Parts and procedure change slightly between the two-wheel and four-wheel drive versions of the 2000 Chevy Blazer. Changing the shocks is generally recommended by shock absorber manufacturers and automobile manufacturers around every 35,000 to 50,000 miles. This will enhance the riding and stability performance of any vehicle. Unlike front-wheel drive vehicles, which employ struts in the front (and sometimes rear), the 2000 Blazer features both front and rear shock absorbers. The difference between the two is that shock absorbers are a separate component from the coil or leaf spring, while struts are compressed inside the coil spring as an assembly.
Crack the wheel nuts loose on one front tire with the lug nut socket wrench just enough to back them away from the wheel rim (no more than a half-turn).
Lift the Blazer with a car jack and then support it on a jack stand. Remove the wheel nuts and tire.
Spray the upper retaining nut and shock stem as well as the lower two retaining bolts on the lower control arm with a copious amount of penetrating spray. Allow five to 10 minutes for the spray to soak in.
Place a box-end wrench (ratcheting or not) onto the upper shock retaining nut. Place a smaller box-end wrench on the stem above the retaining nut. Hold the stem with the smaller wrench while turning the retaining nut counterclockwise to remove it. A non-ratcheting wrench will require you to lift the wrench off the nut to reposition it in order to completely remove the nut.
Remove the two lower retaining bolts at the bottom of the lower control arm with the ratchet and socket.
Allow the shock to drop down through the fork of the control arm. You may have to compress the shock (by hand) in order to remove it.
Place the lower washer and bushing, which should be supplied with the new shock, onto the stem of the shock and then place it through the fork of the lower control arm and up into the shock mount. Place the upper bushing and washer onto the stem and then thread the replacement upper retaining nut onto the stem, but do not tighten it yet.
Push up on the bottom of the shock and align the bolt tabs to the retaining bolt holes in the lower control arm. Thread the bolts back into the lower control arm and then tighten them with the ratchet and socket.
Tighten the upper retaining nut by reversing the removal procedure.
Replace the wheel and snug the wheel nuts tight to the hub. Lower the Blazer slowly and then re-tighten the wheel nuts in a crisscross fashion with the torque wrench set at 100 ft-lbs. and a socket. Repeat the procedure for the opposite front shock absorber.
Perform steps 1 and 2 as outlined in Section 1.
Spray the upper and lower retaining nuts and bolts with a copious amount of penetrating spray and then allow the spray to soak in for five to 10 minutes.
Remove the lower shock retaining nut with a ratchet and socket while holding the bolt head with a box-end wrench and then use a hammer to strike the bolt out through the lower shock mount. Repeat for the upper shock retaining nut and bolt. Remove the shock.
Replace the shock by reversing the procedure.
Replace the wheel and snug the wheel nuts tight to the hub. Lower the Blazer slowly and then re-tighten the wheel nuts in a crisscross fashion with the torque wrench set at 100 ft-lbs. and a socket. Repeat the procedure for the opposite front shock absorber.
