Got 4 new KYB Gas Adjust shocks for my 97 F 150. They came with a tape keeping them compressed. How do you remove the tape and get them in position ?

Don't want them to extend fast so I can't put the bushings etc on and them have to jack them back up and fit into the brackets???

The tape on these goes over the threaded top. I did some on a jeep that were wrapped around the barrel of the shock leaving the threaded end free.

What should I do?

Richard

 

hey man, its really easy i just replaced all 4 of mine today and i was done in an hour. for the back most people will say to jack it up, but dont. if the old shocks are stock, put a 3/4 wrench through the hole cut in the frame and place it on the welded nut then use an 18mm deep well to take off the top nut, take the lower bolt out then remove the old shock, i bought gabriel pro guard shocks that were banded, put the bottom in first, make sure the bushing is on the top, cut the banding and guide the shock through the hole ( it does not expand that quickly) put the top bushing on then the nut and snug it down. piece of cake.

 

oh yeah, almost forgot, wrap kite string or etc.. around the barrel of the shock and then cut the tape so that you can get the nut on the threads and then cut the string. hope this helps--Matt.

 

sport truck xl:

Do you mean I could wrap duct tape around the barrel of the shock over the tape, then cut the tape on the threaded end, slide on the washer and bushing, insert the threaded end into the hole in the frame, then remove the duct tape and put on the nuts and tighten?

Assumes the bottom end already bolted in.

Thanks Richard

 

you could try that, but what i was saying is make a loop around the top barrel of strut and then string it down to the bottom barrel and make another loop. it will sort of look like a pair of handcuffs two loops with a single string in the middle. then after you have the string tied and its tight, then you can cut your tape off and then the string will hold the shock and allow you to put the bottom in first and then cut the string and allow the shock to extend and then just guide it into the upper hole, just dont forget to put the first metal washer and bushing in first. I hope i explained it well enough, this has worked for me in the past and i know it will work for you to. good luck.

P.S. I wouldnt use duct tape, it leaves that nasty goo on stuff after you take it off.

 

Thanks XL! It worked great.....used insulated wire. Really appreciate the help.
Richard