Help! Can't get rear shocks on!

[Spalma916]

Just bought a set of Monroe shocks. Bed is off so I thought it'd be super quick and easy, that was at 8am it's now 3pm. I usually take my time because of my disability but this is ridiculous, lol. I got the frame up with the tires in the air, I got the old shocks off, slipped in the top of the new ones and threw in the top bolt and went to do the bottom but it's not compressed and the bottom is about 4" from were it needs to be, when i give it all my muscle it gets to 2", should I disconnect the coils too?

[slikside]

Try dropping the rear wheels to the ground to compress. Add weight if necessary. See if that helps.

[AirSpeed]

Originally Posted by Spalma916

Just bought a set of Monroe shocks. Bed is off so I thought it'd be super quick and easy, that was at 8am it's now 3pm. I usually take my time because of my disability but this is ridiculous, lol. I got the frame up with the tires in the air, I got the old shocks off, slipped in the top of the new ones and threw in the top bolt and went to do the bottom but it's not compressed and the bottom is about 4" from were it needs to be, when i give it all my muscle it gets to 2", should I disconnect the coils too?

So they're extended? Do you have a bar clamp you could use to compress them?
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[Motorfist]

I think he is saying the shock is 4" too long with the weight off the rear end so adding weight will give him the opposite effect of what he needs. That is if I understand correctly.

Spalma are you sure you have the right replacement shocks? I don't remember having much difficulty on my c20.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by Motorfist

I think he is saying the shock is 4" too long with the weight off the rear end so adding weight will give him the opposite effect of what he needs. That is if I understand correctly.

That's what I understood him to mean.

Originally Posted by terry b

Were they gas charged and you cut the limit straps before you installed them?

I'm also thinking this is what he's up against.

Couple things you might try, Spalma. Use a length of 2x4 like a lever to compress the shock, then slip the lower bolt in before the shock extends.

Or jack up only one side of the truck at a time, then install that shock before moving to the other side. This might cause the top & bottom mounts to be a little farther apart.

[slikside]

Originally Posted by Motorfist

I think he is saying the shock is 4" too long with the weight off the rear end so adding weight will give him the opposite effect of what he needs. That is if I understand correctly.

Spalma are you sure you have the right replacement shocks? I don't remember having much difficulty on my c20.

If that's the case, then I agree. Wasn't quite clear to me...

[terry b]

If you disconnect the coils it should help. Were they gas charged and you cut the limit straps before you installed them?

[terry b]

I like the 2x4 idea. If you have a long enough leaver set in the right position it should work.

[davepl]

Never heard of limit straps! I installed Monroe gas shocks and didn't know about that, but didn't run into any problems in my case... good to know though!

I take it a "gas charged" shock rebounds as soon as you try to compress it, is that the issue?

[Spalma916]

Wow, what a job! Lol I tried the 2x4 with almost successful results, yes the problem is they are too long and loosening the coils was a last result since I've heard the bolts snap if you try to take them off, I was like 1/4" inch off when I used the 2x4 so I called my 14 year old son over to help me when he suggested using my "straps with the clamps" (my load straps) they worked beautifully.......awwwww these young minds
Thanks guys you're the best!

[demian5]

So were these the correct shocks for the vehicle? Or will we be seeing a post titled "rear shock mounts broken after installing new shocks"

[67ChevyRedneck]

I have to agree. To check for correct shocks, measure the shock mounting points at ride height with the truck on the ground on its wheels. Then measure your shocks fully extended then fully compressed. The ride height should fall within +/-1" of the middle. It sounds like you may have shocks that are too long. Have you gone for a test ride yet? If they're too long you'll have little to no shock compression before they bottom out. My rear shocks were a breeze to install.

[toiletbowl54]

Do you have a ratchet strap? If you do run it over the eyelets where the bolts go thru and ratchet it to where you can install them. That is how I had to do mine, and mine had overload springs on them. Just a thought.

[Spalma916]

Hey guys, yes I have a ratchet strap, it's what I used. I'm 6'1 245lbs and would consider myself a strong guy(i broke my back in an accident and have metal holding my lower back together) it took me no time at all to put them on with the help of those straps, it was off by 2" by man muscle, is that too much? Haven't test driven yet cause I don't have a front seat. How can I see if it's the wrong set? They look good, how do I upload some pics

[Steeveedee]

If they are gas charged shocks, yes, they will be hard to put on, if they are fully extended. I usually pull the limiters off and pump them up and down a minimum of ten strokes to make sure that they are bled out, because shocks laying on a shelf can have that problem. You can tell when the the first few strokes have it real easy in the beginning and then they stiffen up through their range (if that makes any sense). I have rear leafs on my truck and had a ***** of a time getting an arm in a position where I could get the shocks on. That nitrogen charge is pretty serious, in terms of pressure.