Yup, Lots easier.

 

phox, remove the upper shock bolt and lower shock bolt. Remove the shock tower. Slide the shock out (remove the air box on the passenger side to make it easier, the driver's side you'll just have to fanagle it out). Replace in the same manner. For the rears, undo the bolts and remove them. Your gonna need a good sized extension to get to the top bolts cause there is diddly for room. Removing the spare tires makes life 10x easier.

 

Phox- if possible, don't grind down the shock at the bottom. It doesn't fit because someone deformed that lower mount by overtightening it. I usually get a heavy, long drift, and angle it down into the lower mount between the spring coils. Then tap it with a large hammer and spread the lower mount back apart.

 

I had the same problem fox_mudder did, had a horrible time getting the lower end in. Funny the Ranchos that were in there slipped right out but the middle piece on the Bilsteins was quite a bit wider. I compared the shocks and sure enough the metal piece was longer on the Bilsteins for whatever reason. After fighting more than an hour I had to give up and grind it down otherwise it was "mission impossible."

Vaughn

 

I just got mine in and want to install tonight. How long does it take?

In summary, do you:

Fronts:

Unbolt top and bottom of shock, remove shock tower, slide shock up and through, place new shock in, bolt loosely to tower, tighten down tower, cut strap and extend to bottom, put in bolts?


Rears:

Remove top and bottom bolts, remove shocks, place new ones in with top bolted first, cut strap and put in bottom bolts?