Holy crap, these shocks are a pain in ass to change out. That front driver side especially required some contortionism. Thank you for making this video, I never would've guessed to pull the floor mat back.
Hi Mark. Thanks for the heads up. I changed the shocks today on my '02' E250 today. I wish I could say that your trick worked on mine. Maybe through he years the body moved or something. Because I could not make the trick work. I'm a 75 yr. old fiftys/sixtys gear head still doing most of my own work. Your right though, that was a PIA to change. BTW, I inst. Monroe Gas-Magnums. The nut was 9/16ths, and the hex below the top threaded stem is 5/8th. Did have to grind the top and bottom of the 5/8th wrench to make it thinner. Which worked. Yup. Was'nt easy, but its done. Again, thanks for your info.
This guy was actually smart he didn’t use a torch or so like anybody else he looked inside and see if you could find another way through or he watched a video of a professional possibly doing it I already knew of this little trick some vehicles you can do it on some you cannot but it’s worth giving it a look save yourself some hassle Good video sir glad to see somebody is actually thinking with your head out there👍🏻
I found this method on an RV forum. Guys were complaining how hard it was to remove shock on E450s. I thought the E450 was built on the same platform. I searched some more and found 1 video showing the hole. I got so excite that I ordered the Bilstein shocks.
This is a great trick, thanks! I have a 2002 E350 Super Duty and the top nut is clearly visible thru the floorboard, but not easily reachable like yours. On the other hand, I have at least twice as much clearance between the floor and frame, so I reached it that way with a combination wrench. If I had had a short deep well socket, u-joint or short wobble adapter and skinny ratchet, I would have gone thru the floorboard as in your video.
I use that access hole to install the new shock. use a gear wrench on the nut and the hole in the floor will hold the wrench in place while you go underneath and use an open end wrench on the shock to tighten it. But to remove the shock I just take a sawzall to the shock underneath between the washer and the bushing. Takes less than a minute 👍
You can also buy this harbor freight 8 in 1 socket wrench (part # 65498) for $11 and stick it right on top of the shock nut through the treads from inside the wheel well.
At about 1:00 minute in we see what looks to be an extremely rusted nut on the shock stem---I'd love to see how it was removed with this method! IF the shock has a lower wrench flat fitting and its this rusted using a box end wrench place on the nut from underneath between the frame and engine block should do this task somewhat more reliably .
Holy crap, these shocks are a pain in ass to change out. That front driver side especially required some contortionism. Thank you for making this video, I never would've guessed to pull the floor mat back.
Hi Mark. Thanks for the heads up. I changed the shocks today on my '02' E250 today. I wish I could say that your trick worked on mine. Maybe through he years the body moved or something. Because I could not make the trick work. I'm a 75 yr. old fiftys/sixtys gear head still doing most of my own work. Your right though, that was a PIA to change. BTW, I inst. Monroe Gas-Magnums. The nut was 9/16ths, and the hex below the top threaded stem is 5/8th. Did have to grind the top and bottom of the 5/8th wrench to make it thinner. Which worked. Yup. Was'nt easy, but its done. Again, thanks for your info.
This guy was actually smart he didn’t use a torch or so like anybody else he looked inside and see if you could find another way through or he watched a video of a professional possibly doing it I already knew of this little trick some vehicles you can do it on some you cannot but it’s worth giving it a look save yourself some hassle
Good video sir glad to see somebody is actually thinking with your head out there👍🏻
I found this trick on an RV repair forum. I have never discovered any automotive secrets on my own.
You just saved me a lot of time and helped me decide what tools I needed for the job. Thank you so much!
Who'd thunk such a tough job could be simplified like this? Many thanks for sharing!
I found this method on an RV forum. Guys were complaining how hard it was to remove shock on E450s. I thought the E450 was built on the same platform. I searched some more and found 1 video showing the hole. I got so excite that I ordered the Bilstein shocks.
Sweet. Thanks for making the most straightforward video on this 👍👍👍
What is that cord running through that opening?
Thank You! Short, sweet, to the point. Saved me hours of pain. God Bless.
This is a great trick, thanks! I have a 2002 E350 Super Duty and the top nut is clearly visible thru the floorboard, but not easily reachable like yours. On the other hand, I have at least twice as much clearance between the floor and frame, so I reached it that way with a combination wrench. If I had had a short deep well socket, u-joint or short wobble adapter and skinny ratchet, I would have gone thru the floorboard as in your video.
Thanks for info. I saw that plug and was thinking the same thing
Best shock remover video I have seen in a while
Awesome! Thanks a ton - done a few of these struggling with ratcheting wrench and this saved a bunch of time!
Thanks. We have a RV on 1995 E350 Chassis. This just saved me a headache.
wait... 1996 and newer?
Going to try this because I was doubting myself otherwise
I use that access hole to install the new shock. use a gear wrench on the nut and the hole in the floor will hold the wrench in place while you go underneath and use an open end wrench on the shock to tighten it.
But to remove the shock I just take a sawzall to the shock underneath between the washer and the bushing. Takes less than a minute 👍
You can also buy this harbor freight 8 in 1 socket wrench (part # 65498) for $11 and stick it right on top of the shock nut through the treads from inside the wheel well.
Yeah but he didn’t show how long it took him
At about 1:00 minute in we see what looks to be an extremely rusted nut on the shock stem---I'd love to see how it was removed with this method! IF the shock has a lower wrench flat fitting and its this rusted using a box end wrench place on the nut from underneath between the frame and engine block should do this task somewhat more reliably .
Wow thats for this video. Glad I watched this before I jumped in!
Absolutely saved my knuckles, awesome thanks !!!
*wow that is really good to know*
Big help...thank you
Is the passenger side the same? Im doing a ton of work on an e350 tomorrow the guy had us order 5k worth of parts and tires for me to slap on
😮 best video ever lmfaooo save me so much time
Like this short informative video cut to the chase
YOU ARE A LIFESAVER!
great tip, thanks!
thanks for the tip
Maybe I'm wrong but when you have your wrench on the nut through the hole can you spin the other nut below it on the shock?
Man you save my live.. Thanks
So I guess you have to cut the floorboard to do the Passenger side?
Cool deal. Doin mine tomorrow, that'll help. lol.
You saved me a bundle!
Thank you 🙏
Is it same for passenger side?
Thx brother 👻
oh my gosh, this saved me!
That is a good find.
Wow I never knew that
😄😄 that’s super easy. I never thought 💭
❤
Smart.....