Changing shocks on Ford E450 Chasis
Anyone change out their stock shocks? Is it do-able in driveway, with hand tools? After 26k miles and while driving home..I think I am gonna be in need of VERY soon!
Forum Discussion
You're welcome. I've read accounts of OPs being able to work the top nuts from under the hood but I sure couldn't see that on ours. We had an earlier E350 (the pre-1992 chassis) where the front shocks mounted the same at the top but differently at the bottom. Those must've been simpler days because I could get at the tops with a flex ratchet and deep socket.
I should mention two things:
1. The lower mount on our current chassis is easier to work if the wheel is off the ground and/or removed. At that point, the suspension drops to where the shock is fully extended. That way you don't have to compress the gas charge to get the shock over its mount. I found I could not push the new shock straight onto the mount. Had to start from the side and twist it into alignment then push it the rest of the way on.
2. I changed only the front shocks on both of the C's we've owned. Looking at the rears, it just seems awkward to reach the top mount, not particularly tricky. Ours will be, because it's tied up in the Exhaust, the Sway Bar, and the Track Bar mounting bracket.
I should mention two things:
1. The lower mount on our current chassis is easier to work if the wheel is off the ground and/or removed. At that point, the suspension drops to where the shock is fully extended. That way you don't have to compress the gas charge to get the shock over its mount. I found I could not push the new shock straight onto the mount. Had to start from the side and twist it into alignment then push it the rest of the way on.
2. I changed only the front shocks on both of the C's we've owned. Looking at the rears, it just seems awkward to reach the top mount, not particularly tricky. Ours will be, because it's tied up in the Exhaust, the Sway Bar, and the Track Bar mounting bracket.
