Barnes 4wd shock skids

[da_jokker]

Looks like you’ve done your research, the Barnes skid does wrap around the bottom of the strut mount and offers some bottom protection but unfortunately most of the better designs require the big tight bottom strut bolt removal. It’s been argued that a skid incorporating that big bolt provides superior strength and rigidity.

They are no doubt stronger, but how strong do you really need to be? I mean a 1/4 grade 8 bolt can support like over 3,000 lbs (not saying these use that small of a bolt, just using this as an example)

I mean you can't go wrong, but personally I don't have any worries of my Barnes not doing what they were designed to do. They already have scratches on them so I know they are working

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[0ne]

They are no doubt stronger, but how strong do you really need to be? I mean a 1/4 grade 8 bolt can support like over 3,000 lbs (not saying these use that small of a bolt, just using this as an example)

I mean you can't go wrong, but personally I don't have any worries of my Barnes not doing what they were designed to do. They already have scratches on them so I know they are working

Agreed, I have them too because they were the most affordable at the time on eBay, I’m not hardcore, I didn’t have to remove that beast bottom bolt and they protect the Bilstein resi and enough of the bottom for my mall crawling adventures.

 

[crenca]

So I went to install these yesterday thinking it would be easy peasy (thus not really leaving myself enough time), but even after taking the wheel off I could not get my fingers in between the shock mount and shocks to hold the nuts (so that I could ratchet the two screws in from the inner side). Tight tight space...combined with my big hands

How did you guys get these installed? Maybe by taping the nut to a small wrench/ratchet wrench to hold the nut in place? Looking for a plan before I try again...

 

[crenca]

Thought I would ping this thread again before I craw under the Bronco today. Looking for a strategy to hold the nuts (tight tight space) on the backside of these two bolts so I can tighten them:

 

[Brian_B]

Thought I would ping this thread again before I craw under the Bronco today. Looking for a strategy to hold the nuts (tight tight space) on the backside of these two bolts so I can tighten them:

I may not be seeing the entire picture, but from this angle sure looks like it wouldn’t be an issue if you pop the tire off?

 

[crenca]

I may not be seeing the entire picture, but from this angle sure looks like it wouldn’t be an issue if you pop the tire off?

Yep, I just borrowed Barnes stock pick. With the tire off getting to the nuts is actually not any easier, because the skid up next to the shock (when in position) creates such a tight space - I can't even get my finger in there (though I do have large hands), and last time my standard size wrench (maybe its big too ) could not even squeeze in their usefully. I'm thinking maybe the solution is to stop by Harbor and get the smallest/thinnest wrench/rachet wrench set they have, and then maybe tape the nut into the wrench and see if I can wiggle it on and hold it long enough to tighten...wondering what others have done.

 

[Brian_B]

Hmm

This is from the install instructions, which look straight forward:

I see your issue now - the bolts don't go all the way through, they are just short and bolt to the inner plate of the shock mount - so the shock itself is in the way.

Well, first thing I think of looking at it that way, but probably not the easiest solution there is: get yourself a cheater bar and pop the bottom bolt off the shock - that's a 300ft-lb nut there, but with it off (and some finagling of the shock) you can drop the rear end down a bit further on a jack or hydraulic table, get the nuts on there without pulling the entire shock out, and then lift it back on once you do.

Apart from that, I think your idea of something skinny to hold the nut would be the other option and not a bad idea. Popping the shock off isn't hard (other than you need either a big impact or a nice cheater bar), but it certainly adds a lot to this installation that should otherwise be straight forward.

 

[crenca]

Well, first thing I think of looking at it that way, but probably not the easiest solution there is: get yourself a cheater bar and pop the bottom bolt off the shock - that's a 300ft-lb nut there, but with it off (and some finagling of the shock) you can drop the rear end down a bit further on a jack or hydraulic table, get the nuts on there without pulling the entire shock out, and then lift it back on once you do.

Thanks for your thoughts! I don't have the tools for the shock mount, so I am hoping to avoid that route, but I might have to end up there...oh well, more tools, there are worse things in life My queen laid some honey-do's on me today so I did not get to the tape-the-nut-into-a-thin-wrench plan, but hopefully I can try it out tomorrow

 

[dgorsett]

Thanks for your thoughts! I don't have the tools for the shock mount, so I am hoping to avoid that route, but I might have to end up there...oh well, more tools, there are worse things in life My queen laid some honey-do's on me today so I did not get to the tape-the-nut-into-a-thin-wrench plan, but hopefully I can try it out tomorrow

I did mine over a year ago and remember no issue. Mine were Bilstien 5100s w/o a reservoir, looks like the reservoir might get in your way. I like your taping the nut to a wrench idea, I've used that one before. FWIW I think the reservoir is higher, maybe out of the way on some (Sas or non Sas Badlands, one or the other?). I got the Barnes specifically so I wouldn't have to mess with the shock bolt and love them.

 

[Glade Runner]

Got my Christmas present put on this morning

 

[crenca]

Got my Christmas present put on this morning

Do tell, how did you hold the nuts (while you ratchet) on the backside of the two bolts shown in your first pick...I still have not circled back to this yet.

 

[userdude]

Do tell, how did you hold the nuts (while you ratchet) on the backside of the two bolts shown in your first pick...I still have not circled back to this yet.

If you have a skinny enough wrench, try taping the nuts on one side (so they're stuck to the nut and taped on the wrench). Maybe then you can place the nut where it's supposed to go and get enough tug to keep it in place while you start the thread. Just make sure you can take the tape off...

There are a bunch of different styles, maybe one can work.

 

[bradcd]

When I put these on 1.5+ years ago I remember using painters tape to hold the nut still just long enough to get it threaded. Like loop the tape over in a sticky circle, set the nut on top, then hold it up vertically stuck to a stick or wrench. I do not have big hands and I recall a lot of finesse required.

 

[Glade Runner]

Do tell, how did you hold the nuts (while you ratchet) on the backside of the two bolts shown in your first pick...I still have not circled back to this yet.

I started them by holding the nut with one or two fingers. Then once the bolt started in the threads I put a crescent wrench on them.



edited to add:

These are the wrenches I used, from a set labeled with the Dewalt name bought at Costco about six years ago. Not sure if they still get them in or not.

 

[Huntsetter1]

I installed last week. I found if I put the bolt through the inside and nut outside it was easier. I have one like the pictures in the instructions and three reversed. My ocd want to change that one but it’s such a mfer that I’m leaving it.

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