Like many of you, I got new bilsteins for Christmas. How hard are they to put on? What procedures do you follow?
Got them for about $260, shipped. For the money, I think they will be a solid add on, especially with my big 5er. I put shocks on the 5er, also. Monroe makes a kit, whcih most RV shops can get from NAPA. They also run about $60/wheel, not installed.

The alternative is have a shop install the shocks. What does that normally cost?

I appreciate the advice of you CTD Pro's!

 

The rears are easy to do. It took me maybe 45 minutes. The fronts? Well, after fooling around with them and getting nowhere, I decided to take them down to the local garage and the guy did them in a few minutes for 60 bucks. Well worth the expense considering it was 20 degrees out and my hands looked like something from Madam Tussauds Wax Museum. Just remember, when you cut the hold down shipping strap, those babys are going to expand, and you aren't going to stop them . Have your bolts in place before cutting the strap or you're going to have to jack the truck way up to align the bolt hole (for the rears).

 

The rear ones SHOULD be real easy to install, however, in my case the right rear was almost impossible. The "no drill bracket" for my 5th wheel hitch was in the way. Hard to get the upper bolt out.

 

I asked this question yesterday at the other place. Looks pretty simple on 2WD.

http://www.turbodieselregister.com/f...d.php?t=120414

 

Pretty easy. I just follwed the Haynes manual instruction. Rears are self explanatory, by just looking at them (2 bolts).

Gotta unbolt that 3 legged spider on the front shock towers.

Only difficulty I've herd of was the top not on the front shocks being frozen and the need for a nut splitter. I didn't have any problem. I think there was some feature to keep the shaft from turning that gets overlooked by some. It's been a year, so I forget.

The Bilsteins are gas with a strap right? If so...install one end loosely, then point the other end at where you want it to go before you cut the strap. Guide the free end into it's receptacle as it telescopes out. Ranchos aren't gas, so this step isn't used.

 

This isn't necessary on a 2WD.