My AAL fiasco

Installed my AAL this weekend, but not all went as planed.

So I start Saturday afternoon, beautiful day, but a bit windy. Jacked the Taco up, set the jack stands. Starting on the drivers side, got the brake lines, shock, etc. unbolted. U bolts were pretty rusted, but a DeWalt cordless impact wrench made short work of them.

Pulled the bumpstop and first problem arose. The center pin nut was so rusted you couldn't tell it from the bolt , So clamped the spring pack, and chiseled the nut off, so far so good. Center pin came out no problem.

Stepped to the back to lower the axel, but decided to take a smoke break. So, I am standing there, puffing away, and WOOSH, a Fraking huge gust of wind hits the Taco broadside. The next 4 or 5 seconds seemed to happen in slow motion as I watch the Taco rock, jack stands start tilting and kick out. Down she comes, Luckily, I had a couple of crib blocks under the back, at the hitch, which she landed on with a thud, sending the floor jack under the punkin shooting out to the side.

Of course, I am standing there with my jaw agape, wondering WTF just happened, and then being glad I wasn't under her working.

So there she sits, on those 2 cribs, and the punkin only 1/4 off the pavement. Ended up getting another floor jack from a neighbor, and with both of us jacking under the frame and cribbing, we finally got it back up in the air.

At this point, it's almost dark, but we managed to finish the drivers side install and every thing went back in place, which surprised the hella out me.

Decided the let her and myself rest for the night, and finish it off in the morning, which I did, and it went much smoother, other than having to chisel the center pin nut off again.

Anyways, that is how my weekend went, and BTW, beware of the wind

 

pics or it didnt happen! jk man glad no one was under the truck

 

Man you are lucky, could have been under there at that time. Guess smoking saved your life lol

 

X2

 

Probably the only time smoking will save your ass. Glad you're ok.

 

So true, and to think, I was gonna start Chantix Monday, think I'll hold off a bit, especially after hearing the horrid dreams my oldest son had using it. Don't quite think I'm up for that, one bad experience at a time please, lol.

 

i need a smoke brb

 

what were you smoking?? Pothead

 

I'm glad your okay. I lost a great friend in a similar freak accident. Let's have fun while working on our trucks. Most of all lets be careful !

 

Nope, haven't touched the bud in over 20 years