How to Replace your Front Shocks

For my 100th posting here on KZbin I will be replacing the front shocks on this 2011 Ram 2 wheel drive. It is so much easier than the 4 wheel drive trucks.

[@drumbumrockyable]

Literally the only detailed video showing what needs to be done! Thank you sir! 🔧🔨🗜🧰🛠

[@richardspaulding5035]

Thanks drumbumrocky for your very kind words and thanks for watching my channel.

[@wonyankeesays5661]

Did not show jack and jack stand points

[@reyespizano6238]

Awesome detailed video on how to do this. My father and I are about to replace the front shocks on his 05 Ram 1500 and this made it very clear on how to do so and what to expect.

[@richardspaulding5035]

The 05 may be a little different

[@reyespizano6238]

@@richardspaulding5035 we replaced them last weekend and everything was pretty much the same. Thanks again for your video it made the replacement for us pretty straightforward and easy.

[@ElGatoTerco]

Thank you sir, this video was excellent! Gonna go do my front shocks (and endlinks) now! Truck's goin to the shop Monday because I couldn't get a broken exhaust mani bolt out with an extractor (it is STUCK), but at least I'll feel like I did SOMETHING this weekend lol. Thanks again, keep up the great work!

[@richardspaulding5035]

I am very sorry I have taken so long to reply. Thanks for the kind words and thanks for watching my channel. I have a small portable ox /acetylene kit for when stuff like that happens. Might be worth the investment.

[@ekujj13]

Exactly what I needed

[@richardspaulding5035]

glad it was helpful

[@BryanPAllen]

Great job Rick! Congratulations on the 100th video even if late

[@richardspaulding5035]

I am very sorry I have taken so long to reply. Thanks for the kind words and thanks for watching my channel

[@richardspaulding5035]

thanks

[@tyecurtis7228]

Very good video. Thanks for producing a professional and educational video that helps others save money.

[@richardspaulding5035]

Thanks for the kind words Tye; With all the shared knowledge on KZbin and other platforms there has never been a better time for the do it yourself guy. Thanks for watching my channel.

[@huntintime2268]

Great job showing the process start to finish.

[@richardspaulding5035]

Sorry I took so long to reply; Keep in mind this is a 2 wheel drive truck. The 4 wheelers are much different. Thanks for the kind words and thanks for watching.

[@tonyclauson5654]

Thank you sir. Doing my shocks on my Ram and this is all I needed

[@richardspaulding5035]

Keep in mind the truck in the video is only a two-wheel drive. A four-wheel drive will be different.

[@KHUFU1]

I’m doing this job now and the video is a great help removing the shock and coil

[@richardspaulding5035]

Thanks, Hard to find information on a 2 wheel, drive truck.

[@p00nedyalolz]

Excellent explanation 💯

[@richardspaulding5035]

glad it was helpful

[@25soloyo]

Thanks, I just do it my truck , watching your video 👍

[@richardspaulding5035]

Thanks 25soloyo; I am glad you found the video helpful. Thanks for watching my channel.

[@chrisvance7824]

As a dodge owner myself I can't believe u haven't replaced those upper control arms... be safe my man !!!

[@richardspaulding5035]

Thanks for your concern for my safety. My suspension is in very good condition. Evidently I do not abuse my vehicles as apparently do you!!! LOL All kidding aside, I am a senior citizen as the truck is used only a few times a month and barely over 30 mph at that. the suspension is very tight at present. Thanks for watching.

[@blue03r6]

what's wrong with the front arms? I have 125k miles on mine and nothing wrong with them

[@blue03r6]

FYI, if you're lazy like me, you can do this job without removing the front wheels. use your jack under the cross member. with both wheels in the air you can turn the front wheel you're working on out. there's plenty of room to remove the top shock bolt. if you jack the front up high enough it's possible to slip the shock out. the rear shocks are a lot more work and require a 21mm crows foot and fender liner removal.

