Bilstein Install Tip

[KDog456]

Word of advice to anyone planning on installing Ride Height Adjustable Bilsteins in their truck...after you have removed the stock shock assembly, take it to a mechanic shop and have them switch out the old shocks for the new bilsteins. Rather than renting clamp on spring compressors and attempting to do it on your own. Mechanic shops have a full-blown spring compressor tower that does a much better job and is much safer because lets be honest compressing springs is rather dangerous. Also removing the top nut on the old shocks is a pain in the a$$!! I took mine to Sears Auto Center and it took them 30 minutes and cost me $50. I promise you this will save you valuable time and will make your install be much more enjoyable!

 

[lonewolf2873]

There is also a setup to clock the upper mount a certain amount of degrees. Right hand and left hand shocks are clocked differently. I don't have the details yet but will be acquiring those before I mount my shocks.

 

[DannyMK2]

compressing and removing springs is a piece of cake if you know what you are doing.

 

[myoung84]

I had no problems with mine using the spring compressor I rented.

 

[KDog456]

Unfortunately for me the spring compressor I rented was of poor quality and after messing with one of the shocks for an hour with little progress I sucked up my pride and brought them to a mechanic. For me it was worth the $50 without having to deal with the issue. I got to watch the mechanic the whole time so it was even a lesson for me and now am confident I could easily do it in the future with quality tools. Unless someone has experience with this type of thing I would suggest dropping the 50 bucks and bring them to a mechanic. Just my 2 cents

 

[DannyMK2]

if your attempting to compress and remove springs without an impact gun, its going to be difficult and miserable. i do agree about rental springs though. i rented a pair once and they sucked. bulky and hard to keep in place. i bought myself a pair of compressors a few years back. fit much better on the springs and have rubber on them so no slipping.

to be honest though, if you are going to pay somebody to install the springs and do an alignment, you might as well pay them to do the whole job. most good shops would cut you a break for giving them the whole job rather then pieces.

 

[JCARTER7]

Word of advice to anyone planning on installing Ride Height Adjustable Bilsteins in their truck...after you have removed the stock shock assembly, take it to a mechanic shop and have them switch out the old shocks for the new bilsteins. Rather than renting clamp on spring compressors and attempting to do it on your own. Mechanic shops have a full-blown spring compressor tower that does a much better job and is much safer because lets be honest compressing springs is rather dangerous. Also removing the top nut on the old shocks is a pain in the a$$!! I took mine to Sears Auto Center and it took them 30 minutes and cost me $50. I promise you this will save you valuable time and will make your install be much more enjoyable!

You can drive your truck without shocks...?

 

[Bluesmoke91]

You can drive your truck without shocks...?

I'm sure he got a ride or another car lol

 

[Jarhead57]

i

to be honest though, if you are going to pay somebody to install the springs and do an alignment, you might as well pay them to do the whole job. most good shops would cut you a break for giving them the whole job rather then pieces.

As I did....$80.00 total for install, and alignment check....while I sat and drank coffee and watched the news