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I Supported Toymods
Location:
melbourne.vic.au
Registered:
May 2002
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How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Wed, 05 May 2004 11:19
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Hey All,
My MA61 is nearly on the road by the end of next week, though the springs and shockers are stuffed  .
How difficult is it to change front and back of the MA61? Or is it cheaper and less painful to get a pro to do it? If a pro does it, how much am I expeciting to cost?
Currently, I don't have the equipment to do any of the work or any ideas in doing it 
Cheers...
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Wed, 05 May 2004 11:46
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Rear shocks, should be easy (one bolt down the bottom, one nut at the top), to do the fronts you will require spring compressors (and a fair bit more work).
The rear springs shouldn't be too hard, although I'm not familiar with the exact procedure (a haynes manual or equivalent should be fine)
Cheers
Wilbo
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
July 2002
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Wed, 05 May 2004 12:04
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i was wondering same thing
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I supported Toymods
Location:
Perth, WA
Registered:
May 2003
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Wed, 05 May 2004 12:39
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rear is piece of piss.
Front is a bit more difficult but still fairly easy.
Rear shocks - 2Nuts up top and 1 down the bottom per shock.
Rear springs - They drop out. once you undo the shocks and let it reach full droop.
Fronts - 3/4 nuts on strut top. 2 underneath the strut
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
July 2002
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Wed, 05 May 2004 12:46
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what about changing the whole front struts?.. how long would that take?
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Wed, 05 May 2004 12:54
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About 10-15mins a side I guess if you know what you are doing to change complete struts. To change the front shocks/springs you WILL need a set of spring compressors tho.
If you want a hand one day in brissy feel free to yell (I've got a set of spring compressors too  ).
Cheers
Wilbo
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I supported Toymods
Location:
Perth, WA
Registered:
May 2003
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Wed, 05 May 2004 12:54
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Same as above, You have to remove the whole front strut to remove the springs.
Also, if you dont know what your doing. Dont take the nut at the top off which holds the tension in the spring. People have died undoing it, as you can imagine theres a shit load of force waiting to come out.
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
July 2002
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Wed, 05 May 2004 13:11
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| wilbo666 wrote on Wed, 05 May 2004 22:54 |
About 10-15mins a side I guess if you know what you are doing to change complete struts. To change the front shocks/springs you WILL need a set of spring compressors tho.
If you want a hand one day in brissy feel free to yell (I've got a set of spring compressors too ).
Cheers
Wilbo
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hey.. some help would be much appreciated.. ive also got a pair of spring compressors... mr dohc is also gonna help.. i need a day with some help to swap all suspension between both cars
thats shocks, springs(struts for the front) and all the bushes(so swap all control arms and crap over)...
any help would be much appreciated.. im looking at doing this fairly soon too.. maybe before the street drag day, so you would be up for it?..
Thanks
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I supported Toymods
Location:
Epping, Sydney
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Wed, 05 May 2004 13:26
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balls you need spring compressors
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Location:
Adelaide
Registered:
September 2003
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Wed, 05 May 2004 13:55
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| draven wrote on Wed, 05 May 2004 23:26 |
balls you need spring compressors
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Agree to that. An angle grinder will remove the spring tension (and make two springs quite quick  ). With the King Lows in the front, there is no pre-tension on the springs, so you don't need the comprssors to reinstall
Cheers
MB
PS About 2 hours all up for a 1/2 competent person.
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I supported Toymods
Location:
Epping, Sydney
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Wed, 05 May 2004 13:57
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I should note I'm referring to the kings replacement springs too (standard height)
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
July 2002
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Wed, 05 May 2004 14:23
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ahh sweet.. yeah im running kings lows
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Thu, 06 May 2004 00:53
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Yeah pretty sure they (king lows) aren't captive...
If you are just planning to do a straight sway it shouldn't take long at all  , the fronts are 3 14mm bolts at the top and 2 17mm bolts at the bottom, the control arms are a 19mm bolt/nut (the strut->chassis bars are 2 14mm nuts on the control arms and a 24mm? nut to the chassis). the rear shocks are a 12mm nut at the top and a 14mm down the bottom from memory yeah its not rocket science...
I'm flat out this weekend for sure, but might be able to lend a hand next weekend, let us know what your plans are. Where were you planning on doing it?
Cheers
Wilbo
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
July 2002
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Thu, 06 May 2004 01:14
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probably doing it at my house i guess?.. no idea.. its not much good for doing it.. but both cars are here...
i work every weekend.. all day
what about the 29th early in the morning(before the drag day)
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Thu, 06 May 2004 01:33
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Have a talk to us on msn (I'll add you when I get some time) and I'm sure we can sort something out
Cheers
Wilbo
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Thu, 06 May 2004 01:46
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I've personally witnessed std height springs being removed with the use of a rattle gun and no spring compressors. The strut top ended up at the other end of the backyard and the rattle gun operator was nursing a sore hand, but it was a quick way of getting the spring out! Of course I made sure I was well out of the way before this happened.
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Thu, 06 May 2004 01:57
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GOD Effective maybe, crazy/insane defiantly!
Cheers
Wilbo
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Location:
sunny coast, qld
Registered:
October 2002
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Thu, 06 May 2004 02:06
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| Norbie wrote on Thu, 06 May 2004 11:46 |
I've personally witnessed std height springs being removed with the use of a rattle gun and no spring compressors. The strut top ended up at the other end of the backyard and the rattle gun operator was nursing a sore hand, but it was a quick way of getting the spring out! Of course I made sure I was well out of the way before this happened.
