Yes, you kind of do need to know that simply because you want the upper three mount studs to align with the mount holes. As this setup is actually a coil-over shock as opposed to a MacPherson strut which has an upper bearing, it's very difficult to index the hat once all that spring pressure is on it. Sorry I didn't think about this the other day when we spoke.

 

Terminology is something I do try and get right. Too many refer to these components as struts. Thanks! KM

 

I believe the bolt hole on the bottom of the strut rotates easier, use a long screw driver to line up the bottom hole/A arm bolt. Maybe mine got installed wrong though.

 

Ok - good to know. I’m thinking I can get a visual of the exiting shocks mounted and the make an alignment on the new assemblies. I’m hoping the “precision” of the indexing is relative to the top bolts only so it doesn’t have to tight ( like no need to be aligned within + or - 1 degree).

 

When your building them take multiple pictures compared from top to bottom so you can see where you need to be. If your within 10 degrees to 15 degrees you’ll be fine.

 

Are the three bolt holes evenly spaced (equilateral triangular)? And are you putting the springs on yourself with a spring compressor?

 

I’ll be taking new stuff to a shop to assemble. Plan was to get those built, then do a swap at home.

I’ll look at the new parts soon and post some pics.

 

Here’s the parts diagram.

 

Here’s the parts diagram.

I would note the orientation of the final wrap on your coils... try to set the new assemblies up the same way. Not sure if it matters on these trucks but I've seen where it can cause some clearance issues due to the geometry of how the spring compresses

 

I like your plan!
I know you already purchased springs, but are they oem (Ford original equipped spring 🤣) or did you by chance choose an aftermarket spring of the same rate?
Are you running stock wheel and tire weight combination?

 

I bought (dare I say it?) OEM springs from Ford. I supplied my current spring tag number to the parts people and they supplied replacements based on what the truck came with. Then I sent that parts diagram I posted above and said I wanted 2x of everything. Stock wheels, stock tire size.

 

👍👍

Was just curious because I believe that doing what you are doing is a GREAT opportunity for guys that want to upsize to big beefy All Terrain tires to get much better results by increasing the spring rate a bit to manage that heavier damping burden.

Or put another way, it's expensive to change to a coilover that is designed for a beefy front wheel package. (Fox, Icon, King) But I always felt that a Bilstein mounted in a little higher spring rate would be a great value equation for the guys not wanting to throw 3 or 4 grand at the project.

But if you are sticking with factory weight wheel/tire, then factory spring rate with Bilstein damping IS a great improvement and value equation.

 

Talking this through with my buddy and taking your feedback so far:
I’ll take off the front wheels and get an indexed alignment from the old assembly and use that to get alignment marks on new pieces 3, 5 and 6 as they would sit on the new strut / shock (above diagram). I’ll mark the new pieces, then get them assembled using that indexing.
When I take off the old assembly at a later time, I can verify old alignment to new alignment (index).
If it is off, an AutoZone set of spring compressors can be used on the new assemblies to take tension off, but not disassemble, the new assembly and I should be able to rotate part 6 with the bolts to the correct alignment.
It’s a plan. Let’s see how it pans out.
Unless there are other ideas?

 

It may be tough to turn the shock after building the coil-over but it is possible. Especially with all new parts. Just in case some adjustment is needed. For what it's worth I adjusted my Icons even mounted on the vehicle, with out jacking, and that involved several full turns against the loaded spring. KM

 

Mr. snakebitten,
Didn't you recently do some suspension improvements? Sway bars? How's that working out? KM

 

In an effort to not hijack too badly, I documented everything in the rambling thread.

But in short, yes. I used both analog (RAS-damping & Antisway bar) and digital CCD editing (software) efforts to dial in a nice empty truck ride.

I actually enjoy tinkering with suspension.

 

Are the three bolt holes evenly spaced (equilateral triangular)?

mobdro 2022

 

Are the three bolt holes evenly spaced (equilateral triangular)?

No they are not.

 

The F150 is the most popular vehicle in America. When you bring your bilstein shocks to the local garage, there's probably an F150 there on the lot to reference the spring alignment.

 

You cannot stick a screwdriver or extension through the bottom of the shock on the 2014+ trucks due to the whack double bolt connection. You might be able to cross it through the bolts though.

But having just installed Bilstein 6112's on my Lexus with new top hats and springs, this is exactly what I did. That was with 700 in-lb springs too, way stiffer than the ones on the F150. once the top hat studs are in the upper mount the shock should turn with a little effort.

 

I just installed two sets in the past two weeks. Both were built a bit off. The 2013 I used a pry bar. Turned to where it needed to be no problem. The 2017 I stuck in a bolt and went between the shock body gently and the bolt. Turned straight very easily. If your resourceful this is a very moot point.

 

That's where the farmer tools come in handy. Like an 18 inch crescent wrench. KM

 

When I did mine, I didn't check the alignment of things closely enough. I had to throw them back in the compressor and give them a squeeze and take a 2nd shot at getting things aligned close enough to work.

 

I started to check that I have all components to pre-build my 5100’s. Looks like the spring seat, shown in this diagram as the ring on the stock shock item #1, is not available separately.
Am I correct in my assumption that I need to take original shock off and reuse the spring seat?
If so, I can’t pre-build my 5100’s - unless someone out there has a pair of old shocks with spring seats that they’re willing to sell?

 

I started to check that I have all components to pre-build my 5100’s. Looks like the spring seat, shown in this diagram as the ring on the stock shock item #1, is not available separately.
Am I correct in my assumption that I need to take original shock off and reuse the spring seat?
If so, I can’t pre-build my 5100’s - unless someone out there has a pair of old shocks with spring seats that they’re willing to sell?

View attachment 184645

I couldn't have guessed. I wouldn't have thought that the Ford OE shocks come with the seat, I've never seen that to be the case.

 

No, you won’t be able to. You need that piece.

 

YouTube to the rescue, seems you need parts from the OEM unit to build the 5100 unit. KM

 

I’ve watched the @Stage3Motorsports video many times. I just can’t find the lower spring seat / perch sold separately. I’ve got an email out to a trusted Ford Parts guy - I’ll update when I find out the availability.

 

Hard to imagine you cannot get that seat. They surely get messed up in some way and need replaced. Or you’d at least think the possibility is accounted for

 

Or do they make you buy a whole strut assembly then? Seen sillier things.

 

My Ford parts guy says those are only available on the struts. We have to knock them off to use with the new struts.
Every time I try to move forward with pre-building my Bilsteins I’m getting stymied. Looks like I need to take mine off first, or find a set of used front struts to get the spring seats off of.

I’ll start a Want To Buy ad for this…
😥

 

My Ford parts guy says those are only available on the struts. We have to knock them off to use with the new struts.
Every time I try to move forward with pre-building my Bilsteins I’m getting stymied. Looks like I need to take mine off first, or find a set of used front struts to get the spring seats off of.

I’ll start a Want To Buy ad for this…
[emoji26]

Bummer man, I was rooting for you! I did the disassembly and reassembly myself and using 4 spring compressors on each spring was still pretty scary. I think I would farm that out to someone with a wall mounted unit next time.

Doesn't shock surplus preassemble these units? I wonder how they source the spring seats.