davelinde

I just ordered a set of Bilsteins to replace my worn out stock shocks.
Installing the rears can't be any trouble, just two bolts I'd guess. How do you install the fronts? I took a peek and there's an access hole to unbolt the bottom, then what? If I unbolt the top can it be wiggled out or do I unbolt the tower on top and remove the whole assembly?

Any mistakes to avoid? I'm not inept... but it's been a long time since I did this kind of work and I know I have made bonehead mistakes before. Better to ask I thought.

TexasCTD

Dave,

IIRC, I just unbolted the bottom bolt and then removed the whole shock tower in one unit with the shock. Exchanged the shocks. Then put it back in bottom bolt first then tighten down the shock tower.

nriver

to unbolt the shock itself, you have two options.

Some people use a impact wrench when the shock is still in the truck. It puts unough force on it to spin the nut free without the shaft spinning to much.

The other option is to use two wrenches and unbolt the upper mount that way. I have done it this way many times.

either way, the tower comes out of the truck. Like TexasCTD said.

CD in NM

I took out the bottom bolt and pulled the tower with the shock attached. Then removed the old shock, attached the new shock, and put it back in. Your new shock will have a band around it compressing the shock. Once you cut the band the shock will extend to it's max length pretty fast. It takes a little pressure to compress the shock down to get the tower bolts in, an extra pair of hands is nice too. I have seen some who bolt the bottom in, bolt down the tower, place the rubber grommets using a little rubber cement to hold them. Then they cut the band and as the shock extends they guide it into the tower hole and then put on the top shock nut. Most all shocks have an allen wrench center bore to the shaft. You can use a wrench and an allen wrench to hold the shaft while you tighten the top nut. The allen wrench bore tends to strip easily and then getting the shock shaft tight is a pain. I have also seen many not tighten the shaft nut beyond minimal tightening resistance.

CD

davelinde

The front shocks are still on back-order so I have not gotten around to this yet. I was looking in there though and it looks tight? Do you remove the assembly through the engine compartment or from the wheel well? Anything else you need to remove to get it all out?

Also, the tower is held by three nuts, but the bolt ends are not accessible - I'm assuming these are pressed in studs and I can just put a wrench on the nuts to remove them?

Maybe it will be clearer to me when I start into this - this is my first experience with front shocks on a 4WD truck and they don't appear as simple as front shocks I've done before - eg 2 bolts and they drop out of the bottom...

nriver

Engine Compartment. I found it easier to loosen the bolt with everything still attached. A Impact wrench may make it easier. Other than you can also use two wrenches to loosen the bolts.

They are on a ring, but yes, just remove them.

They are a bit tougher, I do not like the upper bolt mount. They seem to rust together and make it a PITA to get apart. I just used a sawzall on similer shocks on my jeep.

Good Luck, you will be fine.