OE strut assembly install

I just got a front and rear suspension from Monroe delivered (FL & FR coilovers; RL & RR shocks). I’ve just looked through the diy and how to sticky and all the suspension write ups are for lifts. I am just replacing with new parts and not lifting the truck. Does anyone know of a good write up for removal and install of said suspension that doesn’t involve lifting? I’m looking through YouTube as well. Any help is appreciated, thank you!

 

I did mine, the KYB struts and rear shocks, I think I reused the old coils, can't remember since I did my wifes honda,,, but it was fairly easy, I think if I remember correctly all I did was loosen the lower control arms at the bushings and keep the floor jack under the a arm. Relax it then pull the assembly, installed the strut inside the coil spring and use the jack to compress the assembly then bolt the strut upper bolts then lower bolts.

Oh, I forgot, I also marked the alignment bushings with a marker so I could re install to where the alignment would be close, then got it all aligned afterwards. Seems like I seen a video on this somewhere on utube similar to this,,,, this is all from a 71 yr. old memory so it's close, kinda like hand grenades. Also you'll have to undo the lower ball joint or upper ball joint,, I can't really remember which one I did.

 

If you're just replacing stock shock/coil with another stock shock/coil assembly, it should just bolt right in without needing to loose the LCAs. Just undo the 3 bolts up top that hold the top of the assembly in place, and the big bolt on the bottom and the old one will come out. Then bolt the new one in the same way.

Usually you only need to mess with the LCAs if the assembly your installing is longer than the OEM one

 

Yep, what he said ^^^^^^, that's why I said I reused my old coils, completed assemblies will be easier for sure, my bad.

 

Its not a bad idea to loosen the LCAs, I have heard that some people still need to do that and it will ensure that you can get the new assembly in just in case it doesn't want to fit as easily. Did you have to get an alignment though after loosening those bolts? That would be my only concern with loosening those

 

The procedure for replacing coilovers and rear shocks is the same, lifted or stock height.

 

Nice write up. I’ll be doing this same task week after next.

 

I had mine aligned, it could have been ok,, maybe,, but I'd rather not ruin my tires so I had an alignment plus it'd been a while since the last one.

 

Thank you everyone. When I installed my new cv axles I had to remove the bottom bolt of the strut to get it off of the LCA; the cv didn’t have enough to come out unless I removed either the strut or the sway bar extensions. I didn’t have the means to remove the sway bar extensions so I removed the strut from its lower mount to make room. I had to push down on the LCA to get the lower mount to line up. I have read several places now to loosen the three nuts on the upper mount before jacking up and removing the wheel. This is important I assume?