Front shock question

[Randomrunner12]

Tried the search and think I may have found my answer, but

Can the front shocks on my truck be replaced without removing the inner fender liner? I understand it’ll give more space but I’d prefer not to remove if it can be done from above?

 

[Ozymandias]

Yes absolutely, you can reach in from the top and from the side.
Passenger side is a piece of cake, Drivers side works to but some wires need to be pushed to the side.

 

[Randomrunner12]

Yes absolutely, you can reach in from the top and from the side.
Passenger side is a piece of cake, Drivers side works to but some wires need to be pushed to the side.

awesome thank you. Will save me tons of time

 

[AEdelheit]

awesome thank you. Will save me tons of time

Not necessarily, I have replaced a lot of shocks on these trucks and taking the 2 minuets to pull the fender liner is usually a huger time saver not to mention much easier access.

 

[Randomrunner12]

Ended up pulling fender liner. Was much nicer and really didn’t add that much time to the job. New shocks are all in and truck rides like a dream. Still some minor body sway but I believe that’s because of the softer sways bar. No big deal and much better than it was. Factory shocks wouldn’t rebound when compressed by hand so I’d say they were done lol.

just having an issue getting the factory stabilizer off. Should be a simple job but none of the tools I used worked. Damn thing is seized in its hole. Going to take it to a shop to have them remove it.

 

[Ozymandias]

You always have to sacrifice something on our trucks, either they have good onroad manner or offroad.
Only electronic suspensions nowadays can have both at the very same time.
Factory tune is clearly hauling heavy loads on the road, offroad it leaves a lot to desire.

 

[Randomrunner12]

Yeah I’m not buying a TRX just to have both worlds lol. Or a power wagon lol.

 

[AEdelheit]

Ended up pulling fender liner. Was much nicer and really didn’t add that much time to the job. New shocks are all in and truck rides like a dream. Still some minor body sway but I believe that’s because of the softer sways bar. No big deal and much better than it was. Factory shocks wouldn’t rebound when compressed by hand so I’d say they were done lol.

just having an issue getting the factory stabilizer off. Should be a simple job but none of the tools I used worked. Damn thing is seized in its hole. Going to take it to a shop to have them remove it.

You have the original steering where the steering damper goes through the tie rod? If so figure out if you want to stay with that or upgrade to the 08.5+ steering as it uses a different steering damper.

 

[Randomrunner12]

You have the original steering where the steering damper goes through the tie rod? If so figure out if you want to stay with that or upgrade to the 08.5+ steering as it uses a different steering damper.

I will eventually upgrade once the tie rods and joints start to fail. Until then just replacing what needs to be replaced.