COMMON FITTING TIPS

Don't hold the piston rod wth any tools (mole grips etc), as this will damage the surface of the piston rod and cause the oil seals to leak.

Don't put any water, oil or other liquid inside the strut housing as thie may damage the cartridge. KYB cartridges are designed to be used without liquid at both high and low temperatures.

Don't use an impact wrench to tighten a nut onto a piston rod. This can make the torque higher than the recommended limit.

Use any fitting parts (nuts, spacers, washers etc) supplied with the KYB shock absorber, rather than the OE parts, as sometimes they may be a different size.

If the shock absorber being replaced is not the original one, but an aftermarket part from another brand, any ancillary parts (dust cover, bump stop, bushing etc) can not be re-used for KYB shock absorbers. You may need to order OE parts.

Shock absorbers should always be fitted in pairs.

Always prime shock absorbers before fitting – fully extend and compress the unit 3 times to remove air pockets inside the shock.

Always ensure the vehicle is back on all 4 wheels before tightening upper mountings.

Use an appropriate spring compressor tool when replacing coil springs.

Coil springs should always be fitted in pairs, to ensure an even ride height and to ensure the vehicle doesn’t pull to one side when braking.

Take care when compressing springs, they could cause serious injury if they come loose during installation.

Check spring seats, and top mountings for damage before replacing broken or worn springs.

After installation, check that the springs are seated correctly.

Check wheel alignment after installation.

Worn or broken spring can damage shock absorbers and other suspension components, KYB recommends replacing shock absorbers at the same time as springs.

A number of coil springs are side load springs which look a little like a banana in shape. For more information on fitting these, click here.