Replacing shocks on 2005 F350 4WD

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Apr 24, 2012 | 04:27 PM

Lake Rat Jim

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From: Prescott, AZ

Replacing shocks on 2005 F350 4WD

I have a stock 2005 F350, 6.0 4WD. It has around 115K miles and the stock shocks are absolutely shot. I bought and installed the Bilstein HD 4600 shocks on the rear yesterday. Took about an hour and was fairly easy. I also bought the same shocks for the front. In looking at it, the fronts seem to be a bit more detailed to install. Is this something that is reasonably easy to do if one had basic mechanical skills, or is it best to pay the local garage to do it? I don't want to get in the middle of it and be stuck not being able to finish the job. I'm presuming it will also need a front end alignment when done.

Any help you can give is much appreciated.

Jim

Apr 24, 2012 | 04:31 PM

2000silverbullet

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From: Gilbert

The mounts may be different than the rears but it's the same concept. Unbolt top nut, remove bottom bolt, pull it out, pop the new one in. Get yourself a product like PB Blaster and spray the nuts/bolts a couple times over a few hours, give it time to soak. It'll make removing them much easier. You don't even need to remove the tires (although it makes it easier, just not necessary), turn the wheel right to do the front left tire, then turn it left to do the right front.

No alignment required for shock replacement.

Welcome to FTE by the way.

Apr 24, 2012 | 04:36 PM

Lake Rat Jim

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From: Prescott, AZ

Thanks for the quick response Matt! Sounds pretty straight forward. I'm off to the garage to bang it out before dinner then! Been lurking here for a long time and using the search function to answer a bunch of questions. Love the site. Next up after the shocks is why the shift on the fly switch won't engage the 4WD.

Thx again!

Apr 24, 2012 | 04:43 PM

2000silverbullet

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From: Gilbert

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lake Rat Jim

Post back up if you run into any issues but it's pretty straightforward.

As for the ESOF, there's a number of threads here in the SD forum for troubleshooting them. First thing I'd do is move the hubs to lock and see if they do in fact lock when you engage the 4wd. If it does engage, then it's probably a vacuum and/or hub issue (which is common)... The hubs on my 2000 quit working a couple years back, 4wd would engage but the hubs wouldn't engage. I ended up plugging the vacuum lines and just using them like a free/lock setup (too lazy to troubleshoot). Like I said though, tons of threads here that can get you goin' again.

Apr 24, 2012 | 05:51 PM

Lake Rat Jim

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From: Prescott, AZ

Bottom bolts stuck. Can break loose with hand tools. Off to get the PB blaster. So much for done by dinner!

Apr 24, 2012 | 06:39 PM

kd0axs

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From: Nowthen, MN

The top bolts on the front shocks are a pain. I just ended up cutting them off with a sawzall. I didn't have any trouble with the bottom ones though. PB Blaster should help, but it sounds like you probably just need a little more leverage.