[jberger711]

I have some mechanical know how. I change my own brakes, ball joints, wheel bearings etc. But I've never really changed a shock and heard that its hard to compress the shock? Is this true?

 

[2008_NISMO_KY]

Compressing the coils can be tricky and downright dangerous if you don't have the proper equipment. I'd pay the local shop to disassemble and reassemble the coils and do the rest of the work yourself. It will probably cost you $50 to $70 as opposed to $400+.

 

[jberger711]

Compressing the coils can be tricky and downright dangerous if you don't have the proper equipment. I'd pay the local shop to disassemble and reassemble the coils and do the rest of the work yourself. It will probably cost you $50 to $70 as opposed to $400+.

If i buy the aftermarket shocks for my truck, they dont come compressed?

 

[raymond~]

with proper tools, compressing them isn't difficult at all. we don't know how you're equipped.
handling them while compressed is CRITICAL. i replaced the suspension in the Benz half dozen
times (ride height picky) and can now do it nearly blindfolded. but I am still giving it the respect
it deserves since it's under serious tension. If you're the least bit apprehensive and do not have
an on-site coach, better to pay for the safety and warrantied service and have someone do the job

oh...drat, that extra hour sleep. you're interested in SHOCKS. generally they come uncompressed.

 

[2008_NISMO_KY]

If you buy bare shocks you will have to compress the coils in order to remove the old and install the new shocks. You can buy complete coilover assemblies but they're going to be considerably more expensive than the bare shocks.

If you have no experience in this area I strongly recommend that you don't attempt it without assistance from someone that has done it before. The springs are under a LOT of tension and can cause serious injury if mishandled during disassembly and reassembly.