Replacing Autoride Shocks

[awray]

I need to replace the front Autoride shocks on our '07 Denali. I know I will need a spring compressor. Are there any other special tools needed? Any tips/tricks/advice from anyone that has done this?

 

[awray]

Does anyone have experience with replacing these shocks? Do I need to remove the whole assembly, shock, seat and spring as one and then compress the spring on the bench and replace the shock or can I do it on the car?

 

[KMeloney]

Does anyone have experience with replacing these shocks? Do I need to remove the whole assembly, shock, seat and spring as one and then compress the spring on the bench and replace the shock or can I do it on the car?

It IS all one unit. I imagine you have to compress the spring, and that's about it. Otherwise, the shock, spring, and the lower and upper spring perches are all one unit.

 

[awray]

I have the shocks in hand and you are correct in that the shock and lower spring perch are one unit. The spring and upper perch are separate from the shock. It looks to be assembled like a strut.

There are 3 bolts on the top and 2 on the bottom to remove it as a unit. I'll try that tomorrow night and see how it goes.

 

[awray]

I replaced both shocks last night. Overall, it was pretty easy other than a couple rust/corrosion issues. Each side took about 2 hours. You need a strut spring compressor and metric wrenches. If you take the tie rod loose from the spindle, the whole assembly can be removed in one piece. I took the 3 nuts off the top and the 2 bolts out the bottom and the assembly drops out the bottom.

 

[KMeloney]

Not sure that I helped, but it sounds like things went smoothly.

 

[awray]

All in all, it wasn't too bad. Somewhere I read not to use an impact wrench on the nut on top of the shock. That is absolutely true if you are going to use the shock again, as in a spring swap. The impact will unscrew the shock rod from some internal threads in the shock and allow the shock oil out of the body.

I know this because that nut was rusted tight and I could not get enough bite with an 18mm wrench to break it loose. Once the rod was free from the body, the nut moved above the mount enough to get a good grip on the nut while using a medium crescent wrench to keep the rod from turning.