I just ordered 5100s and Wheelers Single Leaf AAL and I don't know if I am up to the

I just ordered 5100s and Wheelers Single Leaf AAL and I don't know if I am up to the install. I have never seen a lift installed before. I don't know if I am up to it.

So I am looking for tips, instructions, pictures, help or someone in the Mobile, AL. area that will do a good job installing them.

I called the 2 offroad shops in Mobile but, they both just wanted to install blocks, so I don't have much confidence in them.

 

Don't overwhelm yourself, & don't sell yourself short man, its really not as hard as you might think, probably the hardest will be doing the 5100 front strut (coil over), but first ask yourself: "am I mechanically inclined ?" Meaning , you don't have to be a mechanic but if you know & demonstrate some mech. aptitude, with a few tools, few smarts & an equally versed helping hand, its a 3-4 hour ordeal taking your time but staying focused , & you'll do it right the first time, But I will say that changing the coil overs is actually pretty easy but also extremely dangerous if the proper steps aren't taken.... theres a ton of info here on this subject, gather your info , study it at least till you have a grip on it, & then ask questions for what you don't understand....

 

What do you have for tools, impact wrench and torque wrench, jack, jack stands, ect?

I installed my coils and with out a 1/2" impact it would of been a bitch compressing the coils, the rear 3 leaf mini pack was no easy install either. All can be done with out an impact wrench, It took about 3 hrs to do the front and 4 on the rears, but you have to have a miminum amout of tools to get the job done,

 

Post in your regional forum to see if someone will help you out in exchange for a case of beer...works every time.

 

i installed my 5100s and a aal on monday. it wasnt hard but it took me a lil while. its good to have someone there with you to help some. i had to use 4 spring compressor to compress the spring enough. and a jack to compress the uper control arm beacuae the 5100s are a lil longer than the stock ones so the bottom bolt could get lined up and they can be very dangerous. the aal wasnt to bad but you have to line up a pin on the bottom of the springs to a base of the diff plate. and i had to jack the truck and diff up seperately jsut take you time and try not to get frustrated at it. good luck if you do it on your own. if you have any questons feel free to ask.

 

a helping hand is the biggest part. im 16 and me and my friend managed to put in the aal for my truck. we didnt have impact drills or anything. if u you have them you better have a really long breaker bar (like 2ft), that thing was a life saver. and i sugest just doing on side at a time, always have 3 wheels touching the ground, truck gets wayyy to squirly if u jack the truck up by the pumpkin in the back, also i didnt have to remove the rear shocks, all i did was disconnect them at the bottom. also to get the center pin through the holes in all of the leaves it takes quite a bit of strategical manuvering of the leafs, and a couple of forceful kicks. also have something to cut the new center pin of it is to long and you cant put them bumpstop back on. i had to use a file . and make sure you disconnect the parking break line hanger on the leafs. that helps.

pm me with any questions you have.

 

Just get some frikin confidence in yourself and save yourself a few hundred dollars. The AAL is simple, a monkey could figure it out, just use common sense. For the front coilovers, take em off, then take them to your favorite suspension shop and have them swap to the 5100's to your preferred setting. Shouldn't cost more than $40 and is worth it in miy opinion (I get scared of rental spring compressors on TRD springs). Then replace your coilovers, drive 50 miles so they settle, then alignment. Don't pay somebody to do this for you, it really is simple and you'll learn a lot about your truck which will help for future problems.

Edit*-Just read my post...sorry I don't mean to sound like a dick. When putting the coilover assembly back on, it can be tough to push the lower control arm down far enough for the new longer assembly to fit. If it is, first try puttin a cheater ( I use a 6 foot landcsape bar) bar on top of the LCA leveraged against the frame and push the LCA down. If that doesnt work, remove the sway bar end link which will allow the LCA to move independently. If that doesnt work, loosen the four bolts that attach the LCA to the spindle (on bottom of spindle below brake disc). That last option works every time, just make sure to retighten those 4 bolts to spec and USE LOCKTITE when reinstalling. Good luck.

 

I'm only a few minutes away, pm me if you need a hand i got lots of tools that i can load up if you have a driveway to work in.