Easiest way for 4x4 front shock replacement?

[ECappleman]

Just bought a set of Bilsteins.

It looks a little tight in there. Should I go thru the hood or the wheel well? If I went the wheel well way, do I need to remove the liners?



I'm leaving town this weekend and will have only about 2-3 hours to work on my truck, so any secret short cuts will help greatly.



Thanks.



P. S.

I will have access to air tools.

 

[AggieJustin]

Go through the top. The one trick I've found is that when you get ready to pull the one on the driver's side front, use some twine/wire/something and tie it around the top of the shock just under the tower. This way when you unbolt the tower, the shock won't expand and shove the tower up in the middle of all the brake lines. Then you can remove the tower, untie the shock and pull it out.



The other option is to jack the frame up on that side and let the axle droop as much as it can to minimize shock travel after pulling the tower. But I prefer the first method as I don't have to break out the jack.



Otherwise, the other three are relatively easy.

 

[Scrappy]

I usually jack the frame up on jackstands and disco the swaybar and lower the axle to release the springs and pull the shocks. But this last time I didn't have access to any jackstands so I did it from under the hood. It was easy until I tried to put the towers back on since the shocks have extended, I could hardly compress them again and hold them to start the nuts on the towers. I think it might be faster to do it from under the hood now that I have done it both ways.

 

[AggieJustin]

I forgot the easiest tip... have a friend do it for you. Always seems to work for my friends

 

[RTillery]

I pulled the bottom bolts out and then the three nuts on the shock towers and lifted out the assembly. Not much pressure left in the stockers. The Bilsteins were different. They took quite a bit to compress when the bottoms were mounted. It would make it easier if you could raise the frame and let the suspension extend, but I did it sitting normally. The only trick I had to figure out was how to compress the tower down on the three studs after I preassembled the tower on the shock outside the truck. Having someone to help would make it easy but I did it by myself. I used a short pole to push the shock down while I got one nut started. Something like a big screwdriver to lean over while you reach down would work. After that it was easy. I think I could do both fronts in about 15-20 minutes. Good luck! You'll like the new ride.

 

[ECappleman]

Thanks guys. I'll use a floor jack for the frame (one at a time) and an air gun for the bolts.



I am going to Big Bend Natl. Park for a little R&R. These cool temps ought to be nice.

I'm spending the night at my Dad's house on the way over and he has the air tools, ect.

 

[ZRacer]

I put the Bilstiens on the front a month ago. did it in about an hour. I jacked up one side at a time until the wheel was just off the ground. Pulled the shocks out through the top without removing the liners. I didn't have a problem going by the brake lines or battery boxes. I did remove the top nut on the shocks first so the upper mount came off first. That way it didn't get tangeled up on the drivers side.