Well, I finally finished installing the front struts on my truck. After a couple of weeks spraying all of the bolts and nuts with PB Blaster, all but one of them came off real easy. The lower strut bolt on the passenger side was a pain in the *** though. The bolt would not come out of the bushing. A big hammer or an impact gun could not get it out. After two hours of work running it back and forth, with plenty of PB and trans fluid, we finally got it out.

After that, it took about 45 minutes to change the struts and put in the TM spacer. Those top nuts on the struts were stuck good. We had to put three big vise grips on the shaft to get enough resistance to get them off.

Putting the truck back together only took 30 minutes or so, since we had lots of practice the day before. I still have to put on a new drivers side sway bar link. I did the passenger side in February.

I forgot to get some before pics, but the truck sits perfectly level now. Tomorrow I will get the rear blocks put in. The box of new u-bolts was sitting on the porch when I got home this evening.

Here are a few pictures of the pieces and the truck. See the rest of them at photobucket Click here.

Old and new rear shocks

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New struts with spacers installed

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New rear u-bolts and 1" blocks

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Truck after installing the front struts and Trailmaster Leveling Kit

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I will update the pictures after I get the blocks installed tomorrow. The ride is day and night different. No more bouncing and Cadillac feel. Handles and corners great. Definitely recommend the Rancho's for anyone looking for a better ride.

 

Lookin good, welcome to the Rancho Club! I couldn't believe the handling difference either, much safer feel to the truck. Good luck with the blocks.

 

does the front end need to be aligned once you install the leveling kit and struts?

 

you wouldnt have a part no. for those ranchos as soon as i say 08 i get told they dont make them and apparently the front struts dont exsist so a part no for referance would be awesome thanks in advance

 

I ended up having it aligned, even though the dealer just did it when they put on the new tie rods. The leveling kit changes the camber and the toe a bit. The guy who aligned it said it was not that far off, and he did it pretty quickly.

As far as the part numbers, the fronts were 5757 and the back were 5315.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

I agree the handling is an amazing difference.
Highway driving is great also
Like its said before welcome to the Rancho club!


The Rancho part #'s for the shocks on the 2005-2006 is
RS5757 - Front Struts
RS5315 - Rear Shocks 0" lift (I'm sure they will work with a 2" spacer if you don't plan on offroading and flexing to max)

I don't see a listing for 2007-2010 but you can call Rancho and see if they have not updated the site.

 

from the pics you posted it looks to me that they are the low end ones non adjustable and whats the cost on those south of the border

 

The front struts were $99.00 each and the rears were $47.00 each.

I got them from truckaddons.com with free shipping.

 

Who makes the block kit? Rancho as well?

 

I got the blocks from Jegs and the u-bolts from Stengal Brothers. I have the 9.25 rear end, so the universal lift block kits won't work. I listed the u-bolt specs in another thread, but don't remember the dimensions off the top of my head.