This procedure covers the replacement of both rear shock absorbers on a 2015-2020 Ford F-150 with 3.5L EcoBoost engine and rear-wheel drive configuration.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear shock absorber × 2 — Use OEM specification or quality aftermarket equivalent

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks in front of front wheels
3. If hardware is corroded, spray shock mounting bolts with penetrating oil and allow to soak for 15 minutes
4. Gather all tools and new shock absorbers before beginning work

Procedure

1. 1

   Raise and support vehicle
   Loosen rear wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on the ground. Raise the rear of the vehicle using a floor jack at the rear differential or frame rail. Place jack stands under the frame rails behind the rear axle. Lower vehicle onto jack stands ensuring stable support. The rear axle should be able to hang freely.
2. 2

   Remove rear wheels
   Remove the lug nuts completely and remove both rear wheels. Set wheels aside in a safe location away from the work area.
3. 3

   Support rear axle
   Place a floor jack under the rear axle near the shock mounting location. Raise jack just enough to make light contact with the axle, not to lift it. This prevents the axle from dropping too far when the shock is removed and makes reinstallation easier.
4. 4

   Remove upper shock mounting bolt
   Locate the upper shock mounting bolt at the frame rail. Use an 18mm socket and wrench to remove the upper mounting bolt. Hold the nut on one side while turning the bolt from the other. Remove the bolt completely and retain the hardware if reusing.
5. 5

   Remove lower shock mounting bolt
   Locate the lower shock mounting bolt at the rear axle. Use an 18mm socket and wrench to remove the lower mounting bolt and nut. You may need to slightly raise or lower the axle with the floor jack to align the bolt for easier removal. Remove the bolt completely.
6. 6

   Remove shock absorber
   Pull the shock absorber away from the mounting points and remove it from the vehicle. Inspect the mounting points on both the frame and axle for damage or corrosion. Clean mounting surfaces with a wire brush if necessary.
7. 7

   Install new shock absorber
   Position the new shock absorber between the frame and axle mounts. Install the upper mounting bolt first, threading it through the frame mount and shock bushing. Do not fully tighten yet. Align the lower mount and install the lower bolt through the axle mount and shock bushing. Again, do not fully tighten. Thread nuts onto both bolts hand-tight.
8. 8

   Torque shock mounting bolts
   Using a torque wrench and 18mm socket, torque both the upper and lower shock mounting bolts to 133 Nm (98 lb-ft). Hold the opposite side with a wrench to prevent spinning. Verify both fasteners are properly torqued.
   Torque spec

   Strut Bolts133 Nm (98 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Repeat for opposite side
   Reposition the floor jack under the opposite side of the rear axle. Repeat steps 4 through 8 to replace the shock absorber on the other side of the vehicle. Ensure both shocks are properly installed and torqued to specification.
   Torque spec

   Strut Bolts133 Nm (98 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Reinstall wheels and lower vehicle
    Reinstall both rear wheels, threading lug nuts on by hand. Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern until snug but not fully torqued. Raise vehicle slightly with floor jack, remove jack stands, and carefully lower vehicle to the ground. Remove floor jack from under axle.
11. 11

    Final torque wheel lug nuts
    With the vehicle on the ground and full weight on the wheels, torque the lug nuts to 156 Nm (115 lb-ft) using a star pattern. Double-check all lug nuts are properly torqued.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts156 Nm (115 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Ensure all mounting hardware is torqued to specification
2. Verify no tools or parts have been left in the wheel wells or under the vehicle

Verification

• Start vehicle and turn steering wheel fully left and right to verify no interference with new shocks
• Test drive vehicle at low speed over small bumps to verify shocks are functioning properly and no rattling or clunking is present
• Visually inspect shock mounting bolts after test drive to confirm they remain tight
• Check for any fluid leaks from the new shocks after initial test drive

More procedures for this vehicle