Front shock replacement tips?

[Raist11]

I've done the search but can't find anything concrete to my problem. I hate to have a second open thread but while I'm going my brakes I figured I'd replace the front shocks.

It's a 1990 Triple E Ford F53 chassis. It is going to be a serious pain in the but to get the top bolts loose. My problem is the new shocks are strapped at about 18" long. The distance between the top mount and bottom is about 21". I can't see myself being able to compress the leaf springs another 3-4" to be able to install these shocks with the strap on them.

My thought is to cut the strap, let them extend. Then mount the top hole and then use a 2x4 to pry the shock up into the bottom mount. I've gone by the part numbers listed on RockAuto and they were right on the calipers so I figure they must be the right shocks.

I've done automotive shocks before on my Jeep, that's easy. This, is an entirely different animal. Thanks in advance for any tips, hints, suggestions and even the polite point and laugh is okay.

[Raist11]

Thanks for the responses. I think I'll put this off till a little later. I got the calipers all done and the brake line replaced so it's safely rolling down the road now (admittedly a little bouncy). I think a break from crawling around underneath the Behemoth will be good. I have to get my daughter's room done before she's back from camp so once I'm done that I'll get all over the shocks. I'll update when it's complete.

[bigbaddad]

I replaced mine with Koni FSD shocks. Could not be easier...they move in either direction easily by hand. It's their design.

[rkentzel]

Just installed Monroe shocks myself Just cut the strap and stab the bolt. Was not hard to do shock extends slow enough to stab the bolt.
Really improved the ride

[sikorge]

I put gas shocks on my 4x4 truck and had no trouble lining up the holes after cutting the strap. The shock expands slow enough to do what you need to do, but don't miss lining up!

[jtfcons]

Cut the factory strap and in it's place use a cargo tie down strap with the racheting connector. It's easy, then, to compress the shock to any desired length, slip it over the bolt locations and release the strap and remove.

[Geocritter]

Do yourself a favor and purchase or rent a large power impact wrench. I struggled with removing the Godzilla sized bolts on my shocks and finally rented an air-impact wrench capable of 1,100 ft/lbs torque. It still wasn't quite enough for two bolts and I ended up heating them with a torch and using the air-impact wrench to remove them. This ain't your generic Ford or Chevy your working on here.

BTW I purchased Monroes and have been very happy with them. Other than the fasteners I don't remember having any problems installing them.

Steve

[Raist11]

sailor_lou wrote:
I can't speak about the Monroe's, but I did replaced them on our previous MOHO (97 Winne Vectra, F53) using Bilstein gas charged shocks. The first one I cut the strap, bolted the top and used a car scissor jack to compress the shock to align the lower bolt. The second, third and four ones I bolted the top, cut the strap and was able to capture the lower bolt as the shock expanded. As identified above, the shock can be compressed by hand but the angle is awkward (even for a 2x4) so a scissor jack makes the job easier. Good luck.

Lou
05 Travel Supreme Envoy

I like the scissor jack idea. Perhaps a bottle jack even, since I'm not sure a scissor jack will fit for me in there with the tie rod end. I like to think I'm quick, maybe I can catch the hole as it extends. I'm also unlucky sometimes, so maybe not.

Thanks everyone for the input. This made the idea of tackling the job much easier. I installed a few lift kits on my Jeep so I'm sure I can manage this.

[sailor_lou]

I can't speak about the Monroe's, but I did replaced them on our previous MOHO (97 Winne Vectra, F53) using Bilstein gas charged shocks. The first one I cut the strap, bolted the top and used a car scissor jack to compress the shock to align the lower bolt. The second, third and four ones I bolted the top, cut the strap and was able to capture the lower bolt as the shock expanded. As identified above, the shock can be compressed by hand but the angle is awkward (even for a 2x4) so a scissor jack makes the job easier. Good luck.

Lou
05 Travel Supreme Envoy

[Raist11]

OnaQuest wrote:
I installed Monroe Gas Shocks on my '97 F53, by myself, and I'm 76 years old. Those shocks are not as difficult to compress as some folks claim.

Thanks for the reassurance. After all the dire warnings I read it's nice to see a few that assure it's not all that bad.

J-Rooster wrote:
Be sure to check your VIN before ordering shocks! This might not apply to you but my coach has a 2003 chassis with a 2004 living area mounted on the chassis. Therefore, my coach was registered as a 2004. My coach manufacture changed chassis in 2004 so 2004 shocks will not fit on my 2003 chassis. Just a heads up to you! Good Luck

Yes, I had read about that before. My 1990 Triple E is in fact a 1989 chassis. Thanks.

[J-Rooster]

Be sure to check your VIN before ordering shocks! This might not apply to you but my coach has a 2003 chassis with a 2004 living area mounted on the chassis. Therefore, my coach was registered as a 2004. My coach manufacture changed chassis in 2004 so 2004 shocks will not fit on my 2003 chassis. Just a heads up to you! Good Luck

[OnaQuest]

I installed Monroe Gas Shocks on my '97 F53, by myself, and I'm 76 years old. Those shocks are not as difficult to compress as some folks claim.

[Raist11]

Dale.Traveling wrote:
I'm going to guess you have yourself a set of gas charged shocks. The gas will extend them slowly once you cut the strap. Without the strap they would need a bigger box. The strap costs less than the box. Holding them in your hand they are not that hard to collapse but under the coach the angles are not good for leverage. 2 x 4 should work without much of a problem. I used a floor jack. Easy job on my rig.

You could also install them still strapped. Bolt the top in place, cut the strap. Once the low whole lines up quickly slip the bolt in place. Or have a bottle or scissor jack in place as a landing pad as the shock extends.

Excellent, thanks. I wondered how quickly they would extend. Yes, they're Monroe gas charged shocks. Some info I read implied it was impossible to compress by hand. I really couldn't imagine they would be, but I've never installed a shock this size before.

Now just to pick the appropriate tools to make this easier. I took a stab at it this afternoon but a regular 1 1/8th wrench wasn't enough to cut it. Time to buy a new breaker bar I think. 🙂

[Dale_Traveling]

I'm going to guess you have yourself a set of gas charged shocks. The gas will extend them slowly once you cut the strap. Without the strap they would need a bigger box. The strap costs less than the box. Holding them in your hand they are not that hard to collapse but under the coach the angles are not good for leverage. 2 x 4 should work without much of a problem. I used a floor jack. Easy job on my rig.

You could also install them still strapped. Bolt the top in place, cut the strap. Once the low whole lines up quickly slip the bolt in place. Or have a bottle or scissor jack in place as a landing pad as the shock extends.

[Raist11]

In hindsight, perhaps this should have been posted in Projects and Upgrades, although it is a repair.. my apologies.