Front shock installation

[wyosteve]

I'm getting new Bilstein 5100's this week and am wondering if anyone has any good/easy tips for the front installation. I remember changing them on my 04.5 and it was a real chore to do it myself. Specifically, trying to compress the new shock while also trying to get the nuts on the shock tower left me cursing a blue streak. This is for the truck in my signature btw. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[GrantP]

I haven't done a shock change on a 4th gen but I can't imagine it's much different than the other Dodge's I've had. The only tip I can give you is to leave the wire that is keeping the shock collapsed in place until you are ready to attach it to the upper mount. Remove the OE shock, bolt the lower end of the new shock to the axle with the wire in place, bolt in the upper shock tower, put a washer/bushing in place on top of the shock, then cut the wire and (quickly) guide the stem into the tower.

 

[doojus]

If the 2012 is anything like the 2014 it's about a 15 minute job per wheel. I just put some 4600s on mine and found that this was the best way:


1) Jack front of vehicle up to release pressure on the suspension
2) Unfasten bottom bolt
3) Unfasten top bolt, shock should drop out now
4) Reverse procedure to put new shock in. Stick top part of shock thru frame mount and fasten the bottom bolt
5) Drop the frame down from the jack until the shock is compressed, fasten everything up and torque the bolts

The trickiest part is getting the wrenches through the wheel well lining, but once you get the technique down it's easy going.

On the first corner I took the wheel off, that ended up being a major waste of time and unnecessary.

 

[AEdelheit]

2014 has the shock outside the coil, on a 2012 they are inside the coil. You can jack up the frame so you dont have to compress the shock as far but its not required. There are really 2 ways to do it, pull the shocks out from the top or jack the truck up, pull the coils and do it from the bottom. It is easier to do it from the top but the only way around trying to compress the shock is to jack the frame up so the shock can be extended more while bolting it in and having a jack tall enough to let the axle droop while jacking up the frame is hard to find.

 

[wyosteve]

Thanks guys, I'll give it a shot this weekend. Appreciate all the comments and insight.