Suspension lift solo install

Those Dakars are heavy, no doubt. I would say the rear was definitely physically harder than the front because of the sheer weight of the leaf packs. How were you able to get the rear leaf spring bolt out with the spare tire still in the carrier?? There wasn't enough room to pull the bolt out.

 

I attached a few videos for you... I've did a full lift install by myself first time doing it and it took me five hours but was also a jeep cherokee. but seeing from these videos you should be able to do it in a day even if you run into problems

dakars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31ORzqSCKHQ

front lift:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E6u7dC7EHg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo0FJSi-KYs

 

@sc_splitter

I did my entire suspension solo...on a dirt driveway... on a hill.

Never did one before, but with the help of youtube and tips on this site, finished it in 3, 4 hour sessions.

Just take your time, and if your run into trouble, the internet is a magical place.

Oh, when you take your leafs off, make sure you have cam straps to pull your axle forward when you put on the new ones.

 

I installed icon stage 4 by myself. It's very doable but time consuming. I had some TW members flake on me but wanted to do it myself. so when I have to rebuild, change or do any work I can do it myself. Invest in some tools and take your time.

 

Let me know if you have any issues!

 

I'm about to start my install next week sometime. Hopefully someone on here can help me if I run into trouble. Got all these post as notes

 

I've done a grand total of 9 of them....by myself. And one with help. The one with help was actually the most difficult. We kept getting in each other's way. Take your time. Use jack stands. A second floor jack can be handy.

 

Its doable, I recently did a full set of Kings, UCA, Dakars, and Ride Rites over the course of two days.. by myself.. In my garage.. with the door open.. (too small to close the door) wind and snow outside... think it was close to 20 degrees.. Needless to say it was miserable, but I got her done.

Prior to this I had never touched anything suspension related. My only experience was basic services, greasing the chassy, fluids, brakes, etc.

In the end don't ever be intimidated or feel like you cant do something. With enough time, planning, resources, perseverance and beer (or coffee) you can do just about anything.

**Don't get me wrong though; there are some things you just shouldn't attempt without the proper training or resources.. That's where the proper amounts of planning come in, combined with good judgement.

Just remember if you ever feel like giving up or hit a road block you have a great place to come to and ask for help.

 

I did mine alone. The rear leafs are the only area I would even want help. That's the only component that would even benefit from 4 hands. I am far from a mechanic, completed in 8 hours.

 

#1 most important thing. Make sure you know how to properly secure your vehicle on well-made jack stands. You can fix whatever you might screw up on your truck, but maimed or dead...eh.

 

Definitely NOT a terrible idea if you are mechanically inclined. It's not a hard job. I did mine by myself with basic tools. It doesn't take all day unless you have rusty bolts or forget to do your research and prepare. I installed a full suspension lift for another TW member a few weeks ago and 1 rusty bolt stopped us in our tracks.

Just take your time, be safe, and don't get flustered if you run into a problem.

 

This. If you get flustered, just step away and take a break.

 

Its entirely possible solo, I did mine OME/Dakar's this summer over a weekend, like 5 hour days (rears Saturday, fronts Sunday). I found the hardest part was getting the leafs in and realigning the axle into the center pin. Well placed bottle jack on the front helped to get the new strut assembly in. I did it entirely with hand tools and a small propane torch; destroyed a pair of gloves, better those than my hands though.

The most time consuming part was the 8 hours cutting the LCA bolts off the frame when they were seized and unalignable; And pressing off the old wheel bearings from the hubs. But it is an '06 that spends a lot of time in the salt and mud.

And don't for get the beer.

 

Did mine myself w/out issue. First time replacing a set of leaf springs.(wish I would have done it on my first gen///prob. would have saved me from buying the second gen. Installed Ome Dakar and Ome 887 coil overs and then a month later;TC uca's No issues and the videos helped/watched the leaf video a cpl times before completing. .
As mentioned above, jack stands and at least one floor/bottle jack
Good Luck and congrats on saving money for a future group buy

 

I actually prefer working on my truck by myself because of this reason.