Shock Install Questions

[VdellaV]

18 minutes ago, AJMBLAZER said:

Well, if you want to do it the hard way that’s your option. Just not the only or best option for anyone with decent skills and good tools. 

Well, you have to disassemble everything just to access the shock, and then you need to relocate the stock bottom spring base to the bilstein and so... pretty much there is no way not undoing everything

 

[DenisTheMenace]

What all needs removed or unbolted to remove the whole assembly out, if any of you guys remember off the top of your head!

 

PS Thank you all for commenting, love this forum but hate my 8Speed! HAHA!

[VdellaV]

7 minutes ago, DenisTheMenace said:

What all needs removed or unbolted to remove the whole assembly out, if any of you guys remember off the top of your head!

 

Only the top 3 nuts and the bottom 2 bolts

 

Pretty easy Actually

[DenisTheMenace]

1 minute ago, VdellaV said:

Only the top 3 nuts and the bottom 2 bolts

 

Pretty easy Actually

What about control arms, ball joints or anything else that needs un done? 

[VdellaV]

Just now, DenisTheMenace said:

What about control arms, ball joints or anything else that needs un done? 

No, once removing the bolts and nuts, you can pull out the Shock/Spring assembly between the control arms

[DenisTheMenace]

Just now, VdellaV said:

No, once removing the bolts and nuts, you can pull out the Shock/Spring assembly between the control arms

Well that sounds easy enough! Guess I will get it on the lift and get to wrenching! 

[VdellaV]

Just now, DenisTheMenace said:

Well that sounds easy enough! Guess I will get it on the lift and get to wrenching! 

Its easy, the tricky part is, as everyone says, undoing the assembly and compressing the spring

 

Or take it to a shop with a Spring compressor to be on the safe side

[DenisTheMenace]

1 minute ago, VdellaV said:

Its easy, the tricky part is, as everyone says, undoing the assembly and compressing the spring

 

Or take it to a shop with a Spring compressor to be on the safe side

I think our local auto parts store has a MacPherson compressor tool that they rent out, I think that should be fine for the job.

[Baldhills]

I just did mine a few months ago.  

I went to every parts store in town to rent a spring compressor but couldn’t find one to work safely with the large diameter springs.

the problem is that the safety keeper that is suppose to slide over the back of the spring didn’t fit over the large spring.

No way was I going to compress the spring without the safety keeper holding the compressor in place!

I ended up taking the removed struts to Walt’s tires and the finished the job for $60 with the Bilsteins installed. 

This was money well spent.

I had done this job in the past but the springs were not as big as the Sierra’s.

[AJMBLAZER]

1 hour ago, VdellaV said:

Well, you have to disassemble everything just to access the shock, and then you need to relocate the stock bottom spring base to the bilstein and so... pretty much there is no way not undoing everything

 

I think we’re miscommunicating. That’s exactly how I did mine.

[VdellaV]

2 minutes ago, AJMBLAZER said:

I think we’re miscommunicating. That’s exactly how I did mine.

Oh!

 

[Sierra Dan]

26 minutes ago, DenisTheMenace said:

I think our local auto parts store has a MacPherson compressor tool that they rent out, I think that should be fine for the job.

DenisTheMenace…..

Most of us here are saying " Do NOT use the cheap rento compressors from the auto parts store"

The pic I posted is of that style compressor and you can see how much they Bend. They are made for cars and smaller springs.

The Coils on our K2s are Massive.  Attempt this at your own risk. Yes it is Possible but NOT Recommended.

 

 

[AJMBLAZER]

There are coil compressors out there that can do big coil springs. Remember GM, Ford, and Dodge have been putting coil springs under the front of 1/2, 3/4, and 1 ton trucks and vans since at least the 60’s.

 

However a lot of the clamp style are small little pieces meant for doing car suspensions. Just have to find the correct ones.

[VdellaV]

1 hour ago, AJMBLAZER said:

Take the strut assembly off, compress the spring, undo the top nut, take the mount and coil off, put coil and mount on Bilstein, tighten top nut, reinstall assembly on truck, take clamps off, tighten mounting bolts and lower bolt. 

This is what i meant by taking everything apart  

[DenisTheMenace]

What tool is recommended for the job? What type of shop would have this and can do it for me?