changing front shocks?
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Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 462
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From: North Carolina
changing front shocks?
Has anyone tried changing our front shocks on their own? If so, how'd you deal with the coil spring not flying off and killing ya? I've got a replacement set coming and would like to do it this weekend.....
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 260
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From: Tulsa, OK
Rent a pair coil spring compressors from Autozone and be careful. It isn't hard just takes some time. You should call a local autoparts store and see what they charge if you bring them the coil assembly and have them change out the shocks.
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,387
Likes: 9
From: OH-IO
Hey nc, they can be changed in your driveway without a spring compressor.
With the truck parked on level ground, remove the center nut holding the shock to the upper mount. Jack up truck and support with stands under frame, not the lower control arms. Remove front wheels, disconnect tie rod end from spindle. Place jack under LCA and raise slightly, now undo upper ball joint, swing spindle out of the way, slowly lower jack to release pressure on spring. Remove large bolt on the bottom of shock, now pull shock and spring out of truck. If your new shocks don't have the lower spring seat on them you will need to remove the old seat from your old shocks and transfer them over to the new ones.
I found it easier to remove the upper mount after the shock was out and then assemble the whole shock unit on the bench before putting back in the truck. It's a lot easier to line up the shock with the center hole in the upper mount that way. Now reassemble in reverse order. When everything is back together, the weight of the truck will compress the spring and you can replace the center nut holding the shock to the upper mount.
With the truck parked on level ground, remove the center nut holding the shock to the upper mount. Jack up truck and support with stands under frame, not the lower control arms. Remove front wheels, disconnect tie rod end from spindle. Place jack under LCA and raise slightly, now undo upper ball joint, swing spindle out of the way, slowly lower jack to release pressure on spring. Remove large bolt on the bottom of shock, now pull shock and spring out of truck. If your new shocks don't have the lower spring seat on them you will need to remove the old seat from your old shocks and transfer them over to the new ones.
I found it easier to remove the upper mount after the shock was out and then assemble the whole shock unit on the bench before putting back in the truck. It's a lot easier to line up the shock with the center hole in the upper mount that way. Now reassemble in reverse order. When everything is back together, the weight of the truck will compress the spring and you can replace the center nut holding the shock to the upper mount.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,719
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From: Maricopa, AZ
Hey nc, they can be changed in your driveway without a spring compressor.
With the truck parked on level ground, remove the center nut holding the shock to the upper mount. Jack up truck and support with stands under frame, not the lower control arms. Remove front wheels, disconnect tie rod end from spindle. Place jack under LCA and raise slightly, now undo upper ball joint, swing spindle out of the way, slowly lower jack to release pressure on spring. Remove large bolt on the bottom of shock, now pull shock and spring out of truck. If your new shocks don't have the lower spring seat on them you will need to remove the old seat from your old shocks and transfer them over to the new ones.
I found it easier to remove the upper mount after the shock was out and then assemble the whole shock unit on the bench before putting back in the truck. It's a lot easier to line up the shock with the center hole in the upper mount that way. Now reassemble in reverse order. When everything is back together, the weight of the truck will compress the spring and you can replace the center nut holding the shock to the upper mount.
With the truck parked on level ground, remove the center nut holding the shock to the upper mount. Jack up truck and support with stands under frame, not the lower control arms. Remove front wheels, disconnect tie rod end from spindle. Place jack under LCA and raise slightly, now undo upper ball joint, swing spindle out of the way, slowly lower jack to release pressure on spring. Remove large bolt on the bottom of shock, now pull shock and spring out of truck. If your new shocks don't have the lower spring seat on them you will need to remove the old seat from your old shocks and transfer them over to the new ones.
I found it easier to remove the upper mount after the shock was out and then assemble the whole shock unit on the bench before putting back in the truck. It's a lot easier to line up the shock with the center hole in the upper mount that way. Now reassemble in reverse order. When everything is back together, the weight of the truck will compress the spring and you can replace the center nut holding the shock to the upper mount.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 816
Likes: 1
From: Indianapolis, area
Hey nc, they can be changed in your driveway without a spring compressor.
With the truck parked on level ground, remove the center nut holding the shock to the upper mount. Jack up truck and support with stands under frame, not the lower control arms. Remove front wheels, disconnect tie rod end from spindle. Place jack under LCA and raise slightly, now undo upper ball joint, swing spindle out of the way, slowly lower jack to release pressure on spring. Remove large bolt on the bottom of shock, now pull shock and spring out of truck. If your new shocks don't have the lower spring seat on them you will need to remove the old seat from your old shocks and transfer them over to the new ones.
I found it easier to remove the upper mount after the shock was out and then assemble the whole shock unit on the bench before putting back in the truck. It's a lot easier to line up the shock with the center hole in the upper mount that way. Now reassemble in reverse order. When everything is back together, the weight of the truck will compress the spring and you can replace the center nut holding the shock to the upper mount.
With the truck parked on level ground, remove the center nut holding the shock to the upper mount. Jack up truck and support with stands under frame, not the lower control arms. Remove front wheels, disconnect tie rod end from spindle. Place jack under LCA and raise slightly, now undo upper ball joint, swing spindle out of the way, slowly lower jack to release pressure on spring. Remove large bolt on the bottom of shock, now pull shock and spring out of truck. If your new shocks don't have the lower spring seat on them you will need to remove the old seat from your old shocks and transfer them over to the new ones.
I found it easier to remove the upper mount after the shock was out and then assemble the whole shock unit on the bench before putting back in the truck. It's a lot easier to line up the shock with the center hole in the upper mount that way. Now reassemble in reverse order. When everything is back together, the weight of the truck will compress the spring and you can replace the center nut holding the shock to the upper mount.
Thanks
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: CT
installing my lift kit this past weekend i had to swap my springs over to the new shocks... I had an old pair of spring compressors a buddy gave me a while back. I didnt think they would work, but ended up working perfect. Took some time and i did need 3 people. I was able to compress the spring just enough to take the pressure off of it and remove the top cap and spring. When putting the spting on the new shock i couldnt catch the nut ontop. I put it standing strait up in a vise and my friend and i hung on the spring while my wife caught a couple threads. Worked perfect. Good luck