I did not use a torque wrench at all. If you've turned wrenches enough you can do it by feel and have no fear. If in doubt, and a usual good practice, come back after you put a few hundred miles on the truck and re-check them anyway.

 

No need for a torque wrench when installing shocks... just get them snug. Installing shocks is a good first timers activity. Once you get that done, you'll be swapping engines in no time!

 

The reason you get very slow rebound on the stock shocks is because they are not high pressure nitrogen shocks like the bilstines and some of the other shocks. For that fact they are very low pressure if they have any at all. i had rancho 9000's on my 08 SD when i had it and they had faster rebound thenthe stock shocks and they are not a high pressure nitrogen shock but have more then stock. The stock shocks are relying on the spring to do the work, the high pressure nitrogen shocks have added spring rate because pressure in them. Regardless any of bilstine of the rancho's will ride better then the stock shocks as they are a better quilaty shock,

 

Installed the Bilstien 5100's today. Ride is much better now. No real issues with the install, pretty straight forward. Wish I had an air impact wrench but oh well. Used all the hardware that came with the new shocks, did not use the Rancho bushings.

 

Nice to know it was easy. Just got cinfirmation mine were shipped today. Looks like a thansgiving day project for me.

 

Still waiting on mine! Does anyone know for sure it's the same rear shock for both 250's and 350's? Mines a dually so has 250 2" rear block but thinking of changing it to 350 srw 4" block.

 

Great video, haven't even got my VIN yet and I'm considering the mod. I've run 5100's on my 70 Bronco for a while and they have been great. One thought: You could use the allen wrench to hold the piston during torquing if you had a crows foot (right, we all have metric crows feet) for the torque wrench.

 

Should b the same, the only sifference between the 2 are the larger blocks.

 

Im going to get a impact wrench tonight, this way i wont have to leave ine middle of the install.

 

Absolutely, I don't know how much room you would have for clearance though. If it's a tight fit you may want to have a buddy hold the Allen wrench from above or the inside, that way you can have a good hold on the torque and crow foot.

To be honest you really don't even need to bother with the torque wrench if you are used to turning wrenches. You should be able to get it within 3 lbs +/- 1 lb without worry.

 

I got mine today, took about 2 hours to install all 4, thanks to the video with the heads up on the fronts. I only used the mounting hardware that came with the new shocks, none of the old stuff. Much better ride so far, and not as bouncy.

 

BigSarge, you were right about the stock shocks being crap. I installed the fronts today and before I did the install, I collapsed the stock shocks about half way, then finished the bilstein install on both sides, the ranchos didn't extend out after about an hour. I only have 6k miles. Just waiting for the rear shocks to get here, back ordered.

 

I replaced my stock shocks two weeks ago with the Rancho 9000's. Two of them (both on right side) were junk already at 18,000 miles. That is pretty sad.

 

Gave you a break..... Added to the Tech Folder for everyone. Nice job Mike

 

how do you like the Rancho's how do you have them set?