do i have to remove the coil springs to replace the front shocks????. how would i go about doing it. I think mine are completely shot and making my truck handle like crap. Also i think im gonna go with ranchos are they any good???

 

anybody have any input????

 

nope, should not have to... 4x4's pull the shock out with the tower on 1 side, the other you have to remove the shock mount from the shock before pulling it out (drivers side IIRC).

if it's a 2x4, most likely not but I cant say for sure since I've never had a 2wd ram.

 

its a 4x4. i kinda of figured thats how you did it but i wasnt sure. Thanks a million. im ready to go buy some freakin shocks now

 

edelbrock IAS performers or bilsteins (silver ones)

 

Force,

I just did all four of mine a couple of months ago. I must say it was easier than I thought. You can do it sitting in the driveway. No need to jack it up or anything. The back is simple and the front is not much harder. On the front i just took the bottom bolt out, took off the nut on top of the shock, took off the three tower bolts and pull off the tower and out comes the shock.

 

yea i did my rear shocks today and they where a mother feeer to get off just because of all the rust and **** fallin in my face. I think ill try the front next weekend. i also adjusted my steering box too thanx DIY

 

on the fronts, it's easier if you put a jack under the front bumper area and raise the body a little to extend the shock. then when you remove the tower at the top, the shock is not trying to extend and push up on it. on the lower front bolt, torque the crap out of it to 100 pounds, or else it will rattle under your feet. the lower has a "flag" nut that holds itself for you, which is nice.

 

The rears had a flag nut, I don't remember the fronts having one. Not a lot of room to move on the frong and I ended up moving the flaps by the wheel well out of the way. You may have a bigger problem than just shocks.

 

yea i think im goin to pick up the front end with a forklift. so it will easier to install the new shocks cause they will have some zip to them. i dont think i will worry to much about the old ones cause i think they kicked the bucket awhile ago. my plan is to bolt the shocks to the bottom axle bracket and leave the zip tie on the shocks that keep them compressed and bolt the shock tower back on and then cut the zip tie, then guide the upper shock stud in the hole, hopefully that will wrk