Replacing Rear shocks

builderx16 · 03-07-2008, 03:47 PM

This is a real easy one however if you have never done the swap yourself save yourself money and get under there and do it. Its Easy...
I found the hardest part of doing the swap is getting the new shock brackets through the grommet on the new shock. It takes some determination despite it looking like your going to force a square peg through a round hole. And make sure youre not installing your shocks upside down!!!

First jack up the truck and place jack stands under the frame just in-front of the rear Leaf shackle, like Charlie demonstrates in his Shackle swap picture.
Then remove the lower bolt holding the shock and let it hang.

Second, loosen the upper bolts holding the upper rod to the frame. The right side is a breeze but the driver side clearance issue will slow you down a bit.

Next, if you want to save and re-use the bolts from the original hangers pull our your BFH and knock them back out. If yours are like mine, they will give you a run for your money. I ended up trashing mine and I would reccomend replacing them with either a grade 5 or grade 8 bolt. Nothing less.

Now to re-install its as easy. Have a buddy help you hold up the new shock so you can work with both hands and tighten up the top bracket to the frame again with your old, or new bolts. Once you have secured the top, its real easy to align the lower bracket and re-install the bolt. Thats it! Finished install of ProComp ES3000's.

Notice, after my install you can see that my leaf springs are pretty worn out and need replacing, the good indicator is that the boot on my new shocks are pretty compressed. If you run into this problem, do as I am, beef up those springs.

Hope this helps.
This is my 99' !!!!!!

mark v · 03-07-2008, 04:40 PM

WHERE IS THE OTHER IMAGES? I want to see these pictures cause I am doing this job in the summer.

builderx16 · 03-07-2008, 04:44 PM

Are you not seeing the pictures that are on the thread? I might have a few more of the install. Ill see if I cant post a few more that might be of some help.

guelph_ford · 03-11-2008, 11:36 AM

I am thinking about doing that job this summer as well. I think my leaf springs are worn like yours, what would you suggest the easiest thing is to help these out? Shackles?

mark v · 03-11-2008, 11:44 AM

The pictures are now visible, last time they were not all there.

Thank you for the post!

builderx16 · 03-11-2008, 02:08 PM

Well what I am doing is installing the Warrior 153 shackles that Charlie reccomended to try to get the rear end up a little bit. The extended shackles will not help with your leaf springs being tired or increase your load capacity. I just went to the store and am going to get the supersprings brand helper to give me the needed boost in load and towing capacities. I think with those two applications and the new shocks the rear should be good as new. The two systems, shackles and supersprings will run a total of about $350 and I was quoted $500 to have a shop make new springs and do all the install. I figure Ill do the work and save myself some money.

guelph_ford · 03-12-2008, 09:13 AM

So installing those Warrior Shackles in the rear should at least bring up the rear end then? My X is basically stock everything now, I just want to increas the ride hight by a couple of inches. Probably do a TT in the front end.