my dads dakota has a drivers side shock with a coil around it .the shock is leaking and makeing noise on pedal to the floor accelaration or on steep inclines,anyone change it before? can rent the coil tool from auto zone for 50.00 bucks do i need to rent the tie rod remover tool or can i use my big hammer????????like i do on my ford ...should i do both sides?

 

Im assuming is it is 2wd, and stock. You can just unbolt the shock from below the lower control arm. You dont need a coil remover. just a jack to lift up the tire enough to pull out the shock. If it is not a stock set you might need to but if you can give a better discription, or a pic would be best.

 

yes its stock v-6 i was reading off of autozones web site that where it said the spring compressor is needed

 

Under the FAQ2 you can find a link for a servace manual. Here is a copy of the page of the shock absorbers R&R.

Shock Absorbers

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

Coil Spring Suspension

1. Raise and support the vehicle with jackstands positioned at the extreme front ends of the frame rails.
2. Remove the wheel.
3. Remove the upper mounting bolt.
   Fig. 1: Exploded view of the front shock absorber mounting — Ram Pick-up and Ramcharger
   
4. Remove the two lower mounting bolts.
5. Remove the shock absorber.

 

in your pic can you tell me how that shock comes out of the center of the coil ,without droping the A frame,


http://www.autozone.com/shopping/rep...00c15280071982

scroll down to this section of the page in the link this is what i have ,maybe its different set up then yours ,i dont have a strut on my front end like in your pic .what do you think ?

DakotaSee Figure 3For 4WD models, refer to the torsion bar procedure.
Raise the vehicle and support safely.
Fig. 3: Exploded view of the lower control arm and spring assembly-Dakota models
Remove the shock absorber.
Disconnect the sway bar from the lower control arm, if equipped.
Install spring compressor tool DD-1278, or equivalent to the coil spring. Tighten the nut finger-tight, then back off half a turn.
Remove the cotter pin and lower ball joint nut.
Release the lower ball joint taper using ball stud loosening tool C-3564-A, or equivalent.
Remove the tool and remove the ball stud from the control arm. Release the compressor tool from the coil spring.
Pull the arm down and remove the spring with the rubber isolation pad from the vehicle.
To install:

Install the spring with the rubber isolator. Install the compressor tool and compress it enough so the lower ball joint can be inserted through the knuckle.
Tighten the lower ball joint nut to 135 ft. lbs. (183 Nm). Install a new cotter pin. Remove the spring compressor.
Connect the sway bar to the lower control arm, if equipped.
Install the shock absorber.

 

Okay Just to clearify. You want to remove the shock only right! Well that page you sent is about removing the coil spring. YOU DO NOT NEED TO REMOVE THE SPRING TO REMOVE THE SHOCK. In the setup I gave you, it is a shock not a strut, it has the word shock absorbor on it, you just need to drop it from the botttom of the truck's lower control arm. If there is not enough room just get a jack and lift the wheel up so you can get to it better. Here is autozone's page for shock absorbor's removal. http://www.autozone.com/shopping/rep...00c152800719a7

 

im gonna double check .but when i seen the shock the bottom was where the fluid was ,but the hole was not big in the A arm where i could se the shock.your link didnt work