2004 Cadillac Escalade EXT Shock Absorber

Gas-charged shock absorbers contain high-pressure gas. You should not remove the snap ring from inside the top of the tube. If the snap ring is removed, the contents of the shock absorber will come out with extreme force which may result in personal injury.

You need to raise and support the vehicle, disconnect the electrical connector and the airline, support the rear axle, disconnect the ESC sensor, remove the upper and the lower shock absorber nut and the bolt, and remove the shock absorber.

You need to remove the front shock absorber and the lower portion of the upper insulator and install the new lower portion of the upper insulator to the shock and the front shock absorber.

You need to make an indentation 10 mm from the bottom of the tube, clamp the shock absorber, drill a hole in the shock absorber at the centerpunch, make an indentation in the middle of the tube, drill a second hole in the shock absorber at the centerpunch, remove the shock absorber, hold the shock absorber over a drain pan horizontally with the holes down, and move the rod in and out of the tube to completely drain the oil from the shock absorber.

You need to raise and support the vehicle, support the lower control arm, disconnect the ESC link rod, grasp the connector lock tabs, disengage the connector, hold the tension end, remove the nut, the upper insulator, the shock absorber mounting bolt and the shock absorber.