Shock Absorber Question...

[Sinister]

I need to replace my shocks, doesn't seem like it would be too difficult. Any tips or hints?

[blukangoo]

Changing the shocks is one of the easiest things to change on a truck unless the nuts are rusted.
If you have air shocks, it would be a good idea to let the air out of them.
Are you changing all 4 or just 2 of them?

[Sinister]

All 4...

[blukangoo]

Loosen the nuts on the top and bottom of the shocks in the back, remove the bolts and they are out.
On the front, remove the nuts, pull the bolt out of the bottom, pull the shock off the bolt on top.
Put them back in the same way you got them out.
Done!

[Sinister]

Sounds good, thanks. I'm reading about your C-10 build, nice work...

[blukangoo]

Originally Posted by Sinister

Sounds good, thanks. I'm reading about your C-10 build, nice work...

Thanks

[LMN8UR]

Before you start, take a quick look at the condition of your bolts. If the look rusty spray some penetrating oil on them a day or two in advance. Also take her to a car wash and blast whatever dirt you can out of the wheel wells.

Changing a shock should take all of five minutes each.

Good Luck.

[tcb-1]

Sin,
get some PB Blaster, soak the bolt/nuts, get a breaker bar, and you'll be gold.
My new front shocks even came with the upper mount bolt.
Got mine at Orielly for dirt cheap, $13.99 each! works quite well with my 3/5 drop.

[C & A s Dad]

I would strongly suggest KYB's. I removed a set of Gabriel gas shocks two weekends ago and replaced them with CARQUEST shocks by KYB and I cannot believe the difference. My truck handles so much better and all of the bounce and roll is gone.

The KYBs are very high pres gas Mono Tube shocks. Because of this you need to place jack stands under the frame so you can use your jack to drop or raise your rear axle to help to get the shocks back on. They are all but impossible to compress by hand, especially the front ones.

[Sinister]

Originally Posted by C & A s Dad

I would strongly suggest KYB's. I removed a set of Gabriel gas shocks two weekends ago and replaced them with CARQUEST shocks by KYB and I cannot believe the difference. My truck handles so much better and all of the bounce and roll is gone.

The KYBs are very high pres gas Mono Tube shocks. Because of this you need to place jack stands under the frame so you can use your jack to drop or raise your rear axle to help to get the shocks back on. They are all but impossible to compress by hand, especially the front ones.

I'll look into those, how did you do the front ones?

[C & A s Dad]

I jacked mine up from the frame with a reg 2 ton floor jack and used a small floor jack under the lower A frame at the bottom of the coil spring to control the drop as I removed the shock. The new shock has so much pres that you need a long handled screwdriver or a small pry bar to get the bottom of the shock into position. I mounted the top of the shock first and then placed the bottom into the lower mount. I ended up letting the small jack all the way down to get the lower mount in place. Only mashed my finger one time.

The rears took 5 mins each, the fronts took maybe 10. If you do not use a high pres gas shock like the kYB, it is even easier, but I am telling you, the ride and handling is worth it.

[jackyl9999]

Don't forget monroe shocks. Made in the usa. I work in the paragould arkansas facility. Go for the gas magnums or the reflex's.

[C & A s Dad]

I typically do all I can to support US made products. I am sure the Monroe's are a good product and I have heard good things about the Reflex.

We left Gabriel for KYB and it was a tough pill for me to swallow. However, the quality of the KYB has overwhelmed me and our customers.

[jackyl9999]

We make a good product. Its been a while since I have seen a kyb shock. Do they still crimp or spot weld their dirt shields? Just wondering.

[C & A s Dad]

You know I could not tell you. I know their mounting loops are all one piece with no seams. The loop is solid and then welded to the shock. Their tubes are also seemless meaning no welds at all in the tube where the piston runs. I will have to look at the dirt shields.

[smoked68]

PB Blaster on the nuts, and off the nuts will come...

[Stocker]

I had Monroe Gas Magnums on my K20 some years ago -- nice big fat shocks, but they went mushy after awhile. Dunno which KYBs you are talking about, but I put their Gas-A-Justs (non-adjustable high-pressure gas charged) on the front, then later on the back and have been happy with them. Also put a set of them on my '95 Grand Cherokee. No complaints yet...

[C & A s Dad]

The gas a just KYBs are what I used on my 71 and the MonoMax on my GMC Yukon XL.

[A.P.]

I recently only replaced my rear shock absorbers with Monroe Lt Truck Gas-Matic. All of the rear bounce is gone, I still need to replace the front shocks but the rear ones were really bad. Will replace the front shocks as soon as I get some cash.
What a difference.

A.P.