I'm glad this tread has come around. My 5100's just arrived yesterday, and I plan on installing this afternoon.

Question, How long did it take to install all 4 shocks, and any tips to make it easier? I have flat flares installed, so removing the liners from the front is easy, will this suffice when tighten the front shocks?

 

i just reused the bushings and washers from my stock shock. it fit like a glove with the boot and retainer washer on. i recommend doing it this way unless you factory bushings are cracked or worn out.

 

I had been planning on installing them during lunch today, but realized that with needing access to the allen key, might take a bit longer. The rears can be swapped in like 5 minutes; time length will be directly tied to how hard it is to remove the bolts due to rust. I just put on the EVO rockstars last weekend, so I know the bolts will be nice and easy

 

You're right on - I didn't have a problem since I installed mine on the ground and the top nut was the last thing I did.

 

No need to remove the liners, i did them with mine on.

 

so two things I think worth noting, first. these suckers are stiff! makes the install a bit harder than my OMEs, in the fronts I threaded the uppers by hand, then used a flat head screwdriver to give me some leverage in lining up the lower hole. tightened up the lower, then used a L-shaped allen key and a ratcheting wrench. I put the wrench on, then finagled the allen key into place, and just let it brace itself against the well and tightened it up. second issue I had, that I wasn't counting on is there was never really any resistance to tightening the nut; I just let it go till a good half inch of thread was exposed so if anyone has any ideas on how tight that should be let me know. on the rear, was still very easy. My install sucked because I have the evo rock stars, and forgot to get a shorter set, so I had to just up the frame, but then it was cake, just threaded the lower bolts, compressed the shock and twisted it up and into the body, lined it up with the mounting holes and just tightened all the bolts. the shocks are just a bear to compress, so keep that in mind when you go to install; total install time for me was just over an hour; but half of that was trying uselessly to install the rear shocks before jacking up the vehicle. Glad I had some extra bump stops laying around!

 

LOL yeah a good floor jack on the frame to get the axles drooped will make the install way easier! :P

As far as how much to tighten, i ran into the same issue as you. I just tightened until the spacers were compressed closer to what the stock ones were...figured if it was that crucial of a tightening pressure there would have been a set of instructions lol.

-Adam