Bought a new set of bilstiens, how do I go about doing the change and what tools will I need?:iamwithst

For the fronts you remove the nut that holds the top of the shock on and the bolt/nut that holds the bottom on. Pull it out, place the new one in screw down the top first with the mounting hardware. Then cut the strap and as the shock extends put the lower mount screw in when it get's to the mount.

For the rear, unbolt the top and bottom nut/bolt and pull the bolts out. Shock ought to fall out onto your head. Grab a beer. Get your new shock, bolt the top back in, cut the strap off, as the bottom eye is passing the mount put the bolt in. Screw the nut on.

Torque everything and you're done.

Sorry I forget what size wrenches I used. But if you have a set of ratchets and box wrenches you should be fine.

very easy, I did mine last week, took less than 1/2 hour total on 4wd. The rears come off without jacking up the truck, just unbolt top and bottom, drop them out, put in new ones and tighten down. IIRC they are 17 or 19mm nuts.

Fronts:
Jack up front end
remove one wheel
place jack stand under control arm,
lower jack until the control arm is just supported by the jackstand
unbolt the top of the shock. While it is under tension, the top nuts loosens (13mm?). as you near the end you may need a cresent wrench to hold the top of the shaft from rotating while removing the nut. IIRC ALL the nuts, front and rear are self locking so you can't just spin them off w/o a wrench)
once the top nut is off, remove bottom nut and bolt
drop out the shock
reverse procedure to install
reinstall wheel
repeat for other side.
remember to torque lug nuts (IIRC 140 lb/ft)

Total time less than 1/2 hour with a creeper, good hydraulic jack, and rattle gun.
maybe 1 hour with hand tools.

I agree that it'd probably be a little easier without the front wheels on but I did manage to get the fronts replaced without moving my 285's out of the way. To each their own though.

Thanks for your hellp!!

Then cut the strap and as the shock extends put the lower mount screw in when it get's to the mount.

What strap? I didn't have any straps on my bilsteins from kennedy.
:eek:

I didn't have straps on my fronts either, but with a bit of grunting and swearing got them compressed enough to go on. I didn't jack it up, I just cut the wheel in on each side I was working to provide the working clearance I needed. In retrospect, jacking the front end might have made alignment easier, assuming a center lift that let the lower A arms hang down. I ended up using a #3 phillips screwdriver as an aligning tool.

On the rears, I see no need to use a jack to lift the truck, but a floor jack raised up to just touch the bottom of the lower shock bracket will limit the travel of the rear shocks when the straps are cut and make it easier to get the bolt hole aligned. The #3 phillips was handy here as well.

Ride, handling and control are much better with the Bilsteins as compared to the factory shocks. Both towing and unloaded.

I swear all four of the shocks were compressed and strapped. Maybe I'm smoking something??

I swear all four of the shocks were compressed and strapped. Maybe I'm smoking something??



All 4 of mine were strapped, ( from Kennedy).

All four of mine were strapped from Kennedy.

I spent about 45 minutes putting all four shocks on my truck. I did not take my H2 tires off to do it.

Mine came from Kennedy too, maybe that's just how he orders them.