Any tips for replacing the rear shocks on the sig truck below? Have never done this myself before.

Any special tools?

Can it be done sitting on the ground or should it have the weight off the wheels?

Anything under compression that will come flying apart at me?:p:

Thanks!

Search for tips on shock install. Theres info there.

Any tips for replacing the rear shocks on the sig truck below? Have never done this myself before.

Any special tools?

Can it be done sitting on the ground or should it have the weight off the wheels?

Anything under compression that will come flying apart at me?:p:

Thanks!

Nothing special, you can do it in about 10 minutes in the driveway. The shocks purpose is to keep the tire on the road while the suspension is working. The torsion bars and leafs suspend the truck not the shocks.

Easy job, Impact guns work great. If your installing gas shocks read the instructions before installing, and don't release the bands until they are bolted up...

I put the yellow/blue Bilsteins on mine (3500SRW takes a slightly different shock than the 2500HD, but very close). They're gas charged so they want to extend, but I could just push up on them and get the bolt started (attach the top first, then the bottom). I don't recall that there were any meaningful instructions!

One side was easier than the other, probably because my driveway has a slight side-side tilt, and possibly because the truck is slightly higher on one side than the other.

To make it easier you might want to jack it up a few inches (on the frame) as needed to make the alignment closer/easier. Generally, it's a very easy job, just 2 bolts/nuts on each side.

I had a harder time with the fronts, but was able to get those done, too.

easy to do

bolt is metric but i dont remember what size

Jack it up by the frame as jake said. 18mm and 21mm (IIRC) are all you need tool wise.

Thanks guys. Gonna give it a try tomorrow. Ran out of light and my fingers were frozen by the time I got the fuel filters changed today.:(

I have the 5100's to put on.

I put new shocks on in my driveway, only jacked the truck when I did the fronts. The rears weren't too bad. The stock ones shouldn't come flying out, mine didn't anyway. I removed the bottom bolts first, just in case they flew out, the top bolts would hold them in place. To put them in you can compress them by hand enough to get the bolts in. My exhaust also interfered with the top bolt on the driver's side, but I have duals. Good luck.

what are a decent brand of shocks to put on without blowing my bank account

Bilstein 5100s are the #1 choice on DieselPlace!

I put Bilsteins all around on my truck, the yellow and blue ones. They seem like a popular choice. And another note, with the shocks bolted up in the rear, the plastic straps were loose, I never cut them until the shocks were installed.

Obviously the bilsteins are a great shock. But an alternative would be the rmx monotubes from les schwab if you have one near you. I think they run like $250 installed, so if you install them yourself itd probably be around $200. My friend has them on his truck and he really likes them alot. His name is righteyeblind on the forum, you can look him up and tell him Jordan told you to talk to him about them.