I bought a set of HD Bilstien shocks for my 07 1500 Ram. I don't have the spring compressor to compress the front coils to get the strut out, let alone it's cold and snowy out there and just a lot of stuff to pull off. So I made an appointment with a place that I buy tires from and have had other work done.

That said they scheduled the install for a 1 1/2 after 2 hours they tell me it's going to take longer and they can't install them today, but they put my rear ones on instead. They said that they need to KNOCK off some kind of plate or something from the stock strut and put it on the new one. I said OK paid for the rear install and left. I stopped at the Dodge dealer on my way home and asked them how much and what was involved. He said they have a press to remove and install this plate/mounting bracket, install should take, per there puter, 2.3 hours $190.

So just whats involved here? I'm not trusting this tire place that aborted the job yesterday I feel like they don't know what there doing not to mention he said KNOCK off this plate, but there only $130 for the install.

Here's a pic of the strut

 

what they told you is what is involved. has to be compressed, the bottom plate taken off, put on new shock and compressed to have new shock installed. 2 hours sounds about right. i did the same thing with the level shocks i installed. had spring compressor but they were lookin scary, easier to have someone with a wall mounted hydraulic press do it. only charged me for an hour because i had the old shocks out, just needed them to switch the springs.