Electric Chicken
Well-Known Member
Finally got all the rear shocks done. The steer axle aren't really a priority or emergency. I don't have any weird tire wear up there and it doesn't do anything strange up front either when going down the road. The steer tires are actually still wearing perfect. I think they were original to the truck unlike the drives. The steer axle weight also doesn't change much whether bobtail or fully loaded so that probably helps a lot with the wear.
I figured out that removing the air bags is worth it despite the extra steps. Once they're out of the way not only are they not literally in the line of fire getting heated up, but it gives complete access to cut out the shocks at the eyelet, and get that out of the way, then cut through the bolt and sleeve. All with the angle grinder. Don't really even need the torch.
Also I needed to replace the front air bags anyway having already done the rears and that gave me an easy reason. IOW why put back an old airbag when you have a new one. I only did the one air bag since I wasn't doing the other shock but I'll probably be overcome with OCD and do that one as well before I go back into service.
Also it was a good time to replace the orings in the tee fitting on the airbag. Leaking or not, do it while you're swapping it from the old bag to the new one. I did the same on the rear bags. I keep bulks of o-rings for all the sizes ever since learning that the brass fittings don't have to be thrown away unless they're corroded and broken.
Took it for a spin after all that and if you're particular like me there's a noticable difference. Especially when you can bobtail the exact same way you have done every day for months with one truck and years overall. It's an easy A to B comparison.
The set that has chunks missing and extra wear; that shock was completely dead. The others were not too bad but still not as good as new.
I'm sore. I'm way too sedentary in general. I'm going to be feeling this for a while. But it's satisfying to get it done yourself when shop rates are $200+ an bour.
I figured out that removing the air bags is worth it despite the extra steps. Once they're out of the way not only are they not literally in the line of fire getting heated up, but it gives complete access to cut out the shocks at the eyelet, and get that out of the way, then cut through the bolt and sleeve. All with the angle grinder. Don't really even need the torch.
Also I needed to replace the front air bags anyway having already done the rears and that gave me an easy reason. IOW why put back an old airbag when you have a new one. I only did the one air bag since I wasn't doing the other shock but I'll probably be overcome with OCD and do that one as well before I go back into service.
Also it was a good time to replace the orings in the tee fitting on the airbag. Leaking or not, do it while you're swapping it from the old bag to the new one. I did the same on the rear bags. I keep bulks of o-rings for all the sizes ever since learning that the brass fittings don't have to be thrown away unless they're corroded and broken.
Took it for a spin after all that and if you're particular like me there's a noticable difference. Especially when you can bobtail the exact same way you have done every day for months with one truck and years overall. It's an easy A to B comparison.
The set that has chunks missing and extra wear; that shock was completely dead. The others were not too bad but still not as good as new.
I'm sore. I'm way too sedentary in general. I'm going to be feeling this for a while. But it's satisfying to get it done yourself when shop rates are $200+ an bour.
