Replacing shocks 94 GMC 3/4 ton

Before I dig into this job. I have never done a shock replacment job on a vehicle. It doesn't look very hard but there is always something that is tricky about it.

I was wondering if anybody has changed shocks on a 94 Sierra GMC 3/4 ton 454, and is there anything I should know before I gig into it. Do I need a special puller? Or jack? do I need to compress the new shock to get it in, Is there any special brackets that need to come off first.

I think I am going to purchase the Monroe shocks at O'Reilies. The truck has Rachos on it now and the front left tire is starting to bounce when I go over a rough section of the road or railraod tracks. I think Ranchos have a life time replacement if you are the original owner, that I am not, so I think I do not get the warrenty?

The Captain

The kind of tools needed should just be basic hand tools, as far as a jack, I would recommend it because it give more clearance and if you are installing mono tube shocks you are better off lifting the truck by the frame so that you don't have to fight with the pressures that the mono tube shocks have. BTW I would recommend kyb over any other shock, in my experience they are a much better shock.

Thanks for the reply horse482.

I did install the driver side shock on Tuesday night. I drove the truck today and the tire is still bouncing pretty bad as I go over the railroad tracks going out of town. I need some help in determining what is the problem with my truck. The bouncing in rhythm problem happens on certain hard bumps at 40 to 45 miles per hour, and I have to slow way down for it to stop. I am wondering if it is a warped rotor? Bad tire, out of balence tire. It doesn't seem like anything is bent or broke for tie rods or streering linkage. I have not been taking the truck off road. I might have to take it in to get check out. It does seem to be a little bit out of alignment 20 degrees or so.

Help

If you did install monroe shocks what grade of shocks did you install?

The shock was the heavy duty Monroe shocks for trucks price 39.99. The shock that I took off of the truck was the same brand and number of the new one I purchased.

KYB Monomax or Gas Adjust do a lot better dampening the bounce that any monroe will.

Horse482,

So in your opinion it is 100% a shock absorber problem that has been making the rythmic bounce that has been occuring? I have owned this truck for 1.5 years and in the past 6 months this annoying rythmic bounce has been happening. I guess you get what you pay for cheap shocks $39.99ea.. Yeah know I was really surprised that I could compress the new shock myself. I would have thought that the shock would have been pretty stiff.

I owned a 1974 ford 1/2 ton truck, and I replaced the coil springs in that truck and they were pretty stiff springs, I sure couldn't compress them myself lol.

I will try and shop around for some more advice on this bouce thing. I just don't want this bounce thing to break or warp something in the front end from me still driving it.

If it only does it over rough road it could be a couple of things. By the way you were talking it sounded like you had already decided that it was the shocks. Have you checked the ball joints, coil spring, or control arm busings on the side that is giving you problems. The reason that I say the shocks could be giving you trouble is becasue the truck that I am driving now ('94 K1500 4X4)had new monroe gas magnums on it and it bounced changed it out for KYB Monomax and the bounce went away. In my experience the monroe shocks don't have very good quality, they spend all of there money on advertising and not qa.