ffirg's 02 DC Build

Well I started to jack up the truck and put the truck on stands. Just about took one tire off when I realized I have to chop my exhaust down to fit these shackles and I forgot to borrow an angle grinder. ohhhh well. I'm going to buy one after work tomorrow as I've been meaning to pick one up anyway.

 

Borrowed a sawzall from a coworker instead. Also borrowed his impact wrench. Why I haven't bought one of those already is beyond me. I have to change three sets of tires tomorrow so that will be VERY handy.

Anyway, here are a few pics of the new shackles. I didn't take any before pictures, but it lifted the rear a lot...haha. Driver side measures over an inch lower than the passenger side, but it's always had that lean.

These things are beefy as hell. I really didn't think they were this big. I put them at the 2" setting as I'll be adding a RTT soon and I always have a shit ton in the bed anyway. I want it to sit fairly level when loaded down. I haven't got my bumper yet so We'll see how it affects the rake.



Had to use a bottle jack between the frame and the springs to push them down far enough to line up with the shackles. Also used it as an adjustable beer holder.



Final product. A LOT of rake, but I this is before I've driven it. The springs will move back into their natural position soon and I'm sure it will look a bit lower.

 

Oh, one more thing. I compared my spare tire to my other tires and it is almost an inch taller...Same size tires technically. 265/75/16. Just thought that was odd. It's a different brand tire but I figured they'd be close to the same/it may be a little taller due to wear on the other ones.

 

Looking good!! I can't wait for my lift to get here..

 

Thanks! After driving around I took some measurements and the passenger side is over an inch taller than the driver side. I had a lean already but I never measured the difference. Don't think it made it any worse though. Not that noticeable unless you're really looking at it from behind with a close eye.

You went with OME stuff, right?

 

Yes sir. Then I plan to run 33s. I'll probably beat the pinch weld while I got it all taken apart. Any thing I may run into while doing the install?

 

Did you have the coils pre-assembled? And the leaf pack w/ AAL as well?

I soaked everything down with PB blaster for over a week. Sprayed it twice a day lol. And I still had to cut off the front leaf spring bolts. And I ended up cutting off my U bolts as well. They were coming off with a wrench but it was quicker to cut them off.

My biggest tip is to do both sides at the same time on the rear. Jack up truck, put on stands, take tires off and put them under the frame ahead of the jack stands. Leaf floor jack under the rear diff so you can adjust it up/down as needed. I also marked the drive shaft with a sharpie so if it came apart I knew how to put it back in.

I hung a strap from the front of the diff to somewhere above it at a cross member so it wouldn't want to roll forward on me if the drive shaft fell apart.

Pry bars, large and small, will be your friends aligning the shackles to the leaf spring. Oh, and I hope you have a really strong buddy to help you out haha. I'm a big dude and couldn't get the springs lined up by myself.

I also ended up cutting my brake line because it was too rusted to come apart.

I'm just spit balling ideas here haha. I had a rubber mallet to help put in the new bushings to the frame/springs, a hammer and a steel rod to help hammer out the old shackles and front suspension bolts(also helpful to have a hand so you can align the front bolts that go into the lower control arms). I used a bottle jack and a 2x4 against the front wheel well to get the control arms low enough to align the suspension bolts on the LCA.

Sorry, that was really unorganized but it's been a while since I did the install.

I'd also recommend an angle grinder in case you have to cut the leaf spring bolts. Be sure to wear eye protection though. Also don't do it in shorts like I did haha. Those sparks are hot. Be aware that the driver side has the gas tank so it's really hard to fit the angle grinder in there to cut off the bolt. It works, but just had to finagle it a bit to get it to work.

If you have an specific questions just ask away and I'm sure I'll remember more.

 

OH! If you got the wheelers greasable shackles...be VERY careful to not damage the threads on them. I got one side installed and went to the other side and damaged the threads on the greaseable bolts and spent about two hours with a file fixing them good enough to get the nut on them. That was the most frustrating thing about the install, but it could have been prevented easily. I can't remember how they were damaged but I imagine it was due to a hammer. Which is why a rubber mallet will be handy.

 

I just tested out the tire deflators. Definitely a lot better than kneeling down waiting forever. I got the 5-20 PSI versions and expected it to be a lot faster when setting it to 20psi, but its ridiculously slow. I adjusted them to 15.5 PSI and it works a LOT better. Which is fine. I only air down a few times a year so 15 is fine for me. I don't have a compressor to air up so I don't want to go much lower than that.

 

Wow man! Thanks for the such detailed notes. No I didn't have them assembled or the ALL installed. Figured I would save every penny. Plus friend has a spring compressor who will be helping me. I got extra main eye bolts because I read a lot of people were just cutting them off so I was planing just to cut them anyway. Yeah I got greasable shackles (they come with the kit) along with u bolts and extended stainless rear brake lines, exhaust hanger, trim pack, on top of the order I added the extra leaf, BPV relocate kit, and the eye bolts.


Did you install the front trim packer?

Anything thing else you think I may need to purchase? Dakars won't be here until the end of this month. So I got time to get everything ready lol.

Thanks for your help Mike.

Edit: also got a differential drop

 

Yes I have the trim packer I think. Maybe I don't haha, can't remember. I have a little shim on the driver side to battle the taco lean.

Nothing else I can think of. Make sure you have a bottle jack to align the front shock bolts. And you can use it between the frame and the rear of the leaf springs to align the shackles. I didn't do it originally and it was a struggle with a pry bar. It helped a ton and was super easy when I put new shackles in last night using the bottle jack.

 

You gettin amped for fishin yet mike?

 

I just changed the background on my laptop to this picture....so yes, yes I am haha.

 

Thanks for the tips!

 

Some hardcore driveway rock crawling right here...

 

Nice! I gotta find some people to get out with this year

 

Yeah man. I'm always down if I'm not working. I sold my raft last week so I don't have a boat anymore, but I want to hit streams up north a lot more this summer. Also may be buying a boat with my dad that will available for me to use whenever.

 

The only thing I have is a pair of hip waders a buddy gave to me and i'm not sure if they are even usable lol. This may be my last summer here though, its time to stop screwing around and get out!

 

I got a text from a friend asking if I wanted a roof basket. I said sure why not. Went over to take a peak and it's an old con ferr safari basket. In great shape and has all the mounts. I'm pretty excited. I was worried about losing space on my roof to haul gear once I get my RTT mounted, but this basket will solve that. Plus it will give me more place to mount lights

 

Been fishin any yet bud?