Struts / Shocks?

[BB]

Just got new tires on my '03 PT GT. Shop says I need new rear shocks.

Am I correct in saying that the rears are actually shock absorbers and the fronts are struts?

How hard is it to change front and rear? I've changed out shocks on other cars but I don't think I've ever changed a strut. Anything I should know about should I decide to tackle either end and do this myself?
Thanks!
Bill

[SR-PT4]

The rears have a coil spring and regular old shock absorbers. The springs are inboard of the shocks, and the shocks are visible through the wheel spokes. Changing either is a piece of cake, if you'd done a shock change before then you won't have a problem here.

The fronts are indeed struts, sort of a coilover like design where the shock sits inside the spring assembly. You need a spring compressor if you want to change the springs only, as in the case of installing lowering springs. However, if you're going to replace the entire strut assembly with a set that has the springs already mounted then you don't need the spring compressor. That is an extremely rare case though.

[BB]

Thanks SR-PT4!
I had a look at the rears and you're right...should be a piece of cake. I'll do those myself because I do see some leakage back there.

The fronts I think I'll leave for someone better equiped. I don't feel any problems on either end but I'll do the rears since they're leaking. The fronts don't seem to be bad so I'll just leave them alone for now.
Bill

[jackfrisch]

what are the torgue settings for the rear shock bolts?

jack frisch
2002 pt

[CREWZIN]

Shock absorber upper mounting bolt 73 Ft lbs, 99 Nm

Shock absorber lower mounting bolt:

2001 model 50 Ft lbs, 68 Nm
2002 and later 65 Ft lbs, 88 Nm

[PT_Cuda]

Originally Posted by BB

Thanks SR-PT4!
I had a look at the rears and you're right...should be a piece of cake. I'll do those myself because I do see some leakage back there.

The fronts I think I'll leave for someone better equiped. I don't feel any problems on either end but I'll do the rears since they're leaking. The fronts don't seem to be bad so I'll just leave them alone for now.
Bill

If you decide to tackle the fronts shoot me a PM I have a couple tricks to make it go as well as it can. I just did a set so still have all the notes and pics of the tools I built to make it happen..

[808]

Originally Posted by PT_Cuda

If you decide to tackle the fronts shoot me a PM I have a couple tricks to make it go as well as it can. I just did a set so still have all the notes and pics of the tools I built to make it happen..

Not to make you look like a fool, but this thread is 2 years old, so I'm sure the OP got it taken care of..

[PT_Cuda]

Eh sometimes I don't read dates. It happens.. But I got a PM from someone asking for help on the same issue..

[808]

I definitely know you're one to help! You're like the tech version of Candyman

I'm sure I'll be asking you some questions further down the road

[PT_Cuda]

Originally Posted by 808

I definitely know you're one to help! You're like the tech version of Candyman

I'm sure I'll be asking you some questions further down the road

Fire away.. At one point we had 4 PTs in the driveway you tend to learn a thing or two..