I have read a lot of posts about both spring and shock replacement, so I figured I'd post my results.

I replaced all six shocks wit Bilstein HD's, and the front coil springs with Moog CC844.

This added about an inch and 3/4 lift to the front.

It took about three hours to do both sides. I did one side at a time.
Here's how
- Loosen lug nuts
- Place the jack under the front axle housing (ttb), on the right or left side depending which side your doing at that time.
- Jack it up and put a jack stand under the frame somewhere behind the radius arm bushing mount. Note: Make your jack stand high enough so when you pull the tire off you have enough room to lower the hub down to release all the pressure off the coil spring.
- Lower on to jack stand, but dont let the jack all the way down yet.
- Remove front shocks or disconnect shocks at either top or bottom if not replacing them. I found it's easier to disconnect at the bottom
- Lower the jack all the way down, then jack back up a little to take the pull pressure off the spring.
- Remove top retaining clip at top of spring.
- Lower all the way down and remove jack.
- Step on the hub and the top off the Spring should pop out, if not, pull it out.
- Remove lower spring retaining nut in center of spring with 1,1/8 socket and extensions or a wrench.
- Assemble in reverse order.

Overall this was very easy! The hardest part was getting at the top nuts on the shocks.

You will need to get an alignment after this mod. I havent gotten one yet. I've drove the truck a couple times on short trips. It pulls a little to the right. I'm waiting til after I change the radius arm bushings out with poly ones. Not that this should matter a whole lot.

Good luck!
Drew

 

Thats cool. I thought about going with Bilstiens at some point. I have Rancho RSX now and like them.

What size tires 31 10.50? It would look great with 32 11.50s

Nice truck, here is mine.

 

Very nice. How does it ride? Im looking at bilsteins for my truck. although i want to go with the 5100's

The 844 springs will be alot rougher. especially if the roads arn't maintained very well. But they do eliminate pretty much all sway when turning if you dont have a sway bar. im wondering if better shocks would help get ride of the super rough ride you get with the 844's.

Let me know how it goes.

 

Great Lookin Truck!

 

would the old shocks accommodate the taller springs, or would the new spring cause the old shocks to move beyond their range of travel?

 

The Bilsteins I just put on are for the stock ride height. I havent had any issues so far.

 

Clearance between the coil spring and camber adjustment castle nut. Not the best pic but you can see the spring nut are not touching.

 

the twin shocks up front, was that just a 4x4 option ?

 

It's interesting that some people say they touch and others don't. is everyone here using Moog springs or an equivalent?

 

I had 2x 4x4's with them. But i don't know about the 2wds.

 

It may be how people are installing them. Before you tighten down the nut in center of the spring, you can shift the spring a little, so maybe when they tightened the nut down the spring was shifted toward the nut?

 

I got my alignment today, it cost $167, this included the camber bushings and installation. The front tires now ride like l l as opposed to \ /

 

I replaced my 250 springs with a set of 350 springs, same size but much less compression; it gave me about 1.5" of lift. My tires (31") had the same look as you nashaj. I took it today to a good friend who has a front end shop; he put in the 2 1/2 degree camber bushings and pulled it in. I now ride straight and true.