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AAL Install. (second gen)

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by chris4x4, Sep 28, 2009.

  1. Jun 10, 2010 at 9:46 PM
    #181
    raycie

    raycie Well-Known Member

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    Gonna take care of this tomorrow morning... What is the hammer for?
     
  2. Jun 11, 2010 at 6:06 AM
    #182
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 [OP] With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    4.10 gears, sliders, and lots of buttons.
    To help tap the center pin into the leaf springs, if needed.
     
  3. Jun 11, 2010 at 1:40 PM
    #183
    raycie

    raycie Well-Known Member

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    Done and done.. Thanks to everyone who posted here and especially Chris for the wisdom and insight.

    Completed the aal / block removal in 3 1/2 with setup and clean up. Couple of things this first-timer would like to share...
    1. Chock the wheels!!!!!... Both sides!!! I had some on both fronts, but when I went to let down the axel, it started rolling back towards me..good thing I stopped it from coming down and put something behind the rear of the front tires.
    2. Use high Jack stands or wood like in the pics... I had 22" stands and went up almost the whole way. If you are too low, it will be very hard to get the centering pin under the leaves.. At least it was for the center pin that comes with the toytec 2" ones.
    3. I had a bit of trouble getting the centering pin in. I used the 1/4" extension, but unless you are straight on, it may still be a little difficult as the pin is wider than the extension.
    4. The hammer may be used more than just to knock the centering pin out. It can also be used to tap the leaves straight, tap the shock bolt out.

    I think the thing that took me the longest was the centering pin.. Almost freaked out when I re-raised the axel and it wouldn't line up exactly.

    All in all, (for now at least) I'm glad I went with an aal again ( this time with the pads), and glad I did it myself.. With the help of TW...

    Thanks!!!!!
     
    Malinosan likes this.
  4. Jun 27, 2010 at 11:54 AM
    #184
    SCFirefighter

    SCFirefighter on idiot patrol ;)

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    Why does left/right even matter? Slightly confused :)
     
  5. Jun 27, 2010 at 11:56 AM
    #185
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 [OP] With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    Some have a little more arch on the driver side to account for the extra weight of the fuel tank, battery, driver, etc.
     
  6. Jun 27, 2010 at 12:43 PM
    #186
    raycie

    raycie Well-Known Member

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    The toytec 2" ones (as i would assume all are) are slightly longer on the rear. If you measure from the hole to each end, you would see that one side is longer. Makes sense since the "lift" and support is done on the rear of the spring more so than the front of it.
     
  7. Jun 28, 2010 at 10:14 AM
    #187
    SCFirefighter

    SCFirefighter on idiot patrol ;)

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    Q: I had a really hard time getting the u-bolts and its bracket back on the axle.
    I was finally able to get the nuts on a little, but the axle was not in the 'cup' of the bracket. It wasn't until I started tightening the nuts that the bracket landed back in place.

    Is this normal? I didn't screw anything up by doing this did I? I'm about to do the other rear side work; hopefully that won't be such a hassle.
     
  8. Jun 28, 2010 at 10:40 AM
    #188
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 [OP] With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    Do you have the whole back end lifted in the air?
     
  9. Jun 28, 2010 at 12:02 PM
    #189
    SCFirefighter

    SCFirefighter on idiot patrol ;)

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    I just finished doing the passenger side. The problem I had on both was that the leaf pack wasn't exactly centered on the axle baseplate where the u-bolt connects. It was off by 1/8", just enough to make the u-bolt not fit neatly.
    Had to improvise, but I finally got it.

    All in all it's was just a beginner's hickup; nothing major.
     
  10. Jul 13, 2010 at 6:34 AM
    #190
    bambooshoots

    bambooshoots Be a fountain, not a drain.

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    I did it again. Got tired of paying truck payments and gas and traded in for a 2015 Honda Accord Sport since I enjoyed my 2013 Sport so much.
    Would having a 2" AAL on the drivers side and a 1.5" AAL on the passenger side be allright to compensate for the extra weight on the driver's side? I'm planning to replace the 2" AAL with 1.5" AAL and if the aforementioned idea works, I'll just swap out the passenger side leaf.
     
  11. Jul 13, 2010 at 7:10 AM
    #191
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 [OP] With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    I had my AAL built with about 1/8" more arch, and it was enough to level the back end. I think 1/2" would be too much.
     
  12. Aug 3, 2010 at 6:09 AM
    #192
    MadeInMaine

    MadeInMaine MadeInMaine

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    Hey Chris... or anyone...

    I am installing ToyTec 2" AALs this weekend, and got the centering pins, but do I need to go get new/longer U brackets?
    ToyTec sent me 2 AALs and 2 center pins... anything else I need?

    Im also putting 5100s in the rear also.

    Thanks guys....

    Cheers
     
  13. Aug 3, 2010 at 6:20 AM
    #193
    kingston73

    kingston73 Well-Known Member

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    If your old U bolts are OLD you'll probably want to get new ones. They stretch when tightened down, so unless they're brand new it's probably a safer idea to just replace them.
     
  14. Aug 3, 2010 at 7:03 AM
    #194
    MadeInMaine

    MadeInMaine MadeInMaine

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    I have '05, with 97k miles... all suspension is stock i believe...

    Replace, or keep?
     
  15. Aug 3, 2010 at 7:04 AM
    #195
    MadeInMaine

    MadeInMaine MadeInMaine

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    and if i do replace...
    Where do I get them? any autozone/napa/pepboys, etc?

    Just ask for '05 tacoma leaf U brackets?

    Thanks guys
     
  16. Aug 3, 2010 at 7:04 AM
    #196
    kingston73

    kingston73 Well-Known Member

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    I'd replace. It's not too much money, maybe $50? I know you can get some longer one's from Wheelers. A Toyota dealer would have them also, and a stock length probably has enough extra thread to install ok. It can't hurt to try Autozone or Advanced, a U bolt seems like a pretty common item, but I've never tried so I don't know for sure.
     
  17. Aug 3, 2010 at 8:00 AM
    #197
    MadeInMaine

    MadeInMaine MadeInMaine

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    thanks man, i really appreciate the quick answers.

    Im gonna call pepboys, autozone, and see if they have them.
     
  18. Aug 3, 2010 at 8:12 AM
    #198
    MadeInMaine

    MadeInMaine MadeInMaine

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    What size are stock Ubolts? for 05 TRD OffRoad?

    length? width?
     
  19. Aug 10, 2010 at 12:52 PM
    #199
    Biff

    Biff What could go wrong?

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    Sorry to ask a stupid question. When reinstalling the rear shocks, is there a torque value for the top and bottom bolts? I didn't want to squish the bushings too much.
     
  20. Aug 10, 2010 at 1:01 PM
    #200
    hookedontronics

    hookedontronics Well-Known Member

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    Icon extended travel 3.5" front coilovers, DSM UCAs, TSB leaf pack w/ wheelers AAL, All Pro U-bolt flip kit, Walker Evans 2.0 rear shocks, 18" XD Monster rims, Nitto trail grappler 285/65R18 Tires, Color matched grill, Grillcraft, Kragen HIDs, Carling switches, my bed light mod, diff drop, Alpine IVA-W505, JL Audio C5 componets and coaxials, JL 300/4 and 250/1 amps and JL stealthbox, wheathertechs, avs vent visors, toyota bed x-tender, alcantara center console cover and door pocket covers, console vault, color matched mirrors, heated mirrors, etc etc etc
    Did you start witht he TSB leaf? And is the AAL the 4th one down from the top, shown in this pic?
     

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