ctechbob
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
Not a pile of people talk about 2WD trucks. So here's a few notes from my Bilstein install toady.
- You only need to break the upper ball joint loose, no need to break the tie-rod end. (Pull the brake line and wheel speed sensor lines off first.
- Also remove the upper sway bar link bolt.
- Bilstein makes a big deal about lining everything up before you reinstall the new shock. If you have reasonable hand strength, you can spin the lower portion of the shock with your hands after securing the top mount.
- If you leave the tie-rod attached, there is just enough brake line to let the assembly hang, the brake line should not be banjo string tight
You can do the job with just hand tools, but a good impact will make things a decent bit easier. Especially working with the ball joint and the sway bar bolt.
Here's one that will bring out the pitchforks. To break the factory assembly apart. Lay the assembly on the ground, aim the bottom of the shock into a folded towel, step on the spring and zip the nut off with an impact gun. You won't die, and it is fun. You'll be surprised how far things DON'T fly. The shock/spring really isn't under killer-death tension when it is at full extension. FWIW I've done this on my Honda, Acura, Miata, and now the Ranger. It really isn't a big deal.
When there's no CV Axle in the way, this is a pretty easy job. All I used was the normal death stick spring compressors to get the assembly back together.
- You only need to break the upper ball joint loose, no need to break the tie-rod end. (Pull the brake line and wheel speed sensor lines off first.
- Also remove the upper sway bar link bolt.
- Bilstein makes a big deal about lining everything up before you reinstall the new shock. If you have reasonable hand strength, you can spin the lower portion of the shock with your hands after securing the top mount.
- If you leave the tie-rod attached, there is just enough brake line to let the assembly hang, the brake line should not be banjo string tight
You can do the job with just hand tools, but a good impact will make things a decent bit easier. Especially working with the ball joint and the sway bar bolt.
Here's one that will bring out the pitchforks. To break the factory assembly apart. Lay the assembly on the ground, aim the bottom of the shock into a folded towel, step on the spring and zip the nut off with an impact gun. You won't die, and it is fun. You'll be surprised how far things DON'T fly. The shock/spring really isn't under killer-death tension when it is at full extension. FWIW I've done this on my Honda, Acura, Miata, and now the Ranger. It really isn't a big deal.
When there's no CV Axle in the way, this is a pretty easy job. All I used was the normal death stick spring compressors to get the assembly back together.
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