I have a 72 Cutlass that is getting a whole new disc brake system. Our previous mechanic that was helping us took off and left us with no documentation or pics of how things were together in the first place.

We bought new shocks for the front and are not sure how the originals were in. It looks as though it just goes up through the control arm and mounts on the bottom side of the control arm with the bolts running upward. I know that some vehicles' shocks install different than others, so any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

Two nuts and bolts on bottom of control arm with clip nuts (originally) One nut that spins onto the shaft of the shock on the upper control arm. If the clip nuts are gone you will just have to use nut and bolts. Feed the shock up through the spring. Before you do this place one metal washer and then a rubber bushing so the rubber contacts the underside of the upper control arm. Once the threaded shaft is visible at the top of the upper control arm put the other rubber bushing on followed by the metal washer and nut. I usually tighten the nuts with an air ratchet or impact gun. They make a tool that holds the shaft while you tighten the nut if you don't have air tools. Hope this helps.

 

Do the nuts go up or down, if that makes any sense. lol

 

You need the correct clip nuts (nuts with C-shaped clips). These slip over the lower control arm at the edges of the hole before the shock goes in. The bolts go up from the bottom.