Another 5100 install thread :)

OK, so I tried installing the billlys/ebaichs. leaving the tophat installed (3 bolt thing at the top of the strut) was a fail even with a huge pry bar and a spring compressor.

So they had a wall mount compressor I was finally able to complete the strut (very quickly actually).

Will I have alot of trouble getting the complete strut installed with just the LBJ and swaybar mount disconnected?

What do I need to do/take off to install the complete strut in place?

Thanks im starting again at 9AM tomorow, gotta get done by sunday AM to go to work..lol

I'll probably wait a week or so to get the alignment, I dont drive far or fast and would like to get the leafs installed maybe next weekend?..

Thanks any helps appreciated

Edit, my GF is so smart she read this and automatically knew what LBJ stood for

 

Remove the upper ball joint, then use a pry bar between the LCA and where the bump stop hits to pry down the LCA allowing you to fit the longer shock/coil setup.

Edit* Nevermind I didn't see that you plan to remove the lower ball joint. That's one way to do it too. If you do disconnect the LBJ I recommend throwing some loctite on the LBJ bolts so you don't have to worry about them loosening up and shearing off.

 

I was prying down on the lca in the bumpstop area. The lbj is unbolted. Im not seeing how removing the top bj would make a difference?..

Thanks!!!

 

See my edit haha

Most people remove the upper ball joint.

 

Ok so remove the upper BJ?

Anyone besides brent? LOL

 

That's just how I was told to do it, but I'm sure the LBJ would work just as well.

You can also loosen the LCA bolts to allow them to move a bit easier. Just remember to mark the alignment cams, otherwise you'll have to get an alignment immediately.

 

I didnt have time to try to install the complete strut into the truck I ran out of time-Hopefully I can install the complete strut into the truck with just the LBJ bolts (4) and the sway bar mount disconnected and just pry the LCA down..

thoughts anyone?

 

i know some people put the bottle jack upsidedown in the wheel well pushing down on the UCA. the first time i put my coil overs in i had to have someone there prying down as hard as they could to get it in, but now i have LR UCAs so i just uninstall the UBJ and it slides in.

and you HAVE to locktite the LBJ bolts when you put them back in and torque them to spec. and then re torque them in a week

 

Everything this guy said x2 haha ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

Got it on the bj's

they feel tight but ive thought about replacing them since its all apart...

Im still not tracking on the reason to why you'd need to press on the UCA (down). Are you saying to press down on the UCA with LBJ bolted up or un bolted like I am currently?

Will the strut assy bolt in? Or will I have to take more crap apart? thanks guys I REALLY appreciate it

 

Think he meant the LCA, you have to press down the LCA to get the strut assembly to fit.

 

I've seen people keep the LBJ connected and put a bottle jack on the UCA to push the whole thing down but I personally haven't tried it

 

I tried keeping the ball joints connected and use the bottle jack. But I couldn't force it down enough.

 

They hobby shop had a special pry bar to pry down LCA with, I tried it when I was trying to put it all together loose (springs and shocks not bolted to the 'tophat')

So im hoping I can put the strut asssmebled into the truck by just prying down on the LCA?

 

When I put my OME 882s on, I used the bottle jack to push the UCA down. This was done to push the LCA down enough to get the bottom strut eyelet threaded.

 

wood blocks?

I have seen that video floating around here about using the truck itself as a spring compressor where you loosen the LCA and let the spring de-compress by letting a jack down under the LCA. People said that was the best method but Im not sure

 

No, the bottle jack would slide into a position that couldn't push down the UCA.

Yeah, that's how you remove them. He's trying to install aftermarket coils/shocks.

 

So you had the LBJ bolted up at this time correct?

Thanks guys I appreciate the ideas/comments help hopefully I'll have pix by tom evening

 

Yup this is what I was talking about. Because if the lbj is still connected pushing down on the uca pushes down on lca

 

Sweet so that works yall did it like that? Will i be ok driving un aligned for a week or so?