The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Replacing front shocks on 52 1/2

I'm having a hard time installing new KYB gas adjust shocks on the front of a stock suspension 52 3100 series truck. The shocks came from LMC their part number 38-1686. THe old ones came off easy as they were shot. However these new ones which were compressed with the strap I can't compress enough even with a floor jack to slip in. What's the trick?

I've had some hard ones in my day but none that hard. Generally I mount them at the top and then "push" up on them while laying flat of my back! The ones on my 52panel were tough but finally gave in.

.....do you have some "young'un" around that wants to show how stout he is?

HI ALvin, I'm thinking now about putting a jack in between the frame and the axel and spreading it a little, maybe then it would go?

Perhaps a ratchet strap.

How about a bar clamp? Like the ones use for woodworking. That would compress the shock to where you could get the bolt installed.
The way I've done shocks before is to cut the strap and stick the bolt in as it lines up the hole. But that's a one time shot, and if you miss you're in your situation.
If the fenders are off, you might try bolting in the bottom of the shock and using your weight to compress the shock to insert the top stud in the bracket.

This is what I ended up doing to get the front shocks installed. The front solid Axel is on jack stands with the tires off the ground couple of inches. I loosened up the bottom shock mount leaving it barely attached. Then installed the shock in the bottom mount. I then jacked up the frame just behind the front spring, which raised the frame up 3-4 inches. I then got a 2x4 about 15" long and aligning the top stud on the 2x4 pulled it down compressing the shock just enough to pop it over into the top mount and hole. These Gas Adjust KYB are a handful to get on the front. I purchased them from LMC their part number is 38-1686. However the real KYB part number is KB 4503 and can be purchased all day long from Jegs for $35.24@ vs what I paid. This procedure will work for 50-54 Chevy 1/2 ton trucks with solid axel and probably GMC also. I hope they don't make the truck ride like a lumber wagon.