How easy is it to replace shocks?
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From: Meridian, ID
How easy is it to replace shocks?
Truck is a 98 F150 4x4 4.6L
I'm looking to redo the front ball joints, tie rod ends etc on my F150. Is the control arm supported by the shock and while I have it apart will shocks be pretty easy to replace? will I need to support the control arm to take the shock out? How about rear shocks? If the truck is jacked up are these pretty easy to replace? Thanks.
Montanafordman
I'm looking to redo the front ball joints, tie rod ends etc on my F150. Is the control arm supported by the shock and while I have it apart will shocks be pretty easy to replace? will I need to support the control arm to take the shock out? How about rear shocks? If the truck is jacked up are these pretty easy to replace? Thanks.
Montanafordman
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From: Louisville, Kentucky
I recently replaced the shocks on my 4x2 with a great deal from a FTE sponsor on Bilsteins. The front shocks are relatively easy to do. The rear shocks are the problem ones.
On mine, the truck was in the body shop getting a bed side panel replaced. I had the body shop zip off the top nuts, lube them up good and put them back on for me while the bed was off of the truck. When the shocks came in the week after the truck was back from the body shop, it was a doable job to use wrenches to get the top nuts off.
Many people just cut off the top of the shock with a saws all. Good luck!
On mine, the truck was in the body shop getting a bed side panel replaced. I had the body shop zip off the top nuts, lube them up good and put them back on for me while the bed was off of the truck. When the shocks came in the week after the truck was back from the body shop, it was a doable job to use wrenches to get the top nuts off.
Many people just cut off the top of the shock with a saws all. Good luck!
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From: Southeast FLA
There is a recent thread about this, but yeah, I dropped the spare tire down and used the Sawzall toward the top of the rear-shocks' extension rods (and I believe I used a set of vice grips to keep the rods from spinning).
I actually had to use a bench grinder on the bottom cylindrical metal tubes that go through the front shocks to get them to fit. I don't know if that was a KYB design flaw or a problem with Ford's tolerances in the control-arm channel.
I actually had to use a bench grinder on the bottom cylindrical metal tubes that go through the front shocks to get them to fit. I don't know if that was a KYB design flaw or a problem with Ford's tolerances in the control-arm channel.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: New Lisbon NJ USA
I just replaced the rears on my 1997 F-150 Longbed standard cab, The top nuts were frozen and its almost impossible to get something on the little flat portion so I also did the vise grip method, I took a pair of snips and cut up the upper dust cover and then I was able to get the vise grips on the shaft, I then put a 5/8" box end wrench on the upper nuts and I actually spun the shaft and held the wrench, took apx 45 minutes total to replace both rear shocks, Tomorrow I do the fronts, They will be much easier as the top nuts are easy to get to.
Val
Val
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OK, my ostrich approach (head in the sand) toward my trucks suspension isn't working so I'm actually going to tackle this project now - and I figure while doing ball joints and tie rods I might as well do the front shocks too... anyone have any recommendations for shocks? Brands? OE or other? Thanks!
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It depends on both your driving style (what you're lookng to get out of your truck), and the loads you typically haul.
NAPA's highest-end shocks are pretty good for my extended-cab long-bed 4x4, but I'm looking for something stiffer - I ask a lot from my truck in the corners, and already have the polyurethane sway-bar bushings installed.
My goal is to get Bilsteins.
If you expect the famous gentlemanly-ride out of your F150 (my uncle appreciated it way more than his newer 2006 F150), then I would suggest the KYB GR-2's. They give a nice ride at slow & easy speeds, they can valve-up to the occasion, but they just weren't instantly stiff like I would prefer.
NAPA's highest-end shocks are pretty good for my extended-cab long-bed 4x4, but I'm looking for something stiffer - I ask a lot from my truck in the corners, and already have the polyurethane sway-bar bushings installed.
My goal is to get Bilsteins.
If you expect the famous gentlemanly-ride out of your F150 (my uncle appreciated it way more than his newer 2006 F150), then I would suggest the KYB GR-2's. They give a nice ride at slow & easy speeds, they can valve-up to the occasion, but they just weren't instantly stiff like I would prefer.
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I myself recently did ball joints, tie rods, etc the works and also replaced all shocks on my 02 Ext Cab FX4. I put Rancho RSX shocks, got all four for $205 with free shipping. The shocks made a huge difference, the ride is so much more smooth. I wanted to stick with Rancho, and I took the recommendations of some guys on here and choose the RSX model, they were right...great shock! I have 35s with a 3"body lift and cant believe how smooth it is compared to the originals, even when then originals were newer. Good luck!
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