I bought my Mark LT with 50,000 miles and it rides good, but I would like to smooth the ride out a bit. When I drive in town - the truck rattles on some of the smallest pot holes / rough pavement. I hope a new set of shocks will smooth the ride and stop the teeth chattering.

My mechanical abilities are a 4 on a scale of 10.

Is this a job I can do? Or should it be left to the pros?

I have a basic set of tools and access to a floor jack.

What type of replacement shocks would you recommend? I do not off-road, just want my truck to glide over RR tracks and pot holes.

Can anyone tell me if I have struts on the front? Does not look like a regular shock to me.

Any advice is much appreciated.

 

You have a Mark LT that you think rides rough?? Trying to judge what you're looking for by your comments, you are not going to get there with this truck with a new set of shocks nor with anything else. A lot of people are going to jump on here and tell you Bilsteins are awesome shocks, but that's just to throw out an idea. Bilstein shocks are awesome...but they're firm. They are a very controlled ride. Which is why so many of us like them and recommend them for our trucks, because that's what we're looking for. Doesn't sound to be the case for you.

Yes, you can probably do it. Only intimidating part (for you) may be removing the coil spring from the front shock.

Yes, basic tools will do the trick. You would have to rent a spring compressor from AutoZone or somewhere to compress the coil spring off the front shock, but other than that, it's just like removing any other shock. FYI, the spring is removed from the shock on the workbench. The spring/shock assembly (coil-over) is removed from the truck as one unit.

Trade your truck in on an Escalade, that'll fix it. Besides that, try a Rancho XL9000 shock. It's 9 position adjustable from soft to firm. It's going to be the best bet you have of getting what you're looking for, IMO

They are not struts, they are called coil-overs. It is a normal shock absorber designed with the coil spring perched and mounted to the body of the shock. The whole assembly attaches to your truck like any other conventional shock...the bottom to a lower control arm, and the upper part to a conventional shock mount on the frame.

 

Thanks for your reply. Going to tackle the job this Sunday