I've got a buddy who is going to help me do my brakes/rotors this weekend. Since it's already going to be up on the lift with the tires off, would it be too much more involved to change the shocks (Rancho RS 5000) while we're under there? I've read on here that it's a quick swap, but I've also read horror stories. He's mechanically competent, though admits he hasn't done too many shocks before (I'm reading that as: never). I'm not worth the tool box I own as far as mechanical knowledge and ability goes (that's why I'm trying to do as much myself as I can... I need to learn this stuff).

The guy is on leave before he deploys next week and he is making the time to help me instead of spending it with his family. So, I appreciate that and I don't want to end up getting him into something that's going to take hours longer than it should have. Any way to know right away if this is going to be a pain in the **** that should be left for another time?

I do want to change these shocks, though!

 

Well, it's struts, not shocks. Those are another whole kettle o' fish, needing a spring compressor and a fair bit of caution. Shocks are easy, struts are more difficult and dangerous. Do you need shocks?

 

Torsion bar front ends are struts? I thought the coil over strut system was '06+?

Every website I've been on looking for different shocks/suspension stuff all showed a different front and rear part number for the '05. Interesting...

Guess I won't be doing anything with the shocks then, this weekend.

 

Since he is taking time away from family before deployment, i say let him make the call. If he doesnt have the experience or the tools, dont mess with it. Either way, i hope there is ample beer in it for him.

 

Don't know 'bout the torsion bars (mine's a 4x2), but I'm pretty sure the 4x4s are struts. Easy enough to find out: go look.

 

It's 0100. I'll check it out in the morning.

Greg, he enjoys a nice bottle of Gentleman Jack for his efforts. After the work is done we toast to the Patron Saint of Mechanics.

 

Yup, shock absorbers... so says the manual, the Chilton's, and mein eyes.

Scared me there for a second! Now, I need to pick up some DOT 3. Anything else I need to change the pads/rotors?

 

Just got done with this job. Went pretty easy, but the back rotors didn't want to come off at first. I feel pretty accomplished because even though it's an easy'ish job, it was still the first time I attempted it, and I have pretty limited mechanical intuition (I'm not afraid to admit). I pretty much told my buddy to let me do all the work, but guide me along and make sure I don't screw anything up too bad. Mission accomplished. I am pretty sure I can do this bit of maintenance on my own, now. I've got a bottle of Single Barrel Jack to take over his place for dinner tonight...

We just did it in the driveway rather than taking it on base, so we used regular jack stands instead of the lift. Therefore, I didn't do the shocks. However, I got a good look at them under there, and it should be cake to do with the suspension unloaded. Had we used the lift we would have taken care of it today. Hopefully in the near future I'll tackle that job.

 

Shocks are MUCH easier to do with the suspension loaded.

 

i'll have to look and see what it says for the fronts, again, but I know that for the rear the manual says to support the truck with jack stands on the frame rails and to "support, but not lift" the rear axle with a jack.

What would be your plan of attack for it, then? Educate me, because I honestly (and obviously) don't know.