2014 2020 Ford f150 Front Strut:Shock Absorber replacement

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[@MrScorpioJack]

Thank you for putting together an awesome video. I was able to replace both of my front struts with your help.. Could not have done it without you, thank you again!

[@davidbayley5194]

Wow... nice tutorial. Gonna lower my ride.2017 F150 2wd with Billtech lowering Struts. Did not know how complicated F150 Strut replacement is. Dang it. It's a real production. Your quite a talent. Production, lighting, focus puller, grip and narrator. And you did all that what appeared to be 35 degrees and a salt cover truck in your garage. Kool. Thx !

[@techsystems1904]

Outstanding video- with the real life challenges, visual aids with socket sizing, details etc. Thank you very mucho brother!!!

[@galvan1213]

Best video out there on how to change struts. Very detailed. I kept replaying video as I was progressing along. Thank you for making this video

[@USMC72]

Don’t worry, there’s a lot of us that do the same. We call ourselves the weekend mechanics.

[@mrasw9587]

Thanks for posting this. This is the correct video for my 2014 F150; ford changed the bolting design sometime around 2014. Many of the videos which reference 2014 F150s don't show the right configuration for my truck. I successfully changed out my struts yesterday after watching this.

[@robertmcgeorge5509]

Sir you are doing this the hard way. It’s such an easier job than what you are doing.

[@MrSrudman]

is there something showing the easy way? I'd be interested to see it. I have to do this job.

[@MrXavierwalls]

I've been working on my cars last few years, and its funny to me seeing you struggle because I DID THE SAME THING! But nothing beats fixing your own cars. Some of the engineering sometimes makes me say WTF were they thinking. Mostly on mercedes though, my F150 I am frequently amazed at how cheap some components are.

[@bucketoftruthify]

I dove into this after watching several other videos. When I got the knuckle loose, I realized it was going to be hanging on the brake line.... Got the drive shaft backin, and luckily there was some twine in arms reach and I tied the knuckle to the spring and came inside to start googling. Found this video. It is clear that I need to remove and suspend the brake caliper. One of the videos froma popular vendor I watched you could see the knuckle hanging on the brakeline and the hard brake line coming from the engine bay looked mangled....

[@HoneyBadgerRy]

Reading the Ford instruction manual procedure looked so dumb (calls for removing the LCA and a bunch of extra steps). This looks like the right way to do it. Thanks for the upload.

[@jth1987leb]

The oem manuals have to have that exact long book time.

[@orvalstuckemeyer127]

It's much easier if you disconnect the sway bar at the frame bushings rather than the end links. You got lucky and the nut came off the link, but typically these are so rusty that they cannot be disassembled without destroying them. Get both front wheels off the ground and the sway bar to frame is easy to disconnect. The bolts on top are tied together in a bracket, so you don't have to hold them while removing the nuts. Also, just hit the spring base and use that to knock off the silver strut cap. Much easier than trying to remove the cap separately. NEVER use an impact or any power tool on the axle end nut. You can easily snap the thin threaded end of the CV axle off and then you'll have the expense of replacing the axle as well.

[@dwaynemadsen964]

I've watched this twice, the 2nd time trying to see why he removed the axle nut at all. What did I miss? It looks like that could have been left connected? Stay safe!

[@elvism684]

@@dwaynemadsen964 It looks like it allowed the lower control arm to move down lower in order to remove the strut assembly. If the axle nut was still on the axle it would prevent it from doing so. At least that’s what it looked like to me.

[@glenwhitestofer6420]

@@dwaynemadsen964 To avoid the risk of the cv joint coming apart

[@fishdoggydog2001]

I am glad this was on here for a 2014 or I never would have gotten my truck done, the 2014 is different than older models.

[@MrBentruby]

Great video. The 18 mm at the top holding the shocks to the struts on mine were so rusted that I struggled with them on both sides. Other than that this was straightforward enough to DIY

[@stephenrichy4284]

Very helpful! Followed this step by step on my 2020 and it worked amazing. Slightly different bolt sizes but everything else was the same. BTW I used that fluid film and is smells like BO

[@markdudley5656]

I cannot stress enough how important it is to be careful when removing the CV shafts from the hubs and reinstalling them. Do not force anything because the IWE actuators break easily, especially if the shafts are forced into the hub. Unfortunately, I know this from experience.

[@mechrhg]

that assy is critical,on anything,tap never pound

[@kylen.6742]

I watched this whole thing, saw the bilsteins came with bolts instead of studs, said screw it and air hammered the original studs out of the shock/control arm. Didn't have to pull the axle and all that extra stuff, just the upper control arm bolt joint, the tie rod end, two nuts on the sway bushing.

[@jamesg5575]

Best video showing exactly what to do. Thank you. Diving into this Friday.

