Help I’m stuck! Bilstein 5100 install

Hey guys,

I have my 5100 installed on a stock coil (3rd clip) and I cannot get the spring/shock/whatever? to compress enough to get the lower ball joint to line up so I can get the bolts back in.

I assumed I needed to keep compressing under the strut to compress it, but it is now lifting the entire truck off the main jack. All the weight is on my left front strut and I can’t get the ball joint bolts back in.

Please advise!

Thanks.

 

Push down on the top of the brake rotor.

Push down HARD.

 

Disconnect your sway bar.

 

What's the leftover bushings on the floor?

 

Hate to be that dude but it looks like you're working on the truck and its only supported by a jack? And a jack with wood spacer blocks on it at that. Hope there's a jackstand there I can't see but if not that's incredibly dangerous.

 

2 jacks are better than one

 

Lower your jack a few inches. Then run a strap up through your upper control arm near the outer pivot and back out. Connect both ends of the strap to the base of your jack. When you jack the lower arm up, it will pull the upper arm down.

 

Oh, and it looks like your steering box is starting to leak. See the wet area on the lower half of the steering boot? Probably not going to be a big issue for a while, but keep an eye on your steering fluid level.

 

I would think you alignment bolts are loose and might want to disconnect the sway bar

 

This, pop that link off and the upper arm will be able to swing free and go down enough to put in the bolts.

 

Earlier this week, right or wrong we just unbolted the sway bar and tie rod, and yes a little jack work up and down to align.

 

Pry down on the UCA.

Or loosen the UCA bolt. If you do that, make sure to torque it when the truck is back on it's own weight.

 

Probably leave the upper control arm alone

 

The binding in the UCA bushings is exactly what is not allowing the spindle to drop down any further.

Allowing that to drop down is much safer than trying to compress that coilover IMO.

 

The sway bar thats still connected is probably causing the spindle to not drop down more than anything

 

hahaha it’s always the simplest thing. Thank you so much, you’re the fucking man.

 

I agree

 

this

 

Definitely undo the sway arm. For me it was way easier to undo the uca from the spindle

 

+6 for disconnect the sway bar