I'm replacing the KYB rear shocks on my '72. Two weeks ago I got one off only to realize (doh! ) the spring perch is integrated on to the KYB but not on the new Sachs Boge I purchased. Picked up a couple of pieces from Bruce, and I think I'm good to go, but I want to make sure before I have another "'Doh!' moment."

Do the parts laid out below look complete and in the right order (minus the spring)? The PET is not completely clear (at least to me). Sorry for the dark picture.
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Also, I want to confirm there's nothing supposed to hold up the spring perch/reatiner on the shock other than those "ears" or "outdents" on the strut itself that seem to marry up to the perch. Is that right?
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Looks the same as my car and yes, just the ears hold the shock perch. You will probably be able to assemble without a spring compressor.

Awesome, thanks Mark. I did get a loner a spring compressor (the outer, Macpherson style). I got the other style when I attempted this a few weeks ago.

Hope your front suspension refurb went, or is going, well

No action yet. hopefully before hershey.

A few things to think about. I did this a couple of years ago.


There are drain holes in the perches. They should be positioned on the trans side so water will drain out.

The perches themselves bottom out on those bumps as you probably can intuitively tell.

I didn't need a compressor. I assembled the top assembly with the spring and used a floor jack to position the control arm.

It was pretty easy and straight forward.

Changing out those shocks was a nice improvement. It went pretty smoothly and the car does feel better, especially around these torn up streets

May have to schedule the front end like you're doing, too. Too many projects...


Good point. I'm not sure I would have caught that. Thanks.

What shocks do you have up front?

I don't know, and I'm not even sure how to check, short of pulling them out of the strut. Most likely whatever was stock in '72. Is there something I can look for?

You probably have Boge unless someone upgraded them. You have to pull the insert to tell what you have.