[@richardspaulding5035]

Thanks for the suggestion but 1 just as soon remove the wheels. I've done the rear shocks and the fender liner was indeed a pain in the neck. I happened to have an old 21 mm wrench that I cut off. that worked pretty well.

[@scoutGOW]

Thank you! I though this was going to be so much harder!

[@richardspaulding5035]

It would have been if it was a 4-wheeler

[@joshcross4739]

thanks for the video saved me alot of money and time

[@richardspaulding5035]

I am very sorry I have taken so long to reply. Thanks for the kind words, I am glad my video was helpful, Thanks for watching my channel

[@luissaenz2843]

Great video! Thanks

[@richardspaulding5035]

Thanks for the compliment. I am glad you found my channel and enjoyed the video. I hope it was helpful. By all means don't be a stranger.

[@chrissnell7685]

Thanks for the video!

[@richardspaulding5035]

Thanks for watching, I hope it was helpful.

[@coipr100]

Thanks.

[@richardspaulding5035]

thanks for watching, hope the video was helpful.

[@Pohleece222]

Great video, thanks.

[@richardspaulding5035]

Thanks Glenn; There is a lot of information on 4 wheel drive trucks but not much on the 2 wheel drives like this one

[@chilibiskit14]

bless you dude. saved me some trouble. keep up the good work !

[@richardspaulding5035]

Thanks for the kind words got em. I am glad the video was helpful. Thanks for watching my channel.

[@michaelpettit401]

Good job, very helpful.

[@richardspaulding5035]

Thanks Michael; I am glad you found the video helpful. thanks for watching.

[@ViceKillerz]

Wow this is a great video

[@richardspaulding5035]

Thanks for the kind words

[@agvrreal3051]

💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

[@richardspaulding5035]

thanks

[@avelezusmc7929]

Great work

[@richardspaulding5035]

Thanks for the kind words A Velez; It is an honor to here from someone in the USMC. Thanks for supporting my channel.

[@charleneandrew1608]

thank you for sharing

[@richardspaulding5035]

Thank You Charlene for watching my channel and taking the time to comment

[@ossa4772]

Great video....thanks

[@richardspaulding5035]

Thanks for the kind words. Thanks for watching my channel

[@user-jl9xt9zb5o]

Hi did you place with om or a different brand?

[@richardspaulding5035]

I am ashamed to admit I just purchased cheap shocks from Ebay. Been on for a couple of years now, truck still rides fine

[@cautiontext]

For the bottom Shouldn't it be washer then the bushing? Just want to make sure.

[@richardspaulding5035]

You kind of lost me, I think you are referring to a different job?? In the video there was no bushing or washer I had to install in the bottom. If you are working on a different vehicle, just put things back the way you took them off.

[@cautiontext]

@richardspaulding5035 "bottom", I meant of the top part of shock. It's nut, thrust washer, rubber bushing then....the other bushing and thrust washer?

[@cautiontext]

Great video, though I'm doing a 2" level kit so helps.

[@richardspaulding5035]

@@cautiontext sounds good

[@francoiadevaia1292]

Hey Rick. What are the recommended Torque specs for the Bolts and Nut.

[@richardspaulding5035]

To be perfectly honest Franco I did not look the specs up. After 44 years' experience I tightened them to feel. Tghten the bottom bolts with a 3/8 drive ratchet as tight as you can by hand. as far as the top you want to compress the bushing so it is a little larger than the washer.

[@Seezur__]

What type of shocks did you buy and from where?

[@richardspaulding5035]

As I recall they were nothing special. Just cheap shocks from Ebay. If you really want to know exactly where I can look up my purchase history to get the vendors name. Get back to me if you want that info.

[@SonofUhtred]

did you put oem shock or which was it ?

