S H O C K S
Index Page Number 1-4 5-7 7-8 8-11 12 Section GM Front Coil Over Installation Front Smooth Body Shock Installation Rear Smooth Body Shock Installation Custom Coil Over Installation Tuning and Adjustments WARRANTY DISCLAIMER: Flaming River’s Limited Warranty Flaming River warrants its products to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of one (1) year after the date of purchase, except that: All steering columns are warranted for a period of three (3) years from the date of purchas
GM Front Coil Over Installation 1. Verify that your shocks are the correct lengths and mount style before beginning installation. Contact your chassis builder, supplier or Flaming River if you have any questions. 2. Measure your vehicle’s ride height by measuring from the center point of the fender lip down to the ground. Mark the spot you measured to for later reference. 3.
GM Front Coil Over Installation 7. Remove the hardware that retained the stock shock in the lower control arm. Clean the mounting bolt holes thoroughly. You may need to slightly open them using a file or 3/8” drill bit. 8. Install one stud washer and one bushing (half of the shock stud bushing pack) onto the stud. 9. Fully extend the piston rod. Apply Anti-Seize on Threads Spring Nut 10. Screw the lock nut (shoulder up) and the spring nut (shoulder up) down to the last thread only.
GM Front Coil Over Installation 12. Install the spring onto the shock, putting the small end of the spring over the shock body and down onto the spring seat. 13. For GM Kits: Install the shock with the T-bar on top of the lower control arm with the adjustment knobs facing out toward the spindle utilizing the 3/8” bolts and nylock nuts. Before tightening, ensure that the shock is centered in the lower control arm. 14.
GM Front Coil Over Installation 18. Adjust the spring nut up about 1/3 of the way from the bottom of the threads on the shock. 19. Reattach the wheels and torque everything to the specifications defined by the vehicle’s manufacturer. 20. Verify that there is clearance around the coil-over shock and that the suspension does not bind at all, even when wheels are turned to full lock position. 21. Carefully place the car on the ground to check clearances again.
Front Smooth Body Installation Please read these instructions carefully prior to installing your new Flaming River shocks. Notes: 1. Verify that your shocks are the correct lengths and mount style before beginning installation. Contact your chassis builder, supplier or Flaming River if you have any questions. 2. Measure your vehicle’s ride height by measuring from the center point of the fender lip down to the ground. Mark the spot you measured to for later reference. 3.
Front Smooth Body Installation 3. Use a floor jack to support the lower control arm, remove the cotter pin from the lower ball joint and loosen the ball joint nut. Remove the ball joint stud from the spindle using a tie rod / ball joint separator. Carefully and slowly release the lower control arm assembly by lowering the floor jack until the spring can be safely removed. 4.
Front Smooth Body Installation 7. Reassemble the lower a-arm and the spindle. Torque the spindle nut to factory specifications and insert the cotter pin. 8. Reattach the wheels and verify everything has been torqued to the specifications defined by the vehicle’s manufacturer. 9. Carefully place the car on the ground to check clearances again. Lightly bounce the vehicle at each corner to verify that there are not any clearance issues. 10.
Rear Smooth Body Installation 3. Mount the lower portion of the shock to the rear end housing. There should be little or no modifications necessary. 4. Make certain that everything is mounted securely then, if necessary jack the rear end housing into the chassis. If applicable, make sure that the springs are realigned. 5. Verify everything has been torqued to the specifications defined by the vehicle’s manufacturer. 6. Carefully place the car on the ground to check clearances again.
Custom Coil Over Installation 7. Screw the lock nut (shoulder up) and the spring nut (shoulder up) down to the last thread only. 8. Apply anti-seize to the threads on the nuts and the shock. If the Flaming River thrust bearing kit is used (recommended), coat both washers with antiseize. Install the spring seat washer, then the bearing, then the second washer.
Custom Coil Over Installation 10. Insert the proper poly sleeves or bearing mounts into the shock ends. For bearing mount shocks, insert the bearing in a twisting motion. It may be necessary to press the bearings into the shock. If so, do not press on the ball; press only on the race surrounding the ball. Install snap rings on both sides of each bearing and ensure they are fully seated in the loops. 11.
Custom Coil Over Installation 12. Reattach the wheels and torque everything to the specifications defined by the vehicle’s manufacturer. 13. Verify that there is clearance around the coil-over shock and that the suspension does not bind at all, even when wheels are turned to full lock position. 14. Remove the jack stands and carefully place the car on the ground to check clearances again. Lightly bounce the vehicle at each corner to verify that there are not any clearance issues. 15.
TUNING AND ADJUSTMENT INSTRUCTIONS Your Flaming River shocks have a total of 18 clicks plus a zero position of adjustment per knob, for a total of 361 different valving combinations. Compression and rebound are independently controlled on the Flaming River shocks. The “C” knob adjusts compression, while the “R” knob adjusts rebound. Every Flaming River shock is tested on a dynamometer prior to shipment to ensure that it is functioning properly.
