How do you change out the front shocks?

[TomGolden]

Howdy all,

I guess I'll change my shocks later this year. After quickly glancing at the front shocks this weekend as I rotated my tires, how does one get the front shocks ina dn out of the coil springs??

Thanks,
Tom


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Tom Golden
Godzilla: Patriot Blue 2001 2500 SLT QC 4X4 LWB ETH/DEE, Tow & Camper packages, 3. 54 Ltd. Slip, 4 wheel disc ABS, Isspro EGT/boost gauges, DD Stage 3 afterburners , boost module, 4" Jardine exhaust, Amsoil, Psychotty air, black SmittyBilt nerf bars, no silencer ring, Armacoating bed liner, TDR decal, Jack holiday antenna ball

NRA Life/CRPA/El Dorado #26 F. &A. M. of California

 

[Irontrader]

Just changed the front shocks yesterday on my 98. 5 2500 4x4. I've had the shocks quite awhile and after one unsuccessful attempt to remove the driver side front shock gave up until this weekend.

To remove the driver side front shock, what I did and worked well was:

Remove the front wheel as it makes it a lot easier to work on the shock.

Get a piece of wire and wrap around the top body of the shock and feed the wire down through the coil spring.

Then loosen the bottom of the shock, and use something to compress the shock as much as it can. Use the wire to hold the shock in a compressed state.

You can then remove the top shock nut, and the three nuts holding the shock tower in place.

With the shock compressed it will come out of the hole quite easy.

The passenger side shock is very easy to remove and you don't need to keep it compressed to be able to remove it. So it really doesn't matter what sequence you unhook this shock.

 

[NVR FNSH]

Tom,
Do a search on my name and somewhere you will find my 'instructions' for changing the front shocks. The key is to let the front axle hang - support the truck from the frame. Then you don't have to worry about compressing the shocks to get them out.

Brian

 

[TowPro]

Wait until you change the RR shock. If you have the camper package the bolt will not clear the rear sway bar. (at least that was the case on my 98 2wd). I had to drop one side of the sway bar.

 

[EricBu12]

did mine with all fours on the ground...

the thing on the left front shock where you have to compress, i just undid everything, took off the tower, pressed down on the shock and then quickly pulled the shock outtoward the front of the truck on an angle. putting the new one back in was easy. , new shock in and lower bolt in place loosly, then tower on top of shock and press down to put the first of the nuts on, then the other 2...
tighten top nut and lower bolt and done. right side is piece of cake as no comression is needed to remove and same as the other to install the new one. rears were easy, no complications or obstructions #ad


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2001 QC 2500 4x4 bronze W/two tone Driftwood, 24valve HO 6sp. Westin side bars, fender flares, Rancho RSX off-road shocks, Spray on bedliner, Leer shell Painted to match with LED marker lights, Bf Goodrich AT Tires. Bed rug inside shell W/aux marine deep cycle batt for lights, etc. M Brolins' CB mount.
Name of rig is "big bronze Brute"

 

[Guest00]

what he said ^^^^^
did mine with all 4 on the floor.

what Tow Pro said. I ued a long bar to move the sway bar and extract the bolt. It went back in the other direction along with several other bolts on the rear.

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2K, 2500, Quad, SB, 4x4, 3:54LSD, A/T w/ DTT VB, TC, TC SAVER and AUX COOLER , REESE 15k 5th slider, EASLEY BULL BAR, MAAP NERFS, BFG-TA's, 9000's,TORQUS MAXIMUS 505 lbft ECM, stealth DD2's, Bully Dog Boost & elbow, ISSPRO pyro, boost & transmission, Turbo Lifesaver, JARDINE 4", PAC BRAKE, MAG HYTECH TP& DC, AFE filter, GEAR VENDORS OD, TAYLOR WING onboard.
pullees:
#1 y2k ARTIC FOX 5th
#2 22' car hauler w/ 76 Pinto 392cid or 68 Cyclone GT Cobra Jet FB
NRA-LIFE, VFW-LIFE, SoCSA-LIFE, SASS

 

[Dane]

I agree with Brian, lift the truck from the frame till the wheel is hanging, disconnect the shock from the tower and then the tower from the truck and the shock will slide out towards the front of the truck.

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2001 HO 6 speed Regular Cab SLT 4x4 3. 54 anti spin 2500. Used for the daily grind and sneaking away to some secret Baja beaches toting a cabover