Community Forums

JSPERRELLA · 08-14-2019, 11:14 AM

I have ordered Koni shocks front and back for my 2012 Canyon Star 3856 and I am debating about doing myself or bringing it in. I have received 2 estimates for the install only, of $650 and $1,250. The price seems high, but can I contort myself and a torque wrench into the space to remove and reattach? How many have done this install and are there any out there that tried and gave up? If you gave up, why? If you succeeded any hints, any parts needed besides the shocks, and did you replace the nuts and bolts and where did you obtain them? I believe these are the original shocks.

Dav L · 08-14-2019, 02:36 PM

It generally takes me about two hours to do two shocks. Don't know the particulars about yours though. The bolts are just big and tight. Do you have large wrenches / sockets and ideally a quality impact gun? 1/2" or 3/4" preferably.

It was easiest on mine to remove the tie rod to access the shock bolt. But I had to work on that too as well.

Make sure you have heavy duty jack stands under the chassis before working on them. Don't lift the wheels off the ground as then the shocks will be under load. You want the tires to just be touching to most easily remove the shocks.

The quote you got for labor is one to two full days of labor? Must be paying for the beer breaks...

TeJay · 08-14-2019, 03:09 PM

John,

Easily doable if you have the right tools. Some of the parts stores even rent tools. I have a good air impact wrench but not a torque wrench to easily get into the tight areas. I just decided to impact them in place and used blue lock tight. I did wait until my air compressor was full and had stopped running. I impacted the nut until it topped turning. That was 4 years ago and all bolts are still secure.

I did remove the front tires but didn't have to on the rear since everything is inside the frame and fairly accessible.

While under the front end I removed any grease fitting that needed to be changed to a 90 or 45 degree fitting for easier access when lubing the chassis. Don't forget the slightly hidden fitting on the steering gear box. There are 9 grease zerks.

Sue46 · 08-15-2019, 05:18 AM

We had Koni shocks put on in April. Including the shocks, $1100.

JIMBO34PA · 08-15-2019, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSPERRELLA

I have ordered Koni shocks front and back for my 2012 Canyon Star 3856 and I am debating about doing myself or bringing it in. I have received 2 estimates for the install only, of $650 and $1,250. The price seems high, but can I contort myself and a torque wrench into the space to remove and reattach? How many have done this install and are there any out there that tried and gave up? If you gave up, why? If you succeeded any hints, any parts needed besides the shocks, and did you replace the nuts and bolts and where did you obtain them? I believe these are the original shocks.

WOW Those 2 places don't want to work on it. I would check other places, for $1250 you should get a kiss, massage, manicure and pedicure. LOL

redcolorado · 08-15-2019, 10:34 AM

A local truck spring and alignment shop install my 4 Konis for $90 total cost. Took them less than a hour and they did not pull the wheels.

sedaliaterry · 08-15-2019, 06:55 PM

+1 what TEJay said. Did mine with help of impact wrench to take them off. Need torque wrench to get them dialed down tight. That was actually the hardest part, squeezing out the (I think it was) 150 ft #. I used a cheater bar on the torque wrench which helped. In my case I did not remove my 22.5’s. For the fronts I just turned the wheels one way or the other and I could reach over them to get at the top nuts/bolts. Bottoms of course were easy. Rears were easy.

As I have said before, I try to DIY as much as I can to save the $$ for buying cool tools to help me do DIY (on many projects).

If that is not something you enjoy and you have the bucks to have the work done, there is nothing wrong with that option either...

nomad10th · 08-15-2019, 11:00 PM

Make sure you get an alignment after. I replaced my shocks with konis and a few thousand miles into a long journey wore the outer edges of my front tires off to the point I replaced them and got an alignment. Lesson learned. The shocks ride nice though.

Dav L · 08-16-2019, 12:43 AM

shock replacement should not be changing the alignment. If it was correct before, it should remain correct.

Sweetbriar · 08-16-2019, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSPERRELLA

,,, I have received 2 estimates for the install only, of $650 and $1,250. ,,,

Did those quotes mistakenly include the shocks? Otherwise both were just another way of the shop telling you they don't want your business.

Shocks, particularly on a Ford F53, are maybe an hour job in a shop with air tools and no more than 2 hours in the driveway with just hand tools. Plenty of room to get get at the top fasteners even with a torque wrench. The hardest part is the size of the fasteners is probably larger than your standard 1/2" socket and combination wrench set in your toolkit. If the shocks you are removing are gas charged Bilstein remove the bottom hardware first to allow the shock to expand out due to the gas charge. It will expand slowly and take 30 seconds or so to fully expand.

I did mine with a 1/2" impact, a 250 lbs 1/2" torque wrench, 1/2" to 3/4" drive adaptor, 1"+ impact socket set and a 12" adjustable wrench (all from Harbor Freight) in the driveway in about an hour. Did the rear shocks on a Honda CR-V last weekend and a royal PITA in comparison. And a post install wheel alignment is not necessary. No need to remove any part of the front steering or axle fasteners. Maybe on a Freightliner but not a Ford.

Podivin · 08-16-2019, 05:06 AM

I'm not a mechanic by any stretch, though I'm reasonably mechanical, change my own oil and other simple things like that. When my rig needed new shocks I went underneath to look things over, decided that I understood everything I saw and could reach everything that needed to be reached.
I'd suggest you do the same, take a good look underneath at all of the shocks to see if there's anything there that makes you uncomfortable, if not then go for it.

I had to buy an air powered impact wrench to break the bolts free, but that's much cheaper than having someone else do it.

nomad10th · 08-16-2019, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dav L

shock replacement should not be changing the alignment. If it was correct before, it should remain correct.

One would think.. I had no issues before and have the computer adjustment printout for the adjustments made. You could get by without an alignment but watch the wear on your tires.

1ciderdog · 08-16-2019, 05:05 PM

Just my opinion but I'd suggest you give it a try - if you get to a problem that you can't resolve put it back together and pay to have it done (but not at the shops you have estimates - way to high in my opinion.

jharrell · 08-17-2019, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomad10th

One would think.. I had no issues before and have the computer adjustment printout for the adjustments made. You could get by without an alignment but watch the wear on your tires.

There is no way changing a shock on the F53 can change alignment. Camber is set by the shape of the solid axle, the axle has to be bent to change it. Caster is set by the leaf spring attachment points, shims are needed to change it. Toe can be set easily by yourself and is determined by the tie rod length. Caster could change slightly from ride height, shocks don't effect ride height, helper springs might but it would be a slight change something like 1 degree caster per 4" of ride height.

Sorry its just physically impossible.