Realistic bilstein lift install time

If its your first time doing something like this, 50% more time than you expect at least. Breaking parts, missing tools, loosing hardware, etc. 100% have access to a second vehicle when yours is ripped apart should you have to order parts....been there, missed work etc..... Its worth waiting to do the job if you can get an extra set of hands to help out but totally doable alone.

 

Add a leaf isn’t hard, just annoying. The ECGS bearing should be around 1:30 max if you take it slow and know what you’re doing. The front 6112s should be the quickest. As well as the rear shocks

 

AAL is really easy with four clamps. The passenger side took me about 45 minutes total with four clamps. Thats retorqueing and all grinding down the rear rivet.

Start with four clamps on the Oem leaf, two on the leaf above the overload as far out as you can. Put two close to the center pin. Remove pin, flip it over and thread through with out putting the nut on. Remove 2 clamps by pin and drop the overload leaf. Clamp one near the center and grind off the rivet.

To install aal, remove the clamp near the center and thread the two extra clamps wide enough you can hold the AAL uncompressed and oem leaf. With the center pin in the aal, stick it in and push the factory pin out the top and put the nut on the aftermarket pin. Do not tighten the nut to compress, but grab those two spare clamps and compress. Putting the pin nut on is only buying you a free hand to get the clamps going. I suggest they be about 4” from the pin on either side. Dont be gentle here, clamp them hard.

 

To each their own I did a full coilover installation on my truck with adjustment under 2 hrs. rear shock installation was right on the 30 minutes without lifting the truck or removing tires

 

If you arent doing the aal or ecgs bushing, yea I can see that