Rear shock replacement question

[poncho-mike]

Can anyone tell me how to access the top bolts on the rear shocks? Do I take the interior plastic panel out, or take the wheel well out.

If the answer is to remove the rear wheel well liner, how does it come out?

By the way, does anyone have a recommendation for a replacement shock absorber. My Vue is a 4-cyl 5-spd manual with 98K miles.

Thanks,

Mike

[ssicarman]

You remove the bolt from the top of the shock in the wheel well. Have a look at the shock. You will see the top bolt.

[poncho-mike]

ssicarman,

Thanks for the input. I'll look at it tomorrow.

I've got a couple of questions that I'd like your opinion on. My car has 98K miles. About 2/3 of it is freeway 70 mph driving, the rest is mixed. I hit very little stop and go traffic.

I had a little shimmy in my tires after I rotated them, so I took the car to a tire store to have them balanced. I knew I would need tires in about 10K miles. The tire store said I needed new shocks and struts, as well as new tires. I must admit I went a long way (20K miles or so) without rotating them, and one of the back tires was slightly cupped when I did rotate it to the front. Once I put it on the front, it started vibrating a little at 65 mph+. They rebalanced the tires and it mostly went away.

The mechanic said my front struts would need replacing within the year, but my back shocks were bad. I performed the "bounce" test on the rear, and it settled out. I realize this test is old school, but is it still valid?

How many miles should I get out of a set of rear shocks? Front struts? Clutch and pressure plate? A/c system? My plan was to run the Saturn up to around 150K then get another one, but I'm wondering if I should lower my estimate.

By the way, I have no faith in the mechanic. I won't say the name of the chain, but they also wanted to flush the power steering system and replace the fluid. The Vue has electric steering, right?

Thanks,

Mike