I've been all over looking for new shocks or shall I say struts, for the front of my truck. I've been quoted everywhere from $125-$270 just for the install. All the online retailers I've found don't even carry struts for our trucks. How many of you guys have replaced your front struts so far, are you happy, and how much did it cost. Oh yea what did you replace them with. Also, did anyone tackle this job themselves?

 

Ugh we have shocks upfront, a shock with a coil over it. Struts trun with the wheel and require a top rotating cap because the lower mount is part of the spindle or wheel hub. Our shock doesnt move so we have a shock with a coil spring over it. And many people have bilsteins and love them.

 

What Ethan said is correct about being coil over shocks, not struts... But yeah, they're more difficult to change out versus conventional shocks. You have to remove the entire coil/shock assembly, and then use spring compressors to get the coil off, so that you can remove the shock. It's a bit of work, but not real difficult if you have the proper tools; primarily a spring compressor, but one meant for cars won't work, you need a bigger one for our large springs...

When I got my shocks, I decided to pay a tire shop to swap them out. IIRC they charged about $60 per wheel just for labor.

 

I'm completely fine with paying $60 per wheel, did you take the assembly to them or just take the truck and shocks and tell them to change them out. I was quoted up to $270 just in install labor.

 

How good are you with a wrench? It's really not too hard to change them out. The hardest part would be compressing the springs but you can rent a spring compressor for free from AutoZone. I'd do it yourself.

I love my Bilstein 5100s as well. What shocks were you thinking about going with?

 

I took them my truck, along with the new shocks in the box... They did it all.

 

Either the Bilstein 5100s or the Rancho RX5000's.