Shock replacement DIY

Topic: Shock replacement DIY (Read 2039 times) previous topic - next topic

Shock replacement DIY

November 16, 2022, 06:34:07 pm

Has anyone replaced all 8 shocks from underneath? I crawled around underneath this week and don't see any reason I shouldn't be able to replace the shocks lying on my back. I'm sure it will require air tools and a bunch of PB blaster, and hopefully not a cutting wheel, but other than that I don't see anything prohibiting me from getting the job done this way. I would appreciate any advice from those that have gone before me nonetheless.

Re: Shock replacement DIY

Reply #1 – November 16, 2022, 06:45:09 pm

Look forward to the reply's as well - looking to do this as well.

Re: Shock replacement DIY

Reply #2 – November 16, 2022, 07:15:27 pm

I removed the right front shock of the right front wheel when I was doing the air bags from underneath
when I was doing the air bag as it was in the way. If I was changing my shocks I would wait until I do my
annual brake check with the wheels off as it would be a lot easier.

Re: Shock replacement DIY

Reply #3 – November 16, 2022, 07:32:43 pm

I unhooked the bottoms of my shocks to test them when I replaced the air bags. Despite the spray, big tools and grunt, several of the nuts seized on the first few shocks. For the rest, I bought nuts and bolts, cut the old ones, and didn't even try to loosen them. On our coach, the nuts are the ones with the taper where it never gets loose enough to spin, so I was bearing down on the nuts from beginning to (almost) end.

I didn't touch the top bolts.

Worst is a seized nut when the bolt spins freely in the shock. You have to use a torch, or find some way to hold it still for the cutting wheel.

My suggestion - buy all new nuts and bolts and cut the old stuff off.

Re: Shock replacement DIY

Reply #4 – November 16, 2022, 08:49:59 pm

I did all 8 using my Ingersoll air gun on the bolts. All were reusable. Just luck maybe.

Re: Shock replacement DIY

Reply #5 – November 16, 2022, 09:58:56 pm

I did mine while I had the rear wheels off to change out the brake pads. They were still a bugger to get to. I used an Earthquake XT, but it was a little bulky. A snub nose pneumatic air tool might have been easier.

Re: Shock replacement DIY

Reply #6 – November 17, 2022, 12:11:28 am

I replaced all of mine two years ago when I changed the air bags. I bought a small, cheap air gun from Harbor Freight and it did the job. I thought it was pretty easy; the air bags were a whole different story.

Re: Shock replacement DIY

Reply #7 – November 17, 2022, 06:17:27 am

I did all 8 shocks last week, but with fenders removed. 4 of the 16 bolts needed a cutoff wheel. My Milwaukee 1400-lb impact did the rest. Since I was doing the airbags at the same time, the shocks were easy to get at.
One tool that was a surprise hit for the airbag install: 1/2 inch Tite-Reach
1/2" Professional Tite-Reach Extension Wrench

Re: Shock replacement DIY

Reply #8 – November 18, 2022, 12:51:52 pm

Boy they are proud of that wrench!!!

Re: Shock replacement DIY

Reply #9 – December 09, 2022, 05:44:07 pm

I finally got a better look at things today (the coach has been down in Phoenix getting new windshields) and I'll definitely have to pull the fenders to get to the shocks. Each corner has one shock that's accessible from underneath and one that is almost impossible to get at without pulling the fender.

Re: Shock replacement DIY

Reply #10 – December 09, 2022, 09:13:39 pm

Quote from: alan1958 – November 18, 2022, 12:51:52 pm

Boy they are proud of that wrench!!!

For $140, No
For$43 on eBay, I went for it.

Re: Shock replacement DIY

Reply #11 – December 11, 2022, 03:16:46 pm

This job sucks even with the fenders pulled. 2 down 6 to go.

Re: Shock replacement DIY

Reply #12 – December 11, 2022, 03:44:27 pm

Elliott..... I'm planning on doing this myself right after Christmas. So question, removal of the rear panels is the only way to replace the airbags and shocks? Hopefully it goes smoothly for ya.