[@powderriver2424]

Yep always a multi step adventure working on independent front ends. Can’t just change the shock and get it done without taking half the truck apart. I’m getting too old to be wallowing around on the floor and so are you…Lol Like your videos your very good at showing what you need to do without a lot of extra filler.

[@rolandos64]

Love videos that give specs tool size… great job

[@TheyCallMeMrGuns]

"and now we take the 21mm... with a dead battery..." I felt that deep in the feels.

[@liftedford358]

Good video 👍 better than most shops offer!

[@jth1987leb]

Thank you so much

[@mechrhg]

great work sir,this is beating my body up worse than it is,just watching.The front brakes are way easier than that.

[@tmallory8070]

Awesome video. One of the best I've seen.

[@zunar_j5_933]

I went ahead and dropped the lower control arms and left the upper in place. It's a PITA to try and pry that guy out if you don't, but your method should preserve the alignment more.

[@gaborsvt]

As a lic mechanic I like to watch other peoples videos to possibly find short cuts. Some are so unsafe I cringe. Nice video. You should start to use a torque wrench makes for a safer install and to recheck all bolts after 100 -200 miles!! A shop bench and a vise would be a great addition if you have the space if not a vice on a stand makes for working on such things as replacing shocks al whole bunch safer. My $0.02

[@tylerjbellows]

Just what I was looking for! Thanks.

[@bandknanacortes1858]

No torquing of any of the nuts to a spec? And no loctite needed? How long per side? I’m new to independent front ends and coil overs. All my previous pickups have been solid axle F250 4x4. Thanks.

[@rolandos64]

Always turn wheel OUT to get a impact gun/breaker bar to remove caliper bolts. Don’t leave it facing straight

[@catfish500mark9]

Dude was that your friggin knee that popped? I sure hope not cause I heard a pop and you immediately said oh my knee.Hope you're ok and fantastic video.Thanks for yourbtime to make it.I give it ☆☆☆☆☆.

[@kellymartinez1583]

Very good

[@dalefrancis6787]

You need to give the Torque settings for each bolts. Otherwise great showing of the replacement.

[@larrya2995]

Update. Update: After replacing both struts, I found a better idea. Disconnect tie rod, top ball joint, sway bar and bottom strut nuts. Attach spring compressor and lift spring 1 1/2". Put pry bar under bottom of shock and lift up to lock in place. Use saws all to cut off bolts. Remove strut top nuts and strut. Thanks for the video, but let's put a curse on Ford for making it so difficult to replace something they know will wear out. Too many things to disassemble. A thought... could you attach a spring compressor before lifting the vehicle. Then the spring would be partially compressed when the truck is raised and arm assembly drops down, giving the strut/shock assembly enough wiggle room to come out without the pry bar? It would not be in the full extended position.

[@goneballistic]

The nuts on top of my shock mount all spun. I had to cut them out with a sawzall. What a huge pain in the ass caused by a terrible design. Thanks Ford, you idiots. That's a high wear item

[@chrishoma1033]

About to do this. I did call a local shop, straight up said get struts with new coils already install because it’s a pain in the ass to take them apart haha

[@larrya6325]

Agreed. To be clear, I did not separate the shock and spring, never do that without special equipment. It was just easier to get the whole thing out at one time.

[@excelerater]

ford never makes it easy as a other trucks

[@shakhmaykin]

Thank you for the video. I'm thinking to get this done by a service, and they told me that these yellow strut bumpers need to be replaced after 75k miles too. I see you've reused originals. What is the rule of thumb here?

[@mikemorin3131]

Thanks, Great video presentation

[@duaneshaw7795]

Awesome

[@GavrienPennington]

Its alot easier to replace the shock with strut assembly not just shock cuz ive had the strut tool break on me and its like a grenade going off so a lot safer and easier to replace strut and sock assembly together ive done this now for 15 years

[@jth1987leb]

Not all quick strut assemblies are high enough quality for some people

[@ialbium]

Did you forget to put on the cap front the other strut ? Or was it not needed ?

[@johns4870]

You should be using a torque wrench on those suspension parts, but good video.

[@user-dh6tu6nz1v]

Please tell me the name of the puller. This one, which removes the springs, I want to buy myself and I'm worried that it won't be short, I want to change the spring to my Ford f-150.

[@stevecavender691]

I read that your supposed to put 40psi of vacuum on the 4x4 vacuum line . I noticed you didn’t do this I’m no mechanic . Is this something that should be done . I’ve heard it can do damage if you don’t do this .

[@Kan-dj7qd]

I have a 2017 f150 and just bought basic pre assembled shocks/struts. Why did my local mech say it would take a total of 6 hours???

