How to: Unpin your ZL1 Rear Upper Shock Wiring - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

PfadtRacing · 11-16-2012, 04:53 PM

Occasionally we take calls from folks with ZL1's looking for installation tips on how to install drop springs. You can absolutely install our drop spring packages on a ZL1 Mag Ride equipped car, but the procedure is just a little more involved than with a standard V6/V8 vehicle. We do provide instructions for the rest of the process, but this is exactly what is involved in unpinning your Magnetic Ride connector from the shock so you can swap in a drop spring!

So here is exactly how you unpin the Rear Upper Connector:

Unbolt the factory rear shock from the vehicle, being sure to disconnect the wiring at the top of the shock
Once you have your rear shock on your work bench you will end up with an assembly that looks like this:
Disconnect the Pin and elbow assemblies from the attachment to the shock with a small flat head screw driver. The elbow and connector will slide off the mount to the shock.
The first step to unpinning the connector is rotating the connector 90 degrees relative to the elbow and disconnecting the connector from the 90 degree elbow
Once the connector is disconnected from the elbow, split the elbow in half by pulling on the ears of the elbow with your fingers. This should open the elbow up like a clam shell and allow you to set it aside.
Look straight down the length of the connector, there will be a purple locking tab inside the harness. Insert a very small depinning tool into the left side of the two purple holes. Be sure to push the depin tool deep enough to release the locking tab. Once the locking tab has been released the purple locking tab will slide out from the connector.
With the locking tab no longer in place use your depinning tool to disengage the locking tabs on the terminals. Once the tabs have been released the pins will slide out from the connector, and will allow you to pull the pins through the hole in the upper shock mount.
Now that the pins are free from the upper shock mount you can remove the upper nut on the shock, remove the upper mount assembly, and install your new Pfadt Drop Spring!
Install is opposite of removal, and much easier. Just push all the hardware back together in order and you're back on the road!

Hope this helps anyone in the midst of a ZL1 Drop spring installation! This is certainly a cleaner procedure than cutting the connector and resoldering.

Apex Motorsports · 11-16-2012, 05:10 PM

Outstanding post. Thanks for that.

Jer4251 · 04-30-2013, 06:20 PM

maybe sticky this because I looked everywhere for this info and couldn't find it, had to wing it. glad I did it right.

can you verify what wire is top and what one is bottom when they are installed back on the car?

JD-ZL1 · 10-07-2014, 07:16 AM

where did you get your unpin tool, i cant seem to find one around or I'm just not looking in the right stores..

Jer4251 · 10-07-2014, 07:18 AM

I made one from a tiny flathead screwdriver. And a grinder.

JD-ZL1 · 10-07-2014, 07:25 AM

was that your tool in the pictures, or did you grind the round shaft flat and put a little hook to the end?

Jer4251 · 10-07-2014, 07:40 AM

The pictures above are not mine. They used the actual tool. I make a small screwdriver smaller to fit the connector plug.

C Murda · 07-15-2016, 06:39 PM

OK so been trying at this forever now...how the heck do I unlock those locking tabs ? ?? I'm can't see much inside using a small led flashlight so I just keep digging around in there with a pick and just can't seem to do much of anything ? Do I push down on the pins do I pry the tabs over assuming I can even see them ?

Zl1TopLess · 08-28-2016, 06:01 PM

This is what i came up with today.
Name: Mag Conn.jpg
Views: 6281
Size: 37.3 KB

I was unsure of witch hole they referred.

MTCobra · 04-23-2017, 11:28 AM

Okay...I got the purple tab out. I can't figure out the anatomy to get the connectors loose though. I need some help.

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MTCobra · 04-23-2017, 11:32 AM

Never mind...

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KaBoom1701 · 04-23-2017, 12:54 PM

This was a pain in the ass when I did mine....

It's been so long ago I forgot how I did it. lol

MTCobra · 04-23-2017, 12:59 PM

You just pop them up and then push them back a little to get them started on their way out.

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MTCobra · 04-23-2017, 01:00 PM

These Pfadt springs look every bit a tall as my factory springs. I hope they lower the car because I'm not silly about messing with these pins again.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

11-16-2012, 04:53 PM	#1
PfadtRacing Drives: 2010 Camaro, 2006 Z06 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SLC, UT Posts: 3,370	How to: Unpin your ZL1 Rear Upper Shock Wiring Occasionally we take calls from folks with ZL1's looking for installation tips on how to install drop springs. You can absolutely install our drop spring packages on a ZL1 Mag Ride equipped car, but the procedure is just a little more involved than with a standard V6/V8 vehicle. We do provide instructions for the rest of the process, but this is exactly what is involved in unpinning your Magnetic Ride connector from the shock so you can swap in a drop spring! So here is exactly how you unpin the Rear Upper Connector: Unbolt the factory rear shock from the vehicle, being sure to disconnect the wiring at the top of the shock Once you have your rear shock on your work bench you will end up with an assembly that looks like this: Disconnect the Pin and elbow assemblies from the attachment to the shock with a small flat head screw driver. The elbow and connector will slide off the mount to the shock. The first step to unpinning the connector is rotating the connector 90 degrees relative to the elbow and disconnecting the connector from the 90 degree elbow Once the connector is disconnected from the elbow, split the elbow in half by pulling on the ears of the elbow with your fingers. This should open the elbow up like a clam shell and allow you to set it aside. Look straight down the length of the connector, there will be a purple locking tab inside the harness. Insert a very small depinning tool into the left side of the two purple holes. Be sure to push the depin tool deep enough to release the locking tab. Once the locking tab has been released the purple locking tab will slide out from the connector. With the locking tab no longer in place use your depinning tool to disengage the locking tabs on the terminals. Once the tabs have been released the pins will slide out from the connector, and will allow you to pull the pins through the hole in the upper shock mount. Now that the pins are free from the upper shock mount you can remove the upper nut on the shock, remove the upper mount assembly, and install your new Pfadt Drop Spring! Install is opposite of removal, and much easier. Just push all the hardware back together in order and you're back on the road! Hope this helps anyone in the midst of a ZL1 Drop spring installation! This is certainly a cleaner procedure than cutting the connector and resoldering.

