Might put more on it in the near future with the recent updates. Normally do 15-20 miles a week, but put on over 100 this weekend while driving and playing with the stereo. Part of the reason I haven't cared about the shocks. Just trying to get the bugs out before fall, planning a road trip with the Ram.

 

Thats all 15-20 miles a week! Lucky! I have a question for you about that stereo Im going to pm it to u.

 

Actually, VWandDodge has a 4X2. I don't know if his information is referring to a 4WD or a 2WD, but I can say that a 2WD is a hell of alot easier to replace the shocks than a 4X4, mainly front shocks. I took my front off only to install my spring spacer, and it didn't take me long at all. Probably 4-6 hours of continuos work to complete EVERTHING. So being that said, replacing a 4X4's shocks should probably take approx. the same time, not including rear shocks. You have to remove parts that are located in the engine bay I think. So it's complicated, but possible. I don't know this for a fact, but I believe it can be tackled in at least one day, no problem. And while WD-40 is definantly do-able, I think LPS is better than anything.

 

wd-40 is Free for me that why i use it! Heres a post from iwhitney it has some pics.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/esacizac/page2/

 

I did mine about a month ago. All in all I think it took me about 2 hours. The backs are real simple just unbolt and remove. I am a big fan of dipping the bolts in grease before they get torqued back down. That way its easy(er) to remove them later.

The fronts can be a little tricky, because the top of the shock is free spinning, you can't just remove the top nut. I took a pipe wrench and wedged it around the top part of the shock to hold it in place while took the bolt off.
When it comes time to bolt the new ones down, thats where the impact gun comes in handy, usually you can burp the impact a couple of times, and it will spin that nut down with out spinning the shock.

As far as fitment, the backs I didn't really have any issues with, but the front (bottom) wouldnt fit. Thank god I have a hydraulic spreader that tweaked the brackets out.
I also found it easier to remove the front wheels and work on it that way.

Another thing that makes the change easy: Remove the spare tire. That way you can get into the driver's side rear easy.

And as dodge15004x45.9 gave me the common sense reminder.... (Thanks BTW ) dont cut the nylon cords that have cinched the shocks down until you have one end bolted in place and you are ready to bolt the other end.

 

If it's a 2-3 hour job, I'll do it myself, if it's 4+, I'll just give the guy 80 bucks and let him do it. While I have socket sets from 1/4 - 3/4, but no real air impact tools. Not sure it's worth buying any since I've never really had a use for them before.

 

Well, its nice to have the impact gun, but you can get away with not having it. You can still use a pipe wrench to hold the top of the shock to keep it from spinning. Just wrap a towel in the teeth first if you are worried about the paint.
And a good ole hammer will bend those bottom brackets out if need be...

 

Seems easy enough. Probably wait to see how the weather looks for the weekend, and when they come in before I decide.

Woman has been great about not getting on me about getting spring stuff done around the house while I worked on the stereo, so some of it might be what she expects me to do this weekend. Was off the hook this weekend because she was watching the NFL Draft...lol

 

I wish I had that problem that money wasn't a issue. dam i would be rich then LMAO. just a joke man I had to do it you know how it is

 

lol..no big deal. Grew up broke as hell, which is how I learned how to wrench early on. Never changed shocks/struts because ride quality wasn't a big deal on a 300 dollar bomb.

Have a decent income now, no kids or real responsibility's, and starting to reach that point where I'd rather pay someone to do something I don't want to mess with. Must be getting old...

Last year pulled the front end apart to change the front ujoints in the axle/knuckle...and remember thinking at the time 'man I wish I didn't know how to do this'...lol