Old Smoky

Have the 5100's but no truck yet. Plan on installing them shortly after getting it.

I plan on installing them myself in my driveway. I don't have a lift, just some jacks and stands.

Any tricks? pointers, tips?

Any special tools needed?

Worth the hassle to do it myself? or just go to my local shop to have done? I plan on having them align it afterward anyway. Plus, I like the idea they would be responsible if something isn't right after the install.

MUFFMAN

It can be done. The rears are easy. The fronts are more of a pain. This time around I had my fronts installed/aligned @ the same time by a spring Company.

Loggerhead

I was in the same boat as you except I only have the fronts. Thought about doing it myself to save some coin but after reading on here and talking to a few people I decided to let a shop do it and I'm glad I did. They did it for $60 a side. I tried to talk them down a bit but the installer told me even if I had done it myself it would have cost about $60 for them to remove the stock coils from the stock shocks and put them on the new Bilstein's. So I decided it wasn't worth the hassle and after watching them do it with the right equipment (lift, impact wrench, coil spring compressor) I feel I made the right decision. Plus the alignment only cost me $40. They didn't charge me tax for whatever reason (maybe an oversight) so with everything it only cost me $159.95.

Old Smoky

Sounds like $159.00 well spent.

I'm a handyman garage wrencher and do the basics on my vehicles including shock replacement, etc. But, since I need to get the alignment afterwards anyway, might as well have the shop do the shock replacement as well.

Loggerhead

That'd be my humble advice.

JLonsinger2011

I personally refuse to pay anyone to do something I can do myself, so if I were you, do it on your own. You can do it without a lift, but the fronts will be a PITA. Try to find a lift for ease of install.

Loggerhead

That's all good and well but let's be honest, how many people have access to a lift? Then there's the issue of the coil springs. You can buy a cheap coil spring compressor but those things are not completely safe and I just don't think if you're driving a $30,000 + truck that $150 is that big an investment. But hey, to each his own.

JLonsinger2011

I didn't say it was impossible to do without a lift, you're just going to need more beer without one. I'm driving around a $30,000 truck and $150 is still a lot of money I can use elsewhere, sir.

Vizsla

I did mine. Have had some bad experiences with farming work out. It is pretty simple, do not use an impact on anything, use a paint marker on the spring seat, coil, and top mount to align everything during re-assembly. You really need to buy or rent two sets of coil spring compressors, it is a fight to do it with one set, and not very safe. Snug everything up(use blue loctite), install wheels and tires, and give it a few good bounces, then torque everything to spec. Re-check torque after a week. If possible drive a little for a few days before alignment, not mandatory, but it lets everything settle in. Don't forget the epas, disconnect the battery, turn on the lights, and I also unplug the unit, before you even get started.

Loggerhead

Well OP, you've got 3 good experiences. Guess you've just gotta decide whether its worth the hassle of installing yourself or if $150 is alot of money to you. Not to mention if you hire a shop to do it they take all of the responsibility and liability if something gets screwed up. We call that insurance. LOL!