I've got a bad rear shock on my 2014 Grand Touring PRT.  I'm really not looking to change the ride but would like so suggestions on brands of shocks for the replacement

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Hi all,

I recently performed a successful surgery on The Blue Tornado ('93) replacing the water pump and valve stem seals. These videos from CarPassionChannel were extremely helpful in the process:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Et5aJnTE5w4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKHv5_d1a6I

How do you know if you need to freshen up those valve stem seals? One way is to coast down Missionary Ridge or Raccoon Mountain, stop at a stop sign, and then accelerate. If you see a massive plume of billowing blue smoke out the tail pipe, it's time. Other symptoms include smoke on a cold engine start and general unidentified oil loss.

I'll note a few things here that aren't in the videos:

1. You don't need a screwdriver to determine top-dead center. There's a metal nub on the crank pulley used for fitting the harmonic balancer. When the nub is at the top of the rotation, pistons 1 and 4 are at top-dead center, and pistons 2 and 3 are at bottom-dead center.

2. This tool from Lisle makes keeper removal and installation very straightforward:

https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-36050-Keeper-Remover-Installer/dp/B0012S61IO/

You'll want to use the smaller one in the set. During installation and removal, be sure to strike it with a hammer or mallet that is at least 3 pounds. I was using a 1-pound hammer at first and getting nowhere.

3. Be careful aligning the water pump mounting gasket! I let mine slip unnoticed and had to do it all over again.

4. If there's crud under your old valve stem seals, clean it out with a pick before putting on the new ones. Likely some nasty combo of ancient rubber and burnt oil!

5. These pliers are perfect for the valve-stem seal job:

https://www.amazon.com/BETOOLL-HW0107-Valve-Stem-Pliers/dp/B00QWY2RM2

Happy to answer any questions! This was the most challenging DIY job I've done so far, but's very doable once you understand all the moving parts and have the right tools.

Zoom zoom! No smoke!

This drive could start by heading east on US64.  5.2 miles past Sugarloaf Mtn Park, turn left on Hwy 30 and proceed to Reliance,TN. After another 9 miles, turn right onto Tellico Reliance road and drive 15 miles, turn right onto Mecca Pike. Drive 3.7 miles,  turn right onto TN68.  Use your navigation to find Tellico Grains Bakery, excellent sandwiches and Wood Fired Pizza, but there is only seating for 28.  We would need to be there when they open, 11:00 am. There are other good options for a meal.  After lunch, a 20 minute drive to Bald River Falls would be nice. Once again, use navigation.  The falls are quite nice if it’s not a dry season.  Road work in early 2020 will make the falls inaccessible for a few months. Then, return to Tellico, and use TN68 all the way back to US64 then turn right  to return to Ocoee.  The entire route is around 110 miles and is estimated to require three hours of drive time plus stops.  The route has been drive-tested.

See the pdf attachment for directions.

OPTIONAL
Upon leaving the winery, the following will provide a nice drive back to Chattanooga.

Turn left onto Hwy 41
After 3.3 miles, turn right onto Griffith Hwy ( County 27?)
After 2.7 miles, the Hwy makes a strange 90° turn.
After 10 more miles, you will come to Powell’s Crossroads.  Turn right onto Suck Creek Rd (TN-27).  You will proceed over the mountain
After 14 miles, turn right onto Signal Mtn Rd.
Access ramps to US-27 are just ahead.