Suspension install

Looking for an honest breakdown of time and involvement in full suspension install. I'm not the most mechanically inclined but I want to learn. Here's what I have. DK UCA's & LCA's, new gusseted spindles, front and rear OME BP-51 co's/shocks, Alcan Springs with flip kit and ICON bolt on bump stops......Ready, Set, Go.

 

somewhere between 4 hours and 5 days. I'm not kidding...it all depends if you have the right tools, mechanical aptitude and if everything goes out smooth. A simple stripped bolt could set you back hours.

Going off your list, that is quite a parts list you have. I would definitely have somebody thats familiar with what's the task at least give you a hand.

 

One thought, I have heard that it is smart to gwt a second set of UCA arm bolts as the factory are easier to remove by cutting and then reverse installing the new? Ever come across this... What's your take?? Thanks

 

I have done everything myself to my truck. The UCA Bolts were a bigger pain in the ass than anything else I did. I didn’t cut them though. Just take it slow and don’t get in a rush. Put penetrate oil on all your bolts before working on it. Learn how to piggy back a box end wrench to get more leverage and have a cheater bar. Cheater bar will help you get that axel nut off. It is rewarding working on your own truck. You learn something every time you work on it. Good luck and have some cold beer nearby!

 

And obviously you can step by step everything your doing while watching Somebody else do it on YouTube. That will help you a lot too.

 

Will do thanks @KILLINTIME

 

Yeah man!

 

Holy Crap! That's a metric shit ton of money. While it's all apart, you should definitely do the ECGS bushing, a new seal, and a Lexus clamshell drain plug. If the wheel bearings have over about 60K miles on them, I would replace them while it's all apart, as well as all the seals. I'm betting it's gonna be a good solid 2 days of work. Rusty bolts, needing more parts, etc. are going to put the skids on progress.

 

47k on the truck. Little to no rust as it does not get driven much this time of year...damn salt up here is brutal so I commute in a beater. Thanks for the added suggestions @Muddinfun

 

It sounds like you have never done any of these at which point I would suggest the following.

Icon bumpstops: 1 saturday
Leaf springs: 1 sunday

1 front side: 1 saturday
1 front side: 1 sunday

Icon bolt on bumpstops require grinding/cutting 4 rivets per side that if you have not done once or twice can kick your ass. If you set aside one day for the whole project it will give you plenty of time to run and grab more grinding discs, a MAPP torch, air hammer, drill bits, etc. Plus giving the frame a quick spray paint once-over and letting it dry since you're from Minnesota eh

Then the next day do the leaf springs, again one side at a time.

Then the next weekend do one front side on a saturday, the next side on a sunday.

The reason is because there is a lot of moving pieces and more often than not (especially in a winter state) you will find stuff to be frozen (leaf spring bolts), seized (LCA cam bolts), and require cutting/replacing. So you want to make sure you take it one day at a time so that you can be sure to button everything up and keep the truck driveable while you work on it. Will also prevent you from forgetting to do certain things on one side because you are trying to bounce back and forth.

Make sure you have the number and hours handy to the local dealership and autozone. Keep a friend or girlfriend in the house all day so you can borrow their car if you need to.

The first time I did my UCAs I did the whole cutting/reverse thing. The second time I just said screw it and bent the inner fender. It's honestly not a big deal to bend them and makes life easier.

 

That's great news. It's going to be an awesome truck. So, I would still do the ECGS bushing, a new seal, and a Lexus clamshell drain plug. You're also going to need a new inner wheel bearing seal, because it gets pounded into the knuckle. There is a seal that runs next to it that is pounded onto the CV joint, but I wouldn't bother with that with your low miles. The suggestion to cut the UCA bolt is a good one. Then install the new bolt backwards. With your low miles and not driven in the winter, there's a possibility that the alignment cams aren't seized, but you should be ready to buy new ones if they are seized. Definitely step up and buy OEM alignment cams.

 

Holy sh#%....I've created a monster. Deep breath, I'll get there. Lol
Thanks man.

 

I have 100% faith that you will be perfectly fine lol just don't want you to get burnt out or end up getting frustrated. Keep it a light carefree hobby instead of sweatshop labor lol Plus it gives you a chance to take a victory lap each time you install something, take some pictures, post them up in the "what have you done today" thread, and then have a cold brewski while you watch more youtube videos or read threads about the next thing you will tackle.

but it's all up to you, if you feel up for it you could burn through it in one weekend I'm sure. Ou also, for the Icon bumpstops I would suggest reading through the BAMF hangers and Archive HH threads as there are a lot of strategies that people post up that work for removing those body rivets. They are basically the same thing just instead of the leaf hanger it's the bumpstop pad.

 

Thanks Bubbles

 

My guess is 16 hours if you have someone helping part of the time.

I replaced front coil overs, took apart new rear leafs, added a leaf to them, installed the leafs and new shocks in the rear with my brother in law helping a bit and it was 8 hours.

Air tools and a lift would have cut off a couple hours.

The extra parts you are replacing would probably cost another day.

And If you come across some seriously rusted bolts and snap something, all bets are off.

 

Nothing to add. Looks like you have all the advice you need, a beater as a 2nd vehicle so no time restrictions, and an eagerness to DIY. Some would've simply paid a shop..i usually find new challenges as an excuse to add new tools to my collection. Kudos OP

 

I agree w/ this.

 

Tool list is a big one for me and aptitude. I'm learning daily and Im looking at a mid March install as time/work allows. Thanks all.

 

I did Kings, rear springs, UCAs, TC spindles, and ECGS bushing in 3 days. That includes an alignment. Good luck with your truck.

 

with proper tools and not having to deal with any rusted/seized bolts easily be done in a weekend.