DIY Shock Absorber Replacement

I'm really taken back by the number of people who indicate that there is a perceived need for an impact wrench to replace the shock absorbers. I replaced mine on a Freightliner chassis with just a simple 1/2" socket set. Ratchet and 14" breaker bar. Not a big job at all.

hershey wrote:
I'm really taken back by the number of people who indicate that there is a perceived need for an impact wrench to replace the shock absorbers. I replaced mine on a Freightliner chassis with just a simple 1/2" socket set. Ratchet and 14" breaker bar. Not a big job at all.

Not all jobs are the same, my RV spent 19 years in New York State the heart of the rust-belt. I had to remove 6 fairly large hardened steel bolts to take the propane tank off for sandblasting and repainting. A simple straightforward job that should have taken me less than a half hour with non-power tools took about one and a half knuckle scrapping banging cursing hours to accomplish simply because of rust (and yes, I slathered all the nuts the day before with penetrating oil). I only wish I could have gotten to the bolts with my air impact wrench. I don't imagine you deal much with rust where you live, but it can make a simple job miserable really fast.
Steve

I changed the shocks on my Class C with no problems.

hershey wrote:
I'm really taken back by the number of people who indicate that there is a perceived need for an impact wrench to replace the shock absorbers. I replaced mine on a Freightliner chassis with just a simple 1/2" socket set. Ratchet and 14" breaker bar. Not a big job at all.

Sure You can do that ,but a relatively inexpensive Impact Tool makes the job easier and faster!

hershey wrote:
I'm really taken back by the number of people who indicate that there is a perceived need for an impact wrench to replace the shock absorbers. I replaced mine on a Freightliner chassis with just a simple 1/2" socket set. Ratchet and 14" breaker bar. Not a big job at all.

It probably depends on how they were tightened. I tried everything including a breaker bar, no luck. Harbor Freight air impact wrench worked fine.

robatthelake wrote:

hershey wrote:
I'm really taken back by the number of people who indicate that there is a perceived need for an impact wrench to replace the shock absorbers. I replaced mine on a Freightliner chassis with just a simple 1/2" socket set. Ratchet and 14" breaker bar. Not a big job at all.

Sure You can do that ,but a relatively inexpensive Impact Tool makes the job easier and faster!

Most weekend mechanics don't have the huge Craftsman Rollaround toolbox. Most fulltimers don't either. An impact wrench is an obvious advantage to have but I just don't see the need to buy one for such a simple task as removing 4 or 8 bolts or nuts on a single project. If its the upcoming task that puts one over the edge in getting an impact wrench then its an obvious good purchase. You'll use it for other projects too. YMMV....just an ole John Deere mechanic thinking out loud.

LOG wrote:
I have a 2007 Itasca Sunova 26p motorhome with the Workhorse chassis. Do members feel that replacing the shock absorbers is a Do It Yourself project. Thanks.

I changed the shocks on the front of my coach with no problem. Access to the rear shocks without removing the wheels looked like a challenge, so I took the mh in and had a shop replace them while they had the back wheels off for another job.

Larry

Do yourself a favor and order some Aerokroil online from Kano Labs.
Spray the bolts a few times, like every day, or other day...
Aero is the best penetrant I've ever come across...goes into spaces as small as 2 microns.

After a few days, the bolts will fall off.

Well...almost fall off ;)

Jim