Archive Hammer Hanger Install Experience

Superdave1.0 · Mar 27, 2024

b_r_o said: ↑

@Superdave1.0 you done any hammer hangers yet?
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Not yet, but I would love to do one. Drill and air hammer them rivets out, and it's home free! So I've heard.

Tacoma SS · Mar 27, 2024

TacoTuesday1 said: ↑

I figure. Right now only have a small air hammer and no compressor.

hopefully the cutting and grinding isn’t enough to turn into a noise complaint.

I’ve heard some places have the best time using a plasma cutter. Looks like HFT sells them for a reasonable price to plug into the wall regular outlet.

Bigger concern is having any errors such as grinding the rivet head flat and unable to see the outline, ending up drilling a hole into the frame accidentally in the wrong location.
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I used an air hammer to do the top two rivets and a ball joint press on the bottom two. Wouldn’t recommend doing it any other way. Smooth as butter, but still a long process

Superdave1.0 · Mar 27, 2024

I'd bet @Shmellmopwho is a pro at this as well. Would love to know his method.

cwk84 · May 14, 2024

Perfuseme[OP] initial post: ↑

Installed Archive Garage Hammer Hangers yesterday and just wanted to comment on the process. Also installed Energy Suspension bushings in Dakar HD leafs and buttoned back up with Accutune flip kit. Also should mention the Archive guys were available all weekend for some small questions I had.

Should also note that Iv got Fox 2.5 Elites and Deaver stage 2 on the way. Yes….I know, I should have waited for this stuff to come in to do the thing. Given the time demand of the HH, doing all this separate fits my schedule best for the upcoming weeks. Used factory shackles for now and will switch to the AG shackles when I do Deavers with prothane grease.

Overall the HH’s aren’t technically difficult to do but they are time consuming. I just watched a few of the currently available videos and pretty well followed that. This isn’t a how too, just adding some suggestions I don’t think I saw much about in the videos.

Some tips I can suggest include the following. High torque and high speed electric drill, the battery powered simply won’t do it, or will at least take 3 times as long and eat a ton of batteries. Next, I would say, in addition to having the stubby 1/2” bit, I would suggest an extra long 1/2” bit or a 6” extension for it. 1/4” bit is fine at standard length but absolutely need a 6” extension. Unlike the videos where guys were back and forth between 1/4 and 1/2 bits, I also suggest drilling the 1/4” whole completely through first. I did both ways and this was definitely the fastest way to do it. Also, when cutting the rivets off, if you cut to close to the factory hanger it won’t be obvious exactly where the center of the rivet is. Same goes for grinding, if you grind to much the center of the river disappears. Did also notice once I got 3 1/2” holes drilled I could pry the factory hanger off and give much better access for the last. So do the 3 rivets that have best access first.

Can also say the passenger side is more challenging from an access standpoint. The factory exhaust is absolutely in the way but drill extensions will negate this. Leafs don’t have to be completely removed but might help on driver side if no drill extensions. I did remove mine because my OME Dakar bushings were simply gone in almost all 4 corners. See below. Also recommend loosening U bolts almost all the way, but not necessary to remove.

Of everything, I would say the electric drill and the proper length drill bits is what minimizes the difficulty of the project the most. But be careful with the high torque drills when that 1/2” breaks through. That SOB will break your wrist or smash a finger when it does!

On to the OME yellow bushings….they were simply gone in almost all four corners. The photo shown was literally the best one and it’s totally f#%cked! The others were simply gone or just a few crumbles left. As mentioned above I replaced with Energy Suspension and their grease. Gonna sell the Dakars when Deavers get here. Since the Dakars are so squeaky, I have sprayed them with everything under the sun to get them to stop, so maybe all these chemicals is what degraded them, but I can’t recommend the stuff given this experience.

Again, wasn’t super difficult to do but was time consuming. I’d say it took me about 10hrs including lunch and clean up by myself to do the whole thing including removing the leafs, new bushings, and flip kit didn’t add any time over stock. Also had seized bolt on front passenger leaf that I farted with way too long and just end up cutting off. You will have extra from the rear since AG included bolts with HH’s.

Any questions, il be happy to give advice.

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did your rear end come down a bit after installing the hangers? I’m about to do it and wonder if they will drop the rear. Looks like they hang a little lower than the original ones.

TacoTuesday1 · May 14, 2024

cwk84 said: ↑

did your rear end come down a bit after installing the hangers? I’m about to do it and wonder if they will drop the rear. Looks like they hang a little lower than the original ones.
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I don’t think so. Mine is fine. I don’t think a rock will hit them. And they’re strong. Stock is not. It’s also supposed to articulate a bit more.

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Archive Hammer Hanger Install Experience

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Archive Hammer Hanger Install Experience

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