alright guys, i have seen a few threads on front shock replacement, but which way is the best? let me clarify: which way is the best, fastest and easiest way to replace the front shock absorbers on an '07 5.9 4x4 with no electricy (read: no power tools), one floor jack, two jackstands, and basic hand tools, in the middle of a gravely/rocky field? the rears were no problem (well, the top bolt on the passenger side kinda pissed me off cause i still have an exhaust and i have rear wheel well liners blocking side access cause i didnt want to remove them[:@]), so all i have are the front! i can see a few ways to do it but i'm hoping theres a nice simple way without taking a bunch of other stuff out of the way, i just need the best way thats not gonna leave me pissed off! oh yeah, i don't have a spring compressor tool. thanks in advance!

 

When I did mine I just simply jacked one side up at a time and pulled tire off. Next is pull the 3 bolts off the shock tower, pull top nut off shock pull top bushing off the tower piece/cage, then lower bushing. next is deep socket (size can't remember) wrench then pull bottom bolt/nut off the bottom of the shock. Pull old shock out from top and then reverse procedure for new shock. You may need help when rettaching shock tower, in terms of having someone hold the tower piece in place while you thread bolts inplace.

No spring compressor required.

Hope this helps.

 

the deep socket you can't remember.... is it large?

 

I found that I could leave the tire on the truck.

1) Turn the wheels toward the side your working on to give you access.
2) Use the jack (with various stacked 2x4 or such) under the frame rail to raise the body just enough to lengthen the shock and take the pressure off the top shock bracket nuts.
3) Remove the top shock nut (you will probably need a metric allen wrench).
4) Remove the three nuts on the top shock bracket.
5) Remove the bottom bolt.
6) Remove the shock through the top.
7) Replace in reverse order.

 

I believe the bottom bolt is the same as the back shocks. 19mm or maybe 3/4?

 

thanks saber! if the sun stays out long enough imight give it a try, otherwise i have to wait til tomorrow. doh![:@]! if its the same as the back, it'd be a 21mm

 

how do you keep the shock from spinning when taking off the top nut?

 

That's what the metric allen wrench is for...

 

have smeone hold on to it or use two wrenches top of shock is squared off to accept small wrench.

 

splat is right, the OEMs have a head on top of the stem to accept a small wrench. My Bilsteins replacements have an allen head socket built into the stem.