04 1500 4x4 Blistein 4600 Shocks any good? Replacement ?

[Joe.G]

Hi, I am looking at replacing the Shocks on my 04 1500 Hemi Quad cab 4x4, are the Blistein 4600 series shocks front and rear any good? Is there a better shock to go with?

Any tips on replacing them anything to watch out for? Any special tools? Does it change the alignment?

Also what about the Front stabilizer bar is that something I should change? Or do you wait till it goes bad? How can you tell if it is bad?
If I do replace, which one should I use.
Thanks

 

[Gale Hawkins]

@ 111K miles we redid the stabilizer bar and end links and installed four KBY MonoMax shocks. Bilsteins shocks are a well known brand. I think all should have been done 30K sooner.

 

[Joe.G]

So I ordered the 4600 series Bilsteins, Any install tips? Torque specs? The front shocks how do i torque the top lock nut? the shaft appears to just spin, I see there appears to be a allen key in the middle of the shaft to hold it, but then how would I get the torque wrench on it? If I can't how do I know when it is tight enough? Thanks

P.S If I decide to put a leveling kit in it can I still use these shocks?

 

[schwarz]

So I ordered the 4600 series Bilsteins, Any install tips? Torque specs? The front shocks how do i torque the top lock nut? the shaft appears to just spin, I see there appears to be a allen key in the middle of the shaft to hold it, but then how would I get the torque wrench on it? If I can't how do I know when it is tight enough? Thanks

P.S If I decide to put a leveling kit in it can I still use these shocks?

Place the Allen key in the top of the bolt to hold it in place, then using a crescent wrench turn the nut until tight. Once it gets kind of snug you can use a deep socket, think it was 13mm, to tighten the but all the way down until it compresses the black rubber grommet. I think the torque specs are 100 lb/ft but I just tightened until I felt it wasn't moving.

 

[Joe.G]

SO once I get it snug I should be able to torque it with out it spinning?

I did order new bolts/Nuts from Dodge for the front and rears

 

[Joe.G]

Ok, I installed the Front and rear shocks today, I am glad I picked up new bolts and nuts front and back as I had to cut one off and another I messed up.

I must say the ride is so much better now I never would have guessed Id notice this much. The fronts were stock with about 100 K on them and the bushings were shot and I could compress them by hand very easy. The rears were monroe sentrac unsure the mileage and these felt fine.

The top nuts on the front have torque specs of 40 FT LB but I was unable to torque them because they spin. I called Bilstein and they recommend if you don't have a Torque wrench that would work is to do about 3 full turns on the nut, the Rubber bushings should not stick past the washer.Mine are about 1/16th smaller then the Metal washer, and that was with about six turns or 7 MM of bolt sticking above the nut.