I am replacing my Rear shocks on my 2011 F350 long bed. The bottom of the shock is mounted with a bolt and nut. For the upper part of the shock, I can see the nut and bolt on one side, but can't see the head of the bolt on the other side. It is like the upper mounts do not have a bolt head to remove?
How do I change out the rear shocks???
. . . . . . thanks ken

 

no bolt to remove. Its welded to the frame. Just remove the nut, and slide the shock off.

 

I guess I don't remember exactly how it went...it took like 5 minutes a shock. remove the nut and try sliding the shock off. Perhaps there is a stud welded to the frame and I don't remember?

 

Goodie. Thanks guys. Auto shops want to charge me $120 per shock plus $44 to install.

ken

 

Just did mine. The explaination above is correct. Just remove the nut and slide the upper shock mount off the stud. I will warn you that mine were very tight from the factory. It took some good force with a 1/2" drive ratchet to get them free. I believe that it is 18 mm on the top. The nut is 18mm on the bottom and the bolt head is 15mm.

BTW, Rancho is running a special this month. Buy four shocks for the price of three. You actually will receive a rebate for the fourth shock in the form of a Visa prepaid card. I got mine at www.4wheelonline.com for a very good price.

Good luck.

Mike

 

When you get to the fronts, get a friend handy with a flex-jointed, 24" extension with the correct allen key at the end of it to stop the shaft from spinning while you tighten the nut (I recall it being 21 mm). Also, don't lose that little tabbed nut at the bottom.

 

Okay. Thanks for the good tip. I was woundering how to tighten the front shock.
. .
I just got the shocks Wed, and will attempt to replace the rears on Thurs.
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thanks again . . . . ken

 

Yea, another thing. the shocks come compressed with straps. as soon as you cut those straps, the spring out, and it is a real bear to compress them. I ended up using my floor jack to compress them right up next to where you run the bolt through.

there is probably a better way, I just dont know it. And yea, for the fronts, use a allen on the top of the shock shaft to stop it from spinning while you tighten the top nut.

when I jacked my truck up, I did it like you would change a tire, by jacking under the axle. If I were to do it again, I would probably find a way to jack under the frame, so that the springs decompress. I'm sure that would make the installation of the shocks easier too by not having to compress them so much.