be lifted up what can I do

I dont know but i'm getting the impact wrench right there where you get it, but the middle-part is still turning while wrenching the upper bolt to loose it. I dont know why its still turning. Did i need to get the impact wrench tightener? Any ideas?

Is there another way to take the front shocks out because I couldn't stop the shift from spinning I used avise grip an kept on spinning??

Was curious if on these Roadmaster station wagons has anybody ever try to cut the back fender the same radius to match the front fender ??

i have a 1994 chevy caprice do you know how to activate the air shocks?

What size were those "summer tires"?

Can this apply for the 96 chevy impala

Why not spend a couple extra dollars on good shocks so you don’t have to go back and replace them? Makes no sense.

why bother putting junk shocks in if you plan on keeping the car,you can get kyb's for a few bucks more

Man im struggling to get the bolt off the top of the rear shock thats closest to the body