Don't believe I am asking this question, but how do you replace the rear shocks on a 2WD 98 F150--top nut seems impossible to reach? What wrench did you use and size? Thanks.

 

An air ratchet may make your life TONS easier. Can't remember the size but just get a good lengthy ratchet up there and you'll get her loose.
-Kelly

 

I tried to do it myself w/o luck. I took it to the dealer & the Tech said to cut the cover of the old shock & put some vice grips or something to hold it.

 

If I'm remembering right, I used a deep well 18mm socket and rachet. I put the socket on, then attached the ratchet by going over the frame rail and reaching in. Not a lot of room to move, but enough to get the job done. I used a wrench of whatever size the stud was wedged against the frame rail to hold the shock in place. Use penetrating oil liberally on the nut. Mine came off without too much work after that. I did mine with about 110,000 miles on the truck and four years of road salt.

 

You can access them through the rear wheel well from the side; there is a gap that works fine with a 3/8" rachet and a deep socket. There is an area to hold made onto the top of the piston rod, to keep it from turning if necessary, that is held with an open end wrench. Good Luck.

 

Thanks to all for your input. I finished intalling 4 new bilstein shocks this week. The rear shocks were the most difficult. I used an 18mm deep shocket to undo the top nut...not much wiggle room to turn the rachet. I had to cut away the shock's top cover to get a better angle on the stem nut of the factory shocks. Now that was not the worst of it. If you are installing gas shocks like bilsteins, eat your wheaties...after a few choice words I finally got them decompressed enough to install.

 

I also just installed four Bilstein shocks. Mine is a 4x with the ORP. I didn't have to cut anything to get to the 19 mm stem nut. I struggled trying to compress the rear shock as well. I ended up jacking up the truck on the frame and letting the suspension droop with the tire off the ground. Then the shocks went on much easier. I really like the way the Bilsteins firmed things up.

 

The Monrow Reflex shocks that I installed came with a retaining strap that was just about the right length to install the shock with the strap. Tighten things up, cut the strap and walla! No struggles to compress the rear shock. I didn't have to cut anything either. Glad it worked out for ya crain!