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why wouldn't you face it down into the ground? That is what I did and it worked fine. No spring compressors.
Johal: you are crazy trying to get a suspension swap done a couple of hours before going to the drags. I would try and get it done ASAP to have some time to test it out and make sure the bolts are all done up properly 
I think what you are doing would be quicker than just changing the springs on the front shocks as that can take a little while as you want to be a bit cautious. I would like to help but every weekend is booked up until after the drag day
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I Supported Toymods
Location:
melbourne.vic.au
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Thu, 06 May 2004 04:45
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Thanks for the reply all, I got all got Gas Cartridges for the front so replacing the strut is not a cost effective option. So I get it that the back are easy to change? and the front are difficult? I got King Spring Std for front and back and Pedders ComfortGas for both.
Cheers.
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Thu, 06 May 2004 07:25
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If the kings standard height don't put pressure on the spring tops when out of the car then you will be able to get away with out spring compressors (obviously). In that case it all bolts out/in (as a tip crack the nut that holds the spring top on while the car is still on the ground).
Once you have the springs off, you'll need a big shifter/set of stilsons(sp?) to remove the nut type thing that holds in the shock (they are not strut inserts from the factory, they are oil shocks that fit into the struts, you remove the old guts/oil and put your inserts in), you don't throw away the strut
Rears should be easy, as suggested.
Cheers
Wilbo
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Location:
Adelaide
Registered:
June 2002
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Thu, 06 May 2004 09:11
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| bbaacchhyy wrote on Wed, 05 May 2004 23:25 |
| draven wrote on Wed, 05 May 2004 23:26 |
balls you need spring compressors
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Agree to that. An angle grinder will remove the spring tension (and make two springs quite quick ). With the King Lows in the front, there is no pre-tension on the springs, so you don't need the comprssors to reinstall
Cheers
MB
PS About 2 hours all up for a 1/2 competent person.
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Or three hours if you are completely incompetent like me, and that's just the fronts 
Saying that though, it IS straight foward. I'd just never done it before and kept missing stuff.
The rears are so easy it's not funny. You will need to unbolt the sway bar to get the springs and shocks out from memory. Be careful not to bend the tab that it bolts onto, it's not exactly hefty.
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
July 2002
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Thu, 06 May 2004 11:46
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looks like i wont be getting soarer back till monday after next now.. so that leaves me with sat 22nd and sat 29th... i might try and get out of work on 22nd during the day time
wilbo.. ill be on msn late tomorrow night.. say after 9 pm or so.. going to gf's tonight and working all day tomorrow so ill probably speak to you then and we can try sort something out
Im gonna suck at driving manual and i think ill just be pussying the launch at willowbank as i wont have any experience by the time it happens
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Location:
Melbourne Eastern Suburbs
Registered:
October 2002
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Thu, 06 May 2004 12:50
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ZZT231,
It is cheaper to DIY, but more painful. Are you looking for a firmer than stock ride, and for what style of driving?
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Location:
Adelaide
Registered:
September 2003
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Thu, 06 May 2004 13:49
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| ZZT231 wrote on Thu, 06 May 2004 14:45 |
Pedders ComfortGas
Cheers.
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I coulda sold you the set of shocks that I removed from mine for $50 !!! Thats about what they are worth, but better than nothing when on a budget
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Location:
Adelaide
Registered:
September 2003
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Thu, 06 May 2004 13:50
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| ma61_turbo wrote on Thu, 06 May 2004 19:11 |
| bbaacchhyy wrote on Wed, 05 May 2004 23:25 |
| draven wrote on Wed, 05 May 2004 23:26 |
balls you need spring compressors
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Agree to that. An angle grinder will remove the spring tension (and make two springs quite quick ). With the King Lows in the front, there is no pre-tension on the springs, so you don't need the comprssors to reinstall
Cheers
MB
PS About 2 hours all up for a 1/2 competent person.
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Or three hours if you are completely incompetent like me, and that's just the fronts
Saying that though, it IS straight foward. I'd just never done it before and kept missing stuff.
The rears are so easy it's not funny. You will need to unbolt the sway bar to get the springs and shocks out from memory. Be careful not to bend the tab that it bolts onto, it's not exactly hefty.
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I missed the shock covers when I reassembled.  Luckily, I noticed before I bolted them back in
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I Supported Toymods
Location:
melbourne.vic.au
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Thu, 06 May 2004 22:59
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| bbaacchhyy wrote on Thu, 06 May 2004 23:49 |
| ZZT231 wrote on Thu, 06 May 2004 14:45 |
Pedders ComfortGas
Cheers.
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I coulda sold you the set of shocks that I removed from mine for $50 !!! Thats about what they are worth, but better than nothing when on a budget
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That is what I paid for my rear shocks brand new 
Thanks for the thought  ...
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Location:
Adelaide
Registered:
September 2003
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Sun, 09 May 2004 22:00
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| ZZT231 wrote on Fri, 07 May 2004 08:59 |
| bbaacchhyy wrote on Thu, 06 May 2004 23:49 |
| ZZT231 wrote on Thu, 06 May 2004 14:45 |
Pedders ComfortGas
Cheers.
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I coulda sold you the set of shocks that I removed from mine for $50 !!! Thats about what they are worth, but better than nothing when on a budget
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That is what I paid for my rear shocks brand new
Thanks for the thought ...
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I was talking about ALL FOUR !!!!!
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I Supported Toymods
Location:
melbourne.vic.au
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: How Difficult to change shocks and springs? (MA61)
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Sun, 09 May 2004 22:20
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DAMN!
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