Changing Out Shocks

[redsled33]

I'm going to "attempt" to change out my front shocks this weekend. How big of a pain is this? 83 sierra classic.

[skills4lou]

Not really a pain, as long as you have an air wrench and some penetrating oil. Might help to have a prybar too. If you don't have the air wrench it'll just take a little longer and make you sweat more.

[crx378]

i need to change out all 4 of mine. looks like a straight foward job. when do you plan to do yours?

[Zembonez]

I'm going to "attempt" to change out my front shocks this weekend. How big of a pain is this? 83 sierra classic.

It's not too bad of a job. Spray the mounting bolts / nuts with penetrating oil the night before. It will probably save you a lot of trouble. New shocks should make a bigtime difference. Good luck!

[bigedpa]

look into gibbsbrand oil. greatest spray on penetrant i have ever used

www.gibbsbrand.com

[C & A s Dad]

If using a high presure gas shock such as KYB or Bilstien, you will find it pretty tough to compress the new shock to get it on the mounts. I mounted the top and then used a good size pry bar to compress the shock to get it up to the bottom mount. If you are using a std Monroe or Gabriel shock you will likely find you can compress them by hand.

 

If you have have the cash to do it, go with the KYB. I just removed 4 Gabriel gas shocks from my 71 Chev and replaced them with KYB Gas a Just and I cannot believe the difference.

[crx378]

finished mine today and took about an hour. i just used gabriels comfort ride shocks $22 each and they feel fine for what i need. the ones i took off there were a joke! when i press them down thats where they stayed. haha anyways i found that by securing bottom first then just wait for them to go outwards until they reached the top bolt and quickly pushed them on was the easiest for me. didnt even have to jack anything up, a lot easier than my foreign cars.

[Zembonez]

If you have have the cash to do it, go with the KYB. I just removed 4 Gabriel gas shocks from my 71 Chev and replaced them with KYB Gas a Just and I cannot believe the difference.

I know it isn't a Chevy but I changed my shocks out on my 2000 Explorer (company vehicle) at 80K and went with KYBs. The difference was absolutely incredible. It was like driving a different vehicle. It went from limp and crappy to crisp and sporty. I always thought the Ford suspension was just junk until I put them on. Money well spent in my book.