I was wondering if when replacing the ball joints if it would be easier to not have a shock absorber attached? The reason I am asking is because I am going to replace all 4 shocks and was wondering if it would save me time to do this both together or if doing the shocks seperately would be fine. Also any general advice to replacing the shocks or the balljoints would be amazing. I have been doing loads of research on BF.com but did not come across an answer for the question above. Thanks in advance.

 

Ok not sure on the ball joints but on my shock (keep in mind I did this before I cranked the t-bars) and I don't know I am guessing that since it took 5 turns on each bolt to level my truck and the fact that from the pictures some of you guys had on here that my t-bars were cranked down because the front of my truck was low and you could see the bolt sticking out of the crossmember. It was like this the last time I had it aligned.So to put in new shocks was a bi**h so my advice the way I had to do it would be to (this if they come like this - mine did) leave the band on your front ones on until you have them inside the control arms and near ready to bolt them in otherwise trying to pry and compress them down to push them in could make it harder. Yours may be different though, because if you have t-bar cranked it will make it easier I would think.
Like I said though that was the case on my truck yours could be different.

 

Do them at the same time (that was the question asked wasn't it)... It will be easier with all of the other stuff out of the way. But as '99 said in a ram-shackle kind of way, leave the strap on them until you have them in then just take a side cutter and cut the strap. I bolted mine in on the top first, then cut the strap and attached the bottom.

 

Yes replace shocks while its apart.

 

i did mine on a hoist and i left them on it helps steady the lower arm, i center drilled the rivets almost to the arm then with a heavy sharp chisel 1-2 hits and off they come. good luck.