Is there a prescribed method for getting the second lower shock bolt fitted???

I'm trying to do the rears - I can get the top one in or the bottom on in but can't see an obvious way of lining up the second hole.

Tried jacking the arm up, spring compressors, removing drop-link and any other combinations. Is there some secret method or is it purely a 2-man brute force effort

 

If they're like my T20s coilovers, I bolt them to the hub first and then attach the top mount to the body.

 

Ahhhh....yes, OK. Had be a long day in the sun. Will try that tomorrow. Bolt them first with the spring compressors on, then move them up to the mount.

 

Once one bolt is in, I use a smallish pry bar in the second hole and can easilly lever the damper clevis to where it's needed

 

That's what I figured but I can't get enough leverage on it myself AND line up/insert the bolt. Seems like a 2-man job or I have the strength of a school girl....

 

Lol

Sounds more like technique . It should be easy to manipulate the hole to where you want it :-P

 

I find it's important to have both rear wheels in the full hang position, car jacked up on the diff. The second bolt slots in easily then.

 

Usually pry with screwdriver once one bolt is in as above. On really rusty subarus i have once or twice put bottle jack on disc sticking out bit once lower bolt is in.

 

Managed to get the bolt back in with a pry and a decent amount of force. Got the bolt in just enough to be able to get a C-Clamp on it and wind it through. All gotta come off again as I was sent the wrong top-mounts...

Are the fronts any easier or is there a technique for those also?

 

You need two spring compressors too... then it really should really only need minimal effort

Fronts usually take me me no more than 15 minutes each to remove, and not much more to re-install, using an air wrench

 

Isnt this so true !!!!! lol

 

Front were no issue whatsoever. Rears were a pain on each side but was only doing one at a time, so that may explain it.