Got any part numbers for shorter shocks?

 

I never found the need for shorter shocks for the rear, I'm just careful when I lift the HHR and ensure the rear springs line up when I lower it off the lift or jack.

 

I cannot get the rear "axle" to drop far enough to remove the springs on my SS, any ideas? I removed the sway bar which leaves really only the bushings and brake lines still tied to the body of the car, losing it here this should be way easier.

Had to use a pry bar to get the axle low enough to pry the rear springs out. Rear coilovers installed, they are at their highest point and it is about the same ride height (will check tomorrow when they settle in a little more) as stock springs/shocks.

Also I wanted to ask did anyone cut their bumpstops or have issues with them touching?? I left all the stock isolators (not the cheap foam crap but the plastic tops and bottoms) and bump stops on the new coilovers

 

If you have both shocks unbolted, it should drop down. The plastic cups in the spring ends can hold it in tight. A long pry bar should do the trick. Just don't let it pop down and put stress on the brake lines.

Fwiw. Laugh if you want, but I had to use a flat head shovel to pry mine down far enough. Both times that I swapped springs.

 

Yea Fireman it was sort of perplexing, like others said REMOVE THE BOLT THAT HOLDS BRAKE LINE BRACKET, this will give you A LOT more play in the brake lines and will prevent that "ops" moment.

I had to do some major prying and have a second person snag both the springs while I pried.

Doing the fronts tomorrow so wish me luck, should be easier than the backs since I'm just removing the entire strut assembly.

 

One quick thing. If you do not have an impact gun it is easier to loosen the strut mount bolt with strut still in vehicle. Fount that out the hard way this weekend. After trying to get leverage for an hour with the strut out. Duhhh.