[@jth1987leb]

6 hours is the box time and that’s what they will bill for. It might take 3-4 hours

[@Kan-dj7qd]

@@jth1987leb oh ok. Thanks

[@spacey7215]

Thank you for doing this video. I learned a lot. One question, when you lifted the truck, do you do just one wheel at a time, or did you have to lift both front wheels?

[@jth1987leb]

I lifted both at the same time.

[@darreldejong20]

is it necessary to undo the axel? Getting ready to do my truck so I thought I would ask.

[@jth1987leb]

There are two styles of struts. For this type you’ll have to remove the axel. I’m not sure how the other style

[@ChrisCowles]

is it necessary to replace the strut mount when replacing the strut and reusing the spring and spring seat, assuming the mount appears to be in good condition?? I will replace the bumper and bellow.

[@jth1987leb]

Nope

[@chrisabcdefg8171]

Funny as I'm working on my 11 Expy 162k New Hampshire miles. Same thing happened in upper ball joint. Easier to torch out the plastic lock and get new $2.59 nuts from Ford. Torch and impact and that's off in 30 seconds.

[@JulianVail]

will the 4600 Bilstiens work on a lifted truck? My F150 is a 2014 with a Procomp 6" lift currently with factory FoMoCo shocks in the same strut assembly. Already ordered the 4600 then discovered the 5100s supposed to be for lifted... but if I'm running stock shocks... seems like these will work... your thoughts?

[@jth1987leb]

You need to get the ones for a lifted truck

[@tomsheridatema3709]

You say not size specific so 2 and 4wd takes the same shock?? My mechanic just replaced my front shock today now my truck sits 2 inches lower in the front. Thanks in advance for any additional info.

[@jth1987leb]

Two inches lower? Then they did something wrong or your truck was lifted and they didn’t put the lifted hardware back. The only difference in the strut is the lower mount and that has nothing to do with the drive train. There is a single through bolt design and then this design with two bolts. They are not interchangeable.

[@Brendan263]

I’m getting a clunking noise after changing out my shocks on the driver side. Any one have an idea why this is? What I should check? I don’t see anything obviously loose. Thanks everyone!

[@federicovega2292]

Does anybody know the torque specs on this style of strut there are two different types on the f-150s My truck has this style with the two ears on the side I'm not sure what they're called but it has two bolts instead of the one big bolt that states it should be torque to 406 ft pounds but in the case of the two bolts I don't think it has to be that tight but if anybody has the information it would be greatly appreciated

[@thereaper6158]

What about the torque specs!!?

[@jamesahr2634]

Better to replace as a complete unit,as your only getting half the ride. Springs been on vehicle as long as shocks.And they support the vehicles weight, which adds to a better ride,and less work

[@user-ce9wg5hr3s]

I’m looking for a set of spring compressors that will compress a truck spring. What compressor set did you use?

[@jth1987leb]

I’m not sure of the manufacturer of the coil spring compressor I have. I’m pretty sure they are on Amazon or eBay. Which ever you buy don’t get a cheap set from the auto parts store. The more money you spend the safe it will be

[@user-ce9wg5hr3s]

@@jth1987leb thanks for replying. Based on what the compressors in your video look like I was able to find some compressors strong enough to do the struts on my ‘21 F150. Thanks again for this video. Didn’t even know spring compressors like those were available

[@MarioLopez-es1ej]

Dude you don’t need to remove the axel to do this unless you’re replacing the lower control arms

[@jth1987leb]

Not true

[@MarioLopez-es1ej]

Well I’ve done it with out even touching the axel nut

[@xxdemonshitxx]

Man...I thought this was an OEM replacement video...

[@jerryspalding3268]

need to use torque wrench on bolts not just impact.

[@jth1987leb]

Then use one

[@joselopezpaz8967]

Did you have to get a new wheel alignment after?

[@jth1987leb]

Jose Lopez paz I didn’t because I got it back in alignment myself but it is recommended

[@jimmymcdonald7537]

Don’t own a torque wrench?

[@jth1987leb]

I own three

[@jimmymcdonald7537]

Just pull the upper control arm down….

[@bigjimar77]

ratchet wrenches.

[@ryansimmons5903]

To change out just the shock, there is no need to remove the spring assembly. Its 2 nuts on the bottom, 1 on top, pry it out of the cup, pull it out of the spring assembly, repeat same steps in reverse to install new shock. This can be done without even removing the wheel but obviously makes it more of a challenge.

[@orvalstuckemeyer127]

What? You cannot remove the strut without relieving pressure on the spring. You must remove the entire assembly to do this. You must be thinking of some other design.

[@glenwhitestofer6420]

WTH is a coil over shock assembly,on what planet does the spring not have to come off?Please post a video of you doing this.