how do i compress and hold shocks?

okay ive got these KYB monomax's to put on my rear today. they are much taller than what i need but thats ok. i need to compress them down to 13 inches to be able to fit over my shock mounts. but once i compress and let go the expand. they came with 2 zip ties per shock. i figure that once i compress them i loop the zip ties through the mounting holes and that should hold it. so i try that and it works, but 3 seconds later *pop*. those zip ties wouldnt hold up to the weight. so i go to walmart to look for stronger zip ties find some that look stronger but once i try them i find they are weaker and snap right away. has anyone had this problem before? does anyone have any suggestions on how to compress and hold them?

well, when you take your old shocks off, the only thing holding you axle to your frame should be your leaf srpings. When I did mine, I just raised the frame up higher with my jack. The weight of the axle kept the leaf in the same spot so I could adjust the height of my frame shock mount depending on how high I jacked the frame up. Hope this makes some sense.

Get a couple of guys and squeeze that mthfkr on there, at least thats what me and my friend.

I get more leverage my laying on my back underneath the truck, attach the upper loop, then push up to compress the shock and attach the lower loop. It takes a bit of muscule but I have no problem. good luck bro

I get more leverage my laying on my back underneath the truck, attach the upper loop, then push up to compress the shock and attach the lower loop. It takes a bit of muscule but I have no problem. good luck bro

thats the same thing that i do http://www.CustomTacos.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif

hell yea, i have a hard time changing my shox as well, when i jack up my truck, i lay the rear on jack stands, i use my 2 ton jack to compress the shox. and since it has wheels, i can roll it right into the mount

yah ive been laying on my back and this shock is the toughest motherfkr ive ever seen. its so hard to compress even while standing up. so i tried using a floor jack but i couldnt get the bottom loop on cause the jack cradle was in the way and so was my sway bar.

thanks IdahoPU that really helped me. it worked like a charm after i did that and i dropped down the sway bar on the drivers side.

alright, good to hear it, how do they ride? http://www.CustomTacos.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif

i dont know yet. i cant drive till wednesday. i'll let you all know then. but i know its going to be sweet. i tried jumping up and down in my bed and it barely goes down and when it comes back up there is no rebound bouncing back down. just a small one inch drop and then back. sweeeeetttttt. that means no more bouncy bouncy plus that just helped with my load capacity too.

Also, give them some time to settle, the will probably be a little softer in a month or two. You don't want it too hard in the back, otherwise it will snap you pretty good when you hit a hole or something....