GM 10443949
Shock Absorber

The snap ring inside the tube top should never be removed because gas charged shock absorbers operate at high pressure levels which could harm anyone if the gas forcefully escapes the system. Always protect your eyes with safety glasses before drilling and piercing the shock absorber tube since doing so prevents you from puncturing the tube. You should start by making an indentation measuring 10 mm (0.4 inch) at the tube bottom using a centerpunch. Place the shock absorber in a vise with its rod fully extended and horizontal position for clamping. Use a 5 mm (3/16 inch) drill bit to make a hole through the centerpunched section but position the drill to allow gas or gas/oil mixture to ventilate while using shop towels to collect the discharging oil. Use the centerpunch tool to create a second fabrication mark in the middle area of the tube then employ the same drill bit to make a hole at this spot for draining oil while keeping the oil contained by shop towels. The shock absorber removal process concludes with laying the drain pan flat on a surface with holes facing down while using the tube to extract all fluid from the shock absorber through rod movements.

Tighten the upper mounting nuts to 41 Nm (30 ft. lbs.) and the upper mounting bolts to 50 Nm (37 ft. lbs.).

Install the shock absorber upper mounting bolts and nuts, tightening the nuts to 41 Nm (30 ft. lbs.) and the bolts to 50 Nm (37 ft. lbs.), and reposition the brake master cylinder before installing and tightening the brake master cylinder nuts to 29 Nm (21 ft. lbs.).

It may result in personal injury due to the contents being expelled with extreme force.