Changing shocks 88 c2500

billk · 06-10-2008, 01:42 PM

How difficult is changing the shocks on a 1988 c2500?
Is this a driveway job or better to take it somewhere to have it done?
I can see all the bolts and have sprayed everything with LPS
Just don't want to start and then find I am in over my head
Thanks

z07 · 06-10-2008, 02:01 PM

This one's an easy job. An air wrench makes it even easier because of the bottom bolts on the rears. Be ready with two wrenchs of the same size as I think you will need one to turn the fastener and the other as a hold back on the opposite end. It may take you as long to remove the wheels as it does to remove the shocks.

billk · 06-10-2008, 02:26 PM

Ok thanks
not even really sure if I need shocks..The truck does bottom out when I hit a hard bump
Someone said it needed shocks..Is there a way to test them...I tried jumping up and down on the bumper but it has such heavy springs I cant tell anything..
On a car if it bounces more than once the shocks are probably bad
at least thats what Ive been told..this truck wont bounce with just me
I need my fat neighbor but we are at war

I think she could bounce a tank

z07 · 06-10-2008, 02:36 PM

Going with a different shock can increase your truck's effective spring rate and therefore help keep it from bottoming out. I know what you're thinking, "shocks don't hold up the truck, the springs do." That is true but gas charged shocks use their compressed gas as an extra little spring. So, in the case of gas charged shocks, they are both spring and dampner in one. It could be that your current shocks were gas charged and now due to some little hole they are only serving as dampners and would pass the bumper-bounce test just fine while not doing their jobs as little springs. It's a good thing you've got the 2500 'cause if you ever have to hide a large neighbor's body...

teemsta · 06-11-2008, 05:21 AM

I just changed the rear shock on my 93 1500. I put in a pair of spring assisted shocks that were really inexpensive ($50 a pair) the only problem i came across were the top bolts were rusty and couldnt get a wrench on em so i had to grind them off, oh and trying to compress the shocks with springs on them was a pain in the butt

06-10-2008, 01:42 PM	#1
billk Full Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 31	Changing shocks 88 c2500 How difficult is changing the shocks on a 1988 c2500? Is this a driveway job or better to take it somewhere to have it done? I can see all the bolts and have sprayed everything with LPS Just don't want to start and then find I am in over my head Thanks

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06-10-2008, 02:01 PM	#2
z07 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 176	This one's an easy job. An air wrench makes it even easier because of the bottom bolts on the rears. Be ready with two wrenchs of the same size as I think you will need one to turn the fastener and the other as a hold back on the opposite end. It may take you as long to remove the wheels as it does to remove the shocks.

06-10-2008, 02:26 PM	#3
billk Full Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 31	Ok thanks not even really sure if I need shocks..The truck does bottom out when I hit a hard bump Someone said it needed shocks..Is there a way to test them...I tried jumping up and down on the bumper but it has such heavy springs I cant tell anything.. On a car if it bounces more than once the shocks are probably bad at least thats what Ive been told..this truck wont bounce with just me I need my fat neighbor but we are at war I think she could bounce a tank

06-10-2008, 02:36 PM	#4
z07 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 176	Going with a different shock can increase your truck's effective spring rate and therefore help keep it from bottoming out. I know what you're thinking, "shocks don't hold up the truck, the springs do." That is true but gas charged shocks use their compressed gas as an extra little spring. So, in the case of gas charged shocks, they are both spring and dampner in one. It could be that your current shocks were gas charged and now due to some little hole they are only serving as dampners and would pass the bumper-bounce test just fine while not doing their jobs as little springs. It's a good thing you've got the 2500 'cause if you ever have to hide a large neighbor's body...

06-11-2008, 05:21 AM	#5
teemsta Full Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 44	I just changed the rear shock on my 93 1500. I put in a pair of spring assisted shocks that were really inexpensive ($50 a pair) the only problem i came across were the top bolts were rusty and couldnt get a wrench on em so i had to grind them off, oh and trying to compress the shocks with springs on them was a pain in the butt