Re: Shock replacement DIY

Reply #13 – December 11, 2022, 04:59:46 pm

Quote from: James Bock – December 11, 2022, 03:44:27 pm

Elliott..... I'm planning on doing this myself right after Christmas. So question, removal of the rear panels is the only way to replace the airbags and shocks? Hopefully it goes smoothly for ya.

The bags can be done with fenders on but you'll want the special airbag tools I loan out to do it that way. I don't know how you'd do the shocks with fenders on though. Getting a wrench on the top bolt shown in my second picture above would be a nightmare. Maybe a slightly smaller nightmare if you had a lift but there's just very little room to work there. If you don't mind pulling the fenders that's the way to go. If you have a beautiful full body paint job that you're anal about, I'd take it to nac and let them do it.

Re: Shock replacement DIY

Reply #14 – December 11, 2022, 05:00:03 pm

Are the gold shocks original

Re: Shock replacement DIY

Reply #15 – December 11, 2022, 05:01:59 pm

Quote from: oldguy – December 11, 2022, 05:00:03 pm

Are the gold shocks original

No, those are the new Konis. The originals are the blue/yellow Billstiens laying on the ground in the first picture.

Re: Shock replacement DIY

Reply #16 – December 11, 2022, 05:42:34 pm

Mine are red so I guess they have been upgraded.

Re: Shock replacement DIY

Reply #17 – December 11, 2022, 06:41:47 pm

Quote from: Elliott – December 11, 2022, 05:01:59 pm

No, those are the new Konis. The originals are the blue/yellow Billstiens laying on the ground in the first picture.

I thought U320's came stock with Koni shock absorbers and the U270, U295 came with Bilstein shocks.

I replaced my four Bilsteins up front last Summer with Koni shocks with no issues from underneath.

Re: Shock replacement DIY

Reply #18 – December 11, 2022, 06:54:13 pm

Quote from: Doug W. – December 11, 2022, 06:41:47 pm

I thought U320's came stock with Koni shock absorbers and the U270, U295 came with Bilstein shocks.

I replaced my four Bilsteins up front last Summer with Koni shocks with no issues or problems from underneath.

My 2001 320 IFS came with Koni's.... I'm pretty sure that was factory even without IFS setup.

Re: Shock replacement DIY

Reply #19 – December 11, 2022, 07:01:07 pm

Quote from: Doug W. – December 11, 2022, 06:41:47 pm

I thought U320's came stock with Koni shock absorbers and the U270, U295 came with Bilstein shocks.

I'll have to defer to someone who knows the history of Unicoaches better than I. One of the bolts on the other side is turned around though, so I suspect shocks have already been replaced on this rig once before; so it's quite possible.

Re: Shock replacement DIY

Reply #20 – December 11, 2022, 07:23:57 pm

I did all the air bags and shocks with the fenders on. Did bags first then 2 years later the shocks. Would have been nice to do both at the same time. I used an Ingersoll Rand air gun for the shock bolts.

Re: Shock replacement DIY

Reply #21 – December 11, 2022, 08:02:14 pm

Quote from: craneman – December 11, 2022, 07:23:57 pm

I did all the air bags and shocks with the fenders on. Did bags first then 2 years later the shocks. Would have been nice to do both at the same time. I used an Ingersoll Rand air gun for the shock bolts.

Yep, did all the airbags also without removing fenders no specials tools needed except this one that is easy to work with, sorry not available to lend out. Come to Quartzsite this Winter maybe she'll negotiate

Re: Shock replacement DIY

Reply #22 – December 11, 2022, 08:07:17 pm

Elliott, wish I had seen this post before you started on replacements! I purchased my Koni's from Safe T Plus Steering Control / RV & Truck Steering Stabilizer
and at the same cost it would have cost me online and they put them on for free with coach on the concrete and did not remove any fenders. Air bags had been replaced a few years back at MOT. Sorry I am late, but may help someone else on here!

Re: Shock replacement DIY

Reply #23 – December 11, 2022, 09:24:20 pm

Not for nothing but that don't look like anyone called Doug to me, I can see why the job was easy now haha 😛

Re: Shock replacement DIY

Reply #24 – December 11, 2022, 09:48:47 pm

Doug, looking forward to hopefully seeing you and your, ..tools, next month in Q...

Affiliate Notice