- Joined
- Jun 29, 2010
- Posts
- 1,507
- Reaction score
- 30
- Location
- Fredericktown, MO
- Ram Year
- 2006
- Engine
- 5.7L
out of all the work ive ever done on any vehicle, this was the second most painstaking thing that ive tackled to date.
with that said this could have been a simple easy install. i have all the tools and air tools i need. but I DONT HAVE AN AIR COMPRESSOR. so everything went a little slower that it could have.
so here is a round about idea of what all is involved with replacing shocks on a 06 1500 4x4
start with these. (set the rear shocks off the the side because more than likely you will not have time to do this the same day)
remove tire
remove brake caliper and secure out of the way ( i set it on the lower a-arm)
disconnect the sway bar end link from lower a-arm
remove top 3 spring assembly stud nuts. (15mm)
disconnect the upper balljoint from spindle
remove lower shock bolt ( i didnt have a wrench to fit so i used a cresent and a 1-1/2" wrench as a cheater bar. worked great. this thing is a booger!)
remove the hub retaining nut. ( if you dont the cv axles will pull apart inside of the boot and are a motherf*cker to get back together!!)
1-1/2" socket and ratchet works well theses arent super tight.
now you can pull the spindle out toward you giving you room to pull out the strut and shock assembly
at this point the actual work begins!
compress your spring AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!!. i rented a strut spring compressor for $55 deposit at autozone. this is very fukken tough job without air tools.(which i didnt not have an air source!) make sure you tighten them evenly back and forth.
then you can just simply unbolt the top shock nut........ takes a 18mm.
but more than likely it will be corroded and its a locking nut to boot so.. ingenuity comes in handy here. there is a special tool for this but the 5/16" stud that you hold while removing the shock stud nut broke off both of mine so we- ( thankfully my father brought me his grinder and beer!! yay dad!)
grinded off the top shock bolts. THIS WAS MURDER!! we finally got them off.
(at this point i gave up on pictures, sorry but it was getting to the point where i had really wished i went with the rancho quick lifts loaded, the complete replacement struts.)
once the top shock nut is off you can slide the coil spring off the shock.
then the lower spring perch needs to be pounded off the old shock. be careful but this will take a good amount of beating.
that spring perch then installs on the 5100's, replace spring, and oem spring cap with the 3 bolts. then use a 18mm wrench and T-40 socket and tighten the top spring nut to 35 ft/lbs
now your ready to reinstall...
installation is reverse of removal .
** tighten the lower shock nut with the weight of the vehicle on it!
now you can start on the other side!!
***tips****
i recommend a set of good padded mechanics gloves or equivalent
allow ample time and double check all of your work!!!!!!!!!!!!
( i had the second side all put back together in the truck and realized i forgot to put the bump stop in soo... ya took it back apart just for the bump stop)
now that you are completly worn out and sore and cant hardly walk its time to take an after pic of your new leveled truck!
didnt take a before pic
but i gained right at 2+ inches in the front. my truck was raked very bad before
with that said this could have been a simple easy install. i have all the tools and air tools i need. but I DONT HAVE AN AIR COMPRESSOR. so everything went a little slower that it could have.
so here is a round about idea of what all is involved with replacing shocks on a 06 1500 4x4
start with these. (set the rear shocks off the the side because more than likely you will not have time to do this the same day)
remove tire
remove brake caliper and secure out of the way ( i set it on the lower a-arm)
disconnect the sway bar end link from lower a-arm
remove top 3 spring assembly stud nuts. (15mm)
disconnect the upper balljoint from spindle
remove lower shock bolt ( i didnt have a wrench to fit so i used a cresent and a 1-1/2" wrench as a cheater bar. worked great. this thing is a booger!)
remove the hub retaining nut. ( if you dont the cv axles will pull apart inside of the boot and are a motherf*cker to get back together!!)
1-1/2" socket and ratchet works well theses arent super tight.
now you can pull the spindle out toward you giving you room to pull out the strut and shock assembly
at this point the actual work begins!
compress your spring AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!!. i rented a strut spring compressor for $55 deposit at autozone. this is very fukken tough job without air tools.(which i didnt not have an air source!) make sure you tighten them evenly back and forth.
then you can just simply unbolt the top shock nut........ takes a 18mm.
but more than likely it will be corroded and its a locking nut to boot so.. ingenuity comes in handy here. there is a special tool for this but the 5/16" stud that you hold while removing the shock stud nut broke off both of mine so we- ( thankfully my father brought me his grinder and beer!! yay dad!)
grinded off the top shock bolts. THIS WAS MURDER!! we finally got them off.
(at this point i gave up on pictures, sorry but it was getting to the point where i had really wished i went with the rancho quick lifts loaded, the complete replacement struts.)
once the top shock nut is off you can slide the coil spring off the shock.
then the lower spring perch needs to be pounded off the old shock. be careful but this will take a good amount of beating.
that spring perch then installs on the 5100's, replace spring, and oem spring cap with the 3 bolts. then use a 18mm wrench and T-40 socket and tighten the top spring nut to 35 ft/lbs
now your ready to reinstall...
installation is reverse of removal .
** tighten the lower shock nut with the weight of the vehicle on it!
now you can start on the other side!!
***tips****
i recommend a set of good padded mechanics gloves or equivalent
allow ample time and double check all of your work!!!!!!!!!!!!
( i had the second side all put back together in the truck and realized i forgot to put the bump stop in soo... ya took it back apart just for the bump stop)
now that you are completly worn out and sore and cant hardly walk its time to take an after pic of your new leveled truck!
didnt take a before pic
but i gained right at 2+ inches in the front. my truck was raked very bad before
