Replacing 07 struts

I haven't started yet but the video shows marking them and loosening them. I just couldn't tell on the when to tighten those back, thanks.

 

oh got it, just from my experience as long as you pull the sway bar off on both sides you can slide the coilover out and in without untightening the lca bolts, that is if you are using stock shocks.

 

I also dont unbolt the lca from the spindle, I take the castle nut off the spindle connected to the uca, shock it to come apart, and hang the whole spindle and lca attached using a strap so I dont pull on brake lines.

 

I used the method in the video (actually used that exact video for reference), and i tightened the lca cam bolts back to where i marked them before i let the jack back down, easier to get to them before you put the tire back on.

Also, the guys in the video make it look super easy, which it is if all of your nuts/bolts etc... come off that easily. Mine did not, i broke off the top of both of the shock bolts, and had to cut off the nuts with a sawzall to get the old shocks out. The cam bolts through the lca's were seized up pretty well (which i have found now is somewhat common), so my lca's didn't just drop straight down like in the video, i had to get creative with a jack to get them to full droop. I also stripped the allen opening in the end of the sway bar links, but was still able to get the coil and shock back in without removing the links.

My point is, if everything goes smoothly like in the video, it is really easy and pretty quick. If not (and it never does for me), plan to spend several hours overcoming little obstacles. Definitely have a helper bar/cheater bar for leverage on your sockets.

 

Got it done. Took me 3 hours for the front end only. I took my time. I bought the struts and used the same coils. Borrowed a few tools from my father in law. Also he came by right as I was starting to jack up the lca. Everything went just as it showed in the video. I had no problems with any bolts. The top hats look good. I marked everything real good with the marker, also the coil so I knew exactly how it went in, also how much thread sticking out the top of the shock,The shocks were 168 for the pair and I was able to get the truck in today for a alignment 79.00. Everything was adjusted back to where it was. It rode very well to the shop. I could feel a big change, no more clunking and rattling. An extra hand jacking up the lca is a big help so you can guide the top of the strut through the top hat. The total for the front end was 247.00. I sure learned a lot and will have the confidence to work on other items as they come up. A big thank you to all out there. This forum helps people like me and of course saves big time bucks.

 

The yellow paint was there, awesome. I would have never noticed.

 

Glad u got it done!!!