Bilstein 6112

Im trying to stay under 3” to avoid UCAs

 

Guy install the 6112 without a spring compressor.

Best I've seen.

https://youtu.be/lX9WB2hZflo

 

Go 5/6

Dang, makes that look easy!

 

The UCA bolt is not easy. Although my seasoned mechanic cousin did the 6112 and JBA for me in 2hrs. That UCA bolt alone would've taken me many hours.

 

If you just bend that metal out of the way carefully and push out those snap ring things it comes out pretty easy with two sets of hands.

 

I think two sets of hands is the key. My buddy and I had to work in tandem to get the thing out...a lot of the work is blind, so you need someone spotting for both removal and reassembly. Each bolt took us about 15 mins. Doing it alone would be a real bitch.

 

Why not just leave the bolt in there and swap the UCAs?

 

The bolt is what fastens the UCA to the truck. You have to remove it to do the swap.

 

That's strange, mine was a piece of cake. I used giant channel lock pliers to bend the metal out of the way and once you remove a few items in the engine bay the bolt slid right out. And I was doing this solo.

 

I ordered 6112's last November.
Still waiting for them

 

Aren't you able to slide back and forth and remove one side of the UCA at a time? Or is there not enough play to be able to do that?

 

Definitely no way to only remove the UCA one side at a time. It's one long bolt that holds both sides in so you slide it out halfway and then half the UCA is disconnected, you have to slide it out the rest of the way to remove the other side of the UCA. But this doesn't matter, there's no benefit to something like this. Removing the UCA really isn't difficult. If you have a dirty/rusty truck then yeah, probably tricky but as long as there's no rust and things are clean it should be easy.

Here's the tutorial I used. Although I'm familiar with working on cars this is the first truck I've ever owned and the very first thing I did was new suspension and swapping out the UCA. IMO it was a pretty simple process. Doing my leaf springs was much more of a PITA.
https://youtu.be/bbsTJgb6S_c?t=345

 

damn.. I ordered mine from @runnin4tacos on 4/4/21 and received it yesterday. On their website said estimated June but I guess I got lucky

 

Does anyone have the 6112 in stock at this time? I’m looking to have my LCAs refurbished and would like to upgrade. Thanks.

 

no advise other than make sure you purchase the 6112s for the 2nd gen which are different than those for the third Gen.

 

You may want to cut off an inch or so from the inverted U-bolts at your rear axle to leaf spring connections. Looks like they might interfere with the bump stop at their current length.

 

yeah it’s got a lot of overlap, I knew I had a little time before I had to worry about hitting them, but just found a coupon for a harbor freight grinder so I guess I’ll take care of that this weekend

 

I cut mine then put a little black cap on bolt ends

 

How much do you cut, leave about .5” of thread showing?