How to Replace Shocks on a 1998 Camaro

The Camaro has been the low-cost, high-performance vehicle in the Chevrolet brand for years. It has been the fierce competitor of the Ford Mustang in the long battle for American muscle. In 1998 you could get the Camaro with the V-6 to achieve better fuel mileage, or with the Corvette-based LT V-8 engine for the pavement pounding horsepower. Either way you got a car that had some great handling and street performance credibility. With the performance of the V-8 also came some problems. Keeping the rear tires on the ground during hard acceleration became and issue. Simple tweaks like upgrading the rear shocks helped to keep these tires on the ground.

Park the Camaro on a flat, hard surface. Place the wheel chocks around the front tires. Jack up the rear of the vehicle and place the jack stands under the frame. Lower the vehicle onto the jack stands, then lift the rear differential about one inch.

Fold down the rear seat back. Remove the plastic trim behind behind the seat in front of each quarter panel by gently pulling on the panel. Fold the rear carpet and locate the upper shock mounting nuts. Remove the upper shock nut using the appropriate deep socket and ratchet. If the shock spins, hold the shock stem with the pliers and remove the nut with a wrench. Remove the shock washer and rubber bushing.

Locate the lower shock mounting nuts under the vehicle. Remove the lower mounting nut and remove the shock from the vehicle. Install the new lower shock washer and bushing to the stem of the new shock. Install the new shock by guiding the shock stem into the mounting hole. Install the lower shock mounting nut and torque it to 66 foot-pounds with the torque wrench. Install the upper shock bushing and washer. Install the upper shock nut and torque it to 13 foot-pounds. Repeat the procedure on the other side. Install the carpeting back into place. Install the trim panels until you feel them snap into place. Fold the seat backs into place. Lower the vehicle.