Front strut replacement

[RedDakooter05]

Anyone swapped the front struts themselves?
Nobody around here wants to touch my truck due to warranty/liability reasons(which is mostly valid).

So either I'll have to return my Bilstein 4600 units, or risk smashing my face with a coil spring. Most youtube videos I find they for some reason skim past the Compress the spring and swap out the strut bit.

I can do most basic repairs, but messing with loaded strut assemblies is something I've never been brave enough to attempt.




2wd xl(stx) ranger so should be fairly easy, right?

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[LB'sTremor]

If you take them off and take them to the shop will they swap the springs for you? Surly/hopefully? there is a local non chain reapir shop that would do that for you.

LB

 

[Bob902]

If you take them off and take them to the shop will they swap the springs for you? Surly/hopefully? there is a local non chain reapir shop that would do that for you.

LB

Several places around here will do it. I would check with a small independent shop and see if they would do a spring swap for you.

 

[RedDakooter05]

If you take them off and take them to the shop will they swap the springs for you? Surly/hopefully? there is a local non chain reapir shop that would do that for you.

LB

Local shops were the first group I've called, No deal. So I moved up to the Smaller chain places, same deal.
I have found a couple places maybe, but *insert racism* they're all mostly Spanish speaking guys which is fine, but I don't want to deal with any communication issues with a problem like this.


And unfortunately, I'm the only one with a vehicle and drivers license so pretty difficult to just basically render my truck undrivable lol. And a hard no to co-workers to hitch a ride with.

 

[Frenchy]

I'm surprised you are having said issues. I have not had this issue before anywhere. That said I did swap the struts hats for my front struts when installing the Old Man EMU struts. Had a spring compressor at the shop to use when I did it.

 

[RedDakooter05]

I'm surprised you are having said issues. I have not had this issue before anywhere. That said I did swap the struts hats for my front struts when installing the Old Man EMU struts. Had a spring compressor at the shop to use when I did it.

Me too. I get the liability aspect but I'm getting pissed with this "We can't warranty" it claim. Like fine, the strut fails out the door.. I'll pay you to swap the oem back in and I'll handle the warranty part.


One shop said to call back if nobody else will do it, but sounds like a waste of time for me. I hate this region of Illinois so bad...

 

[Frenchy]

Sounds like you need to make a trip somewhere to have it done while you hang out with friends. That is what I would do

 

[RedDakooter05]

Sounds like you need to make a trip somewhere to have it done while you hang out with friends. That is what I would do

Don't have any buddies since moving down here.
Though I'm not opposed to walking to stores to kill time.


Bah Maybe I'll buy a spring compressor tool and give it a whirl.

 

[Langwilliams]

Are there any truck/off road centers in the area? When I was looking into it four wheel parts has a store about half an hour away an they were pricey an wanted you to buy the stuff from them they install.

 

[thorn726]

Don't have any buddies since moving down here.
Though I'm not opposed to walking to stores to kill time.


Bah Maybe I'll buy a spring compressor tool and give it a whirl.

you should be able to "rent" (buy and return easily) the spring compressor. been a long time since i have done it but i did it once and as i recall it was fairly simple. just get the compressor on there good and you tighten slowly so it is not too scary. What screwed us up was at the time not knowing how to bleed brakes after needing to move the lines out of the way (doh, that should have been the easy part)

 

[D Fresh]

I've done the whole thing before on McPherson strut front suspensions. Not too difficult and safeties can be put in place.

I'd never do my own garage door spring, I'll pay a pro for that. But struts I'd do again.

 

[OFC Ranger]

Its easy.

Buy a spring compressor. They are not death traps. Much like firearms, dont put your face at the business end of one and you will be fine.

 

[Joeiconic]

Me too. I get the liability aspect but I'm getting pissed with this "We can't warranty" it claim. Like fine, the strut fails out the door.. I'll pay you to swap the oem back in and I'll handle the warranty part.


One shop said to call back if nobody else will do it, but sounds like a waste of time for me. I hate this region of Illinois so bad...

I had a similar issue here in GA, but finally found a great shop that would do it. The excuse I got is that shops didn’t want to install or warranty customer supplied parts and I get that too. Assuming you can still return yours, maybe see if you can find a shop that will order the shocks for you and install them. I mean, shocks fail on cars and there have to be shops that will fix them. I think most shops just want to sell you the parts as well.

 

[Blmpkn]

Seems wild nobody wants to make money on a gravy job..

 

[Fx4ranger2019Larait]

I had the same issue was able to get my stock struts out and springs off, but could not get the new springs on. They were too big. I ran Bilstein 5100 with Eibach springs
The Eibach springs were too big to compress had to take them to a shop to be put on a press. It was $40 for the pair (so-CAL prices there’s literally 10 shops within 5 miles that can do it) over all the jobs not too hard just make sure you take out the axle nut when you pull out the coil over. Not sure if you wanna pull off the coil over yourself, but it will save you a lot of money.

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