[@richardspaulding5035]

To be honest they were just inexpensive shocks I got on eBay

[@PnwGuyy]

K what do you do when you break one of the bottom bolts though

[@richardspaulding5035]

Your Screwed! All kidding aside it depends on what you have left to work with. Once you have the shock out of the way there might be enough of the remaining bolt to get a vise grip on it. Then you will need to heat it up with a torch to turn it out. If there is nothing left to work with then I think you will have no alterative other than drilling it out and to re tap. By all means let me know how you make out.

[@jromefryson2454]

Rubber bushings under the bottom ?

[@richardspaulding5035]

Thanks for the question Jrome; If you look closely at 4:35 of the video there are no rubber bushings under the bottom. There is however a rubber bushing built into the bottom of the shock just above the bottom bracket that bolts into the lower control arm. I hope this answers your question. Thanks for Watching.

[@davidm.1098]

Is this the same for a 2006 ram 1500 rwd?

[@richardspaulding5035]

2004 and up is the same. 2003 or older is different.

[@danielscarlat3688]

The best comment!!

[@richardspaulding5035]

Thanks DANIEL

[@martinestrada3089]

what year was the truck?

[@richardspaulding5035]

It was a 2011 Dodge 1500 Ram 2 wheel drive with the V6 motor. thanks for the question and thanks for watching.

[@robertmarley8852]

Is he in Boston?

[@richardspaulding5035]

Halfway between Boston and Cape Cod. Lucky me I inherited part of both accents. LOL

[@robertmarley8852]

@@richardspaulding5035 yeah I heard it and was like this guy has to be near Boston. Thanks for posting the video I'm doing some work on my dodge and you really helped me get shock out the way so I can replace lower control arm. Thank you again ☺️

[@richardspaulding5035]

@@robertmarley8852 Don't hate me, I am a big Patriots / Redsox fan.

[@iPeekedJFK]

What was the name of the replacement part you used?

[@richardspaulding5035]

As it has been a while, I do not remember the brand name. I believe I purchased them on eBay as I recall. There was nothing special about them as they were just ordinary front shocks. It is important to note however that the truck in the video is only a 2 wheel drive vehicle. The 4 wheel drive trucks take a different shock and it is a much more difficult job. Thanks for the question and thanks for watching

[@iPeekedJFK]

@@richardspaulding5035 Thanks for the quick reply. I have a 2011 Ram 1500 Bighorn thats 2WD and it so hard to find good information like this because its all for 4WD. Mine are old & loose and need to be replaced because they bang/squeak. Thanks so much for this video it was a life saver

[@richardspaulding5035]

@@iPeekedJFK My channel is still small enough that I can respond to all my comments. Glad I was able to help.

[@iPeekedJFK]

One last question. Did you need to use anything to keep tension on the coil? Or after removing the tire you can just go on removing the strut?

[@richardspaulding5035]

@@iPeekedJFK No this is not like a strut where you need to compress the spring. Just go ahead and unbolt it and the shock will drop out. Don't let it fall on your head LOL. One thing you may need to do is if you check 5:40 of the video the new shock did not come thru far enough to allow me to get the top nut started. Just simply put a jack under the lower control arm and raise it an inch or two then you can easily get the nut started. By all means let me know how you make out. I hope I have been a help to you.

[@but_why547]

what year is the truck

[@richardspaulding5035]

Thanks for the question; It is a 2011 Dodge Ram 2 wheel drive with a V6. I am sorry I did not make that clear in the video. Thanks for watching my channel.

[@but_why547]

@@richardspaulding5035 thank you for answering so quickly and i have a 2017 ram 1500 slt with a v6 also but i just wanna know is it the exact same process for me

[@richardspaulding5035]

@@but_why547 You caught me just right as I check my comments at this time every day. I don't know for sure but I would expect it to be pretty close to the same.

[@but_why547]

@@richardspaulding5035 okay thank you very much I really appreciate it and definitely subscribing

[@richardspaulding5035]

@@but_why547 Thanks Jacob

[@jaimezapien4897]

Why r u breathing so hard

[@richardspaulding5035]

LOL it is called old age, I am 70 years young.