How difficult is it to..?

[ManOverboard]

How difficult is it to change the shocks, do a torsion twist, shackles, and a body lift?

 

[Charlie]

Torsion twist is the easiest thing you will ever do. Shackles and shocks aren't too bad, just so long you have a set of jackstands and a jack. And a little patience. I'm not sure about a body lift, though. I would assume that it isn't that bad, but I have never done one.

 

[zukman]

< is a girl and she can do it! Not too hard. Easier than changing a motor!

(doesn't mean I would though!) lol

 

[mission13]

A body lift is not very hard, (did it on pathfinder), a couple bolts, might have to extend your fuel filler hose, but other then that all you should need is a good wrench set and a jackall. Step by step instructions should come with your lift kit. Hope that helps?

 

[Convict1997]

- I changed the rear shocks on my 98 in about two hours. 1.5 hours of that was spent fighting with the limited space to get to the rusted nuts on the top of the shocks. It was done with basic hand tools. No special tools or knowledge required.

- I haven't done the torsion twist or the rear shackles yet, but searching the forum shows that it should be fairly easy.

- I've never done a body lift on an explorer, but I did one on my old 98 ranger. 95% of it was done by myself. I used the performance accessories brand 3" lift. The directions were amazingly detailed and covered every single thing that needed to be done. I was quite impressed. All the parts needed were included with the kit. I used basic hand tools, a dremel to trim the ?bushing mounts? on the front (a 4" grinder would be much quicker), and two bottle jacks to lift the body. Read through the directions before you start and follow them and you would have no problems. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

 

[ManOverboard]

Alrighty, thanks a lot everyone for your input. I think I'm going to start with shocks, because i'm pretty sure 80,000 miles on my stock ones isn't too good of an idea. I think i'm gonna get the self-adjusting Rancho RSX17000 Shocks. Then the TT and shackles and maybee the body lift then. So I guess I just pretty much wanna know if I can swap the shocks without any complications and if I can do it with basic tools and no real knowledge of what I'm doing. haha

 

[brianjwilson]

The body lift is mostly easy. The PA instructions are awsome. Get a friend to help and give yourself a weekend, and lots of dry space to work. Go through all the instructions and make sure you have the right tools. Spray PB blaster on all the bolts a day or more before, and get a torch. Difficult body mounts can be heated up to get them off easier. You will need a sawzall with good metal blades and a dremel to get the front bumper back on correctly. Also you will need to zip to the air conditioning hose away from the bottom of the belt pully (forget which one).
Shocks are very easy. If the new ones come compressed with a zip tie, don't cut the zip tie until you bolt the new shocks in.
Shackles are also very easy. Just need a good floor jack and some jack stands.

 

[ManOverboard]

Do you have to take the front tires off to change the front shocks?

 

[chad551]

It makes it easier.. Also use an impact gun with a 14" extension to remove the top shock nuts.

Chad