I know I'll need a spring compressor to get the springs off but will I need to undo the front tie rod to remove the front shocks or can I just unbolt them and remove them? I searched and din't see where anyone has ever mentioned this, but I read in an online article where it said it was necessary. Or at least that was the way they did it in the article. Thanks.

 

Yes, you will have to remove the tie-rod end, which should take all of 2 minutes or less to do. You can get away without popping the upper ball joint loose but you have a greather risk of tearing the cv boot due to not being able to swing it further out of the way. If you have putting a leveling kit of some sort in you definitly want to brake the hub away from the Upper control arm.

 

I'm not using a spacer. I'm going the other direction and lowering the truck tomorrow. I'm using the McGaughy's 2/4 drop. It's lowering coils in the fron and leaf springs in the rear. I'm also installing Bilstein shocks while I will have it apart. So I should be able to unbolt the tie rod end? Or will I need to use a "pickle fork" to break it loose?