My front struts have had it. 106k miles and the bushings are squished to one side, and if I rock the truck it keeps rocking like a waterbed. Question: can I change the front struts myself with only this tool:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=43753


Or is this something that I should have done by a shop?

You don't need that unless you need to compress your springs to fit in a spacer or something like that. I believe you basically need to undo the top plate and the coil will come right off and replace the coil on the new strut and replace the top plate and the 3 bolts and you are good to go. Someone correct me if I'm wrong here.

You have to compress the spring to get the shock out. There's no other way around that. If you try to take the center nut off the spring, it will come shooting out and you may end up seriously hurt.

For the price that looks like a good tool. If I were you I would take it to a shop and let them replace the shocks. I took mine off the truck and took it to a shop and they replaced the shock for me. It didn't cost that much.

you can always borrow a spring compressor from like autozone or other parts store.

If you want something that won't work and might kill you.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" /> At least in my opinion, based on experience.

This covers your questions:
linkie

Hey Florida,
I can show you what to do if you get in a bind and also have a spring comp. if needed,sorry can't help you do it because I just had surgery a month ago but anything I can do to help just ask.If I remember correctly you live around me(w.p.b.)?

Thanks everyone for the info and the link. I'm reusing the old springs so it sounds like it might not be too bad. The aftermarket springs sounded like a PITA! Since you've done this before, is it really that bad if I reuse the stock springs and just keep them in the compressor until it's time to assemable with the new shock?

I found that the borrowed spring compressors were barely, MAYbe adequate for the stock springs. But spooky. Didn't like it at all.

FWIW, if you pull the shocks and take it to a shop I bet they would swap the springs for cheeeeep.

Does beg the question, why would you go with stockers if you are going to all that trouble?

Thanks again for the info. I'm thinking of buying my shocks online so I'm thinking a shop might not be all that anxious to help me swap them out. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" /> Plus what the heck, one more toy for the toolbox if it works as advertised. In regards to keeping the stockers; I'm actually pretty happy with the stock suspension.. plus my wife is pregnant! So that pretty much puts the kibash on any new toys for a while. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" />

Well, I guess this is the place to tell you about spring compressors gone south...

I was finishing the suspension on my new Taco last Saturday and working on the front shock assemblies. I was using a brand new, name brand (read $$$) spring compressor and it let go on me. Pain ensued. The spring went through the drywall in the garage and the shock glanced off of my ribs. First, I was stupid. I did not use the safety hooks that came with the compressor. WTF, I've done this job a dozen or so times by now, no sweat. Yeah, OK, bad move. Second, by the luck of the draw I got a defective tool. Bummer. The upside is that I get a new one for free.

End result; one broken rib, a huge bruise, sore as hell, truck on a trailer to the local shop to finish it, massive ego deflation, and a fifty dollar job in my garage gone to a three hundred dollar job.

It can be easily done in your home garage but be very careful about it please. You can also pull the shock assembly yourself and take them to a local tire/wheel/brake shop and they should be able to do the job on their six billion dollar spring compressor for about $50.00.

Mike