Is this a DIY job? I've never done shocks.. should I plan on 2 hours? more? less?

 

I did all 4 in less than 2 hours. It's the top of the rears that's a PITA.

 

did my front two this weekend in 1.5 hrs

 

Yes it is.

I couldn't tell you how long though, because I replaced the front springs at the same time.

Stewart

 

I thought the pass front was the hardest one. If I remember right, there is an air box or something over the top of the shock and you can't get a socket on it. There also isn't room to swing a regular wrench too far. I finally bought a set of the racheting wrenches. I didn't think the rears were too bad, a little tricky to get your hands in to get the bolt started. I think I had it done in about 2 hrs or less, it was my first shock change too.

 

If I can do it (and I have), you should be able to do it.

The passenger side top was a little tough because of clearance, but it eventually came together.

 

I JUST did all four of mine this weekend...in about 1.5 hours

I removed both front tires and clearance was easier then. A bud of mine with his F250 didn't remove his tires and still got it done but had a slightly more difficult time.

IMO fronts were easier.

Top rears were not an issue for me. I installed both bolts up top FIRST since the top rubber isolator needed to be 'moved' to the proper angle...

My BIG problem was that the strap locks that Bilstein puts on the shocks held the shocks together in a position that were actually about 1" too SHORT. Longer would have been an easy fix in that I could jack on the FRAME to expand the opening on the truck...BUT how to COMPRESS the springs?...

hmmm...I posted this in another thread...I called my wife to have her jump in the back of the Ex...luckily for me...she is NOT heavy enough to compress the springs (remember I added about 2000# of capacity to my rear leafs via the RoadMaster Active Suspension)...so I sent her to get my neighbor and his football center son...between the two of them...about 425#'s...STILL NO COMPRESSION.

I needed about 1" of compression...so we get these two, my wife, his 20 year old daughter, my daughter, about 80#'s of water softener salt I had in the garage...all told a little over 800#'s...I got about 7/8" of compression...so I holler up as I am under the truck with both shocks ready for the lower bolt...I say BOUNCE ... so here are 5 people crammed in the cargo area of the Ex bouncing to give me 1/8" compression on the springs so I can slip the lower bolt in...got both in then with ease...

It is amazing how STIFF the rear suspension of my Ex is now with the RAS installed...800#'s and barely any sag!

So all in all about 1.5 hours to install all 4 shocks...well maybe a little longer rastlin up some human weight to load up in the back of the Ex! LOL

joe.

 

LMAO! As I already conveyed to you once, thanks for the visual!

All you needed to add was a twister board, chips & dip!

Stewart

 

Stewart...great idea for the Excursion meet...perhaps a cargo area twister competition...I call the Hooter girls for my team!