Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 12-14-2018, 01:08 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
rltilley's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 530
General Shock Removal Question

So I need to replace the bushings on my Rancho shocks and was planning on hitting that job over the weekend. My plan is to jack up the front and via the frame which should let the suspension hang.

I assume the shocks will be under minimal stress and they'll come out easily? I've never done this job and don't want to get nailed by a shock under tension. I assume that dialing the adjustment knob to the softest setting will help?

__________________
2013 E-350 6.8L V10 4x4 RB50, penthouse top, Aluminess bumpers
rltilley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2018, 02:54 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
MadScience's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Peninsula
Posts: 809
You can compress the shock by hand, if it's even a gas charged shock at all. Sometimes you have to lean on them a little, but they'll move.

No need to jack anything up. In fact on a number of vehicles the shock retains the spring unless there's weight on the suspension. I don't know what your 4x4 conversion looks like, but generally, don't jack up a coil spring conversion and pull the shock.
__________________

'99 EB ex ENG KSWB news van, low rent 4x4 conversion (mostly fixed by now), home built interior.
MadScience is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2018, 03:04 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
rltilley's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 530
Mine is the standard modern SMB conversion so it has leaf springs along with the shocks. I'll give it a shot with no jack's and see how it goes. I'll hit the bolts with some penetrating oil tonight so it can soak in.
__________________
2013 E-350 6.8L V10 4x4 RB50, penthouse top, Aluminess bumpers
rltilley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2018, 08:24 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
86Scotty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: TN
Posts: 10,222
Enjoy that! It's a bitch of a job. Getting to the tops of the shocks sucks and worse if they're in any way rusty. I just cut them out usually but am always replacing them. The rears are not much better. Penetrating oil a day before is a necessity.

86Scotty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2018, 01:29 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Santa Maria, CA
Posts: 586
I'm tellin' ya, a flexible headed gear wrench made the top mounts MUCH easier... still a pain in the butt, but much more tolerable than any other method I've used. Depending on your particular shock, you can hold a wrench stationary on the top nut, and rotate the shock body with a strap wrench. That'll only work on shocks that have the body at the top/stem end, and only on non-reservoir shocks.
TheLetterJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2018, 02:03 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
rltilley's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 530
Mine actually has pretty easy access to the fronts. The upper rear shock mounts are somewhat hidden on mine. Here's the fronts on mine. Having the tire off will make things much easier.Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_20181215_1249136.jpg
Views:	8
Size:	95.1 KB
ID:	24555Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_20181215_1249065.jpeg
Views:	8
Size:	88.3 KB
ID:	24556
__________________
2013 E-350 6.8L V10 4x4 RB50, penthouse top, Aluminess bumpers
rltilley is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Sportsmobile Registry

Yeti

ACTNPKRYETI

PhoTo

Otter
Add your Sportsmobile
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:19 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.