A tip for people replacing their shocks for the first time.

I thought I would post this tip, because after looking at videos + searching TW, no one mentioned this and thought it might save someone time and aggravation.

I planned on replacing both my rear shocks today. The first one I started, the top nut didn't want to come off, even with putting PB Blaster on it, so I decided to see if the other side would come off easier. Before I took this nut off I decided to give it a good wire brushing and after that it was removed with ease. I did the same with the lower bolt and even used a fine pick from Harbor Freight to clean the threads, which helped it come off with ease too.

I would recommend cleaning the threads with a wire brush and fine pick, if you like me have a Tacoma with 10 year old shocks. I might have to use the sawzall on the other side, the nut was that difficult to remove. I know I would have saved myself time if I had cleaned the 10 year old threads well on this side before I started removing it, which made the removal so much easier.

 

Good tip! I have fluid film on mine from day one ..........but we will see when the time comes I guess.

 

Yeah, The videos make the rear shocks look simple, but when you have salt/brine slush things don't want to be removed without a fight. I had to use my hydraulic jack to get the lower shock position right. I used the ratchet wrench and can't imagine replacing shocks without one.

 

Thanks soooo much about to replace with 5100's in a couple of weeks! Added new wire brush and pick to my shopping list!!

 

I would spray ASAP, let it soak in some now.

 

Will do!!

 

Or you can just take the bottom off and move the shock back and forth til the top stud breaks off...

 

Two more tips that saved me time and aggravation are:

#1.) I used a light coating of vaseline on the lower shock rubber gasket and made maneuvering it to inline up the hole for the bolt easier.

#2.) This is a must have for DIY and it's a great price too. Here:

 

Were you using a 5mm open end wrench to hold the top and keep it from spinning?

 

I used my smallest sized crescent wrench on the old shock, as it didn't have a place to insert an Allen wrench and it was fine, I tried using a small vise grip, but I was more confident with the crescent wrench holding it.

This was strange when I tighten the upper nut, on the new Bilstein 5100's. On one of the 5100's, I needed a 5MM allen wrench and when I went to tighten the other shocks top nut, using the 5MM it didn't fit. I ended up using a 3/16 SAE to hold the shaft as I tighten it.

 

Huh, that is really weird. I get what you're saying though about taking them off. Just last week we installed new suspension on my buddy's 2016. Brand spanking new! Couldn't get the stock shock to stop spinning no matter what, so we ended up taking a grinder to the shaft so we had a place to grip, then it finally came off. Such a waste.

 

There should of been a 1/4" section above the shocks top threads, made to hold the shaft while you crank on it with a 14MM ratchet wrench. Cleaning the treads made my life so much easier, especially as it came to the final few threads.

I stated in my past post, I may have to use a sawzall on the shock I didn't have the threads cleaned, but was lucky and was able to tighten it back down, then cleaned the threads well. After I cleaned the threads, the first shock that I couldn't get off, came off just as easy as the second shock, so I will never make that mistaken again.

I would like to do my front shocks, but still undecided because I'm not totally comfortable doing it by myself.

 

I know we talked about this in another thread, but with a second set of hands you would be fine!

 

Yeah, I know someone would have to be there to guide the shock through the top mount. It's getting cold around here, with days getting shorter so I may just pay someone to install the fronts, but feel it's doable for most DIYers.

By the way thanks for the help and advice.

 

Yeah, that's true. It get's to a certain point where you ask yourself "Is it really worth the pain and hassle to save a few hundred bucks if I can afford it?" Working in the cold is one thing I hate!

 

They may have over torqued yours?? The torque specification for the top shock nut is 15 ft/lbs and that seems kind of low to me. I couldn't get a torque wrench to fit in that confined space, so I just hand tightened it. I used a torque wrench on the bottom bolt, without any loctite.

After the 5100's, my truck hold the road really well and feels like a new 10 year old Tacoma.

 

No, we were able to get the nut up to where it wasn't even holding the shock down, but it wouldn't come all the way up because we couldn't keep the rod from spinning at that point. Your tip probably would've come in handy actually!

 

Going to do this soon, can't wait to sic my new 1/2 inch cordless impact on it.
Thx for the info.

 

That's what happened to the first shock, before wire brushing it. I could remove it till there were only a few more threads left and the crescent wrench had nothing to hold on to, but I couldn't get the nut to budge those last few threads by hand. After cleaning those last few threads, the nut came off like butter....live and learn.

 

Some good advice in this thread.

Yes. 1/2" electric impact is amazing. Blast stuff off like it wasn't even there!