04-30-2013, 06:20 PM	#3
Jer4251 Camaro Addict Drives: too many Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: 912 Posts: 1,274	maybe sticky this because I looked everywhere for this info and couldn't find it, had to wing it. glad I did it right. can you verify what wire is top and what one is bottom when they are installed back on the car? __________________ 1990 IROC-Z Vert LS 1996 SS Vert LT4 1992 Z28 Z03 T5 1992 Z28 Z03 L98 2018 Sierra Denali 6.2 1997 Z28 Z4C 1995 Z28

10-07-2014, 07:16 AM	#4
JD-ZL1 Drives: 2013 ZL1 M6 Join Date: May 2014 Location: Dinwiddie, Virginia Posts: 157 View My Garage	how to Unpin the mrc plug where did you get your unpin tool, i cant seem to find one around or I'm just not looking in the right stores..

10-07-2014, 07:18 AM	#5
Jer4251 Camaro Addict Drives: too many Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: 912 Posts: 1,274	I made one from a tiny flathead screwdriver. And a grinder. __________________ 1990 IROC-Z Vert LS 1996 SS Vert LT4 1992 Z28 Z03 T5 1992 Z28 Z03 L98 2018 Sierra Denali 6.2 1997 Z28 Z4C 1995 Z28

10-07-2014, 07:40 AM	#7
Jer4251 Camaro Addict Drives: too many Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: 912 Posts: 1,274	The pictures above are not mine. They used the actual tool. I make a small screwdriver smaller to fit the connector plug. __________________ 1990 IROC-Z Vert LS 1996 SS Vert LT4 1992 Z28 Z03 T5 1992 Z28 Z03 L98 2018 Sierra Denali 6.2 1997 Z28 Z4C 1995 Z28

11-16-2012, 05:10 PM	#2
Apex Motorsports Drives: 2000 Camaro SS Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Louisville, Ky. Posts: 25,179	Outstanding post. Thanks for that.

10-07-2014, 07:25 AM	#6
JD-ZL1 Drives: 2013 ZL1 M6 Join Date: May 2014 Location: Dinwiddie, Virginia Posts: 157 View My Garage	was that your tool in the pictures, or did you grind the round shaft flat and put a little hook to the end?

07-15-2016, 06:39 PM	#8
C Murda Drives: Camaros, BMWs, Cummins, Ninja Join Date: May 2012 Location: MA Posts: 20	OK so been trying at this forever now...how the heck do I unlock those locking tabs ? ?? I'm can't see much inside using a small led flashlight so I just keep digging around in there with a pick and just can't seem to do much of anything ? Do I push down on the pins do I pry the tabs over assuming I can even see them ?

08-28-2016, 06:01 PM	#9
Zl1TopLess Drives: 2013 Victory Red ZL1 M6 Vert Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Auburn Hills, Mi Posts: 58 View My Garage	This is what i came up with today. I was unsure of witch hole they referred. __________________ 2013 ZL1 M6 Roto Fab CAI, Kooks Long tube Headers with catless connection pipes, 90mm Ported throttle body to match ported supercharger snout. 2.55 upper pulley, Roto Fab intercooler tank, ID 850 injectors, 9.5 mm wires, Custom 93 octane tune. 600 whp. Hotchkis coils. White Collar Grease Monkey https://www.youtube.com/user/gjodexter

04-23-2017, 11:28 AM	#10
MTCobra Drives: 2014 ZL1 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: So Cal Posts: 396 View My Garage	Okay...I got the purple tab out. I can't figure out the anatomy to get the connectors loose though. I need some help. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

04-23-2017, 11:32 AM	#11
MTCobra Drives: 2014 ZL1 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: So Cal Posts: 396 View My Garage	Never mind... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

04-23-2017, 12:54 PM	#12
KaBoom1701 KaBoom1701 Drives: 13' ZL1 Red M6 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: I.E. SoCal (Yucaipa) Posts: 8,630	This was a pain in the ass when I did mine.... It's been so long ago I forgot how I did it. lol __________________ Mods: Roto-Fab Intake, WW Res. kit & Big Gulp Air Scoop, Elite Catch Can, ATI Super Damper & 18% OD Pulley, LF Idler pulley bracket, Metco CC breather, ID850 Injectors, Stainless Power Headers w/ ceramic coating, TR71X Spark Plugs, JMS Fuel Pump Booster, Bo White TB, Tuned by Ted @ Jannetty Racing, Ron Davis HX, D3 Reservoir, Pfadt 1" Springs, Moreno Camber Plates, ZL1 Addons Splitter guard washers, Tow Hook kit & rock guards, Hurst Shifter Billet Plus 6 Speed Short Shifter, ZL1 DRL lighting harness, ZL1 Recaro Seats.

04-23-2017, 12:59 PM	#13
MTCobra Drives: 2014 ZL1 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: So Cal Posts: 396 View My Garage	You just pop them up and then push them back a little to get them started on their way out. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

04-23-2017, 01:00 PM	#14
MTCobra Drives: 2014 ZL1 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: So Cal Posts: 396 View My Garage	These Pfadt springs look every bit a tall as my factory springs. I hope they lower the car because I'm not silly about messing with these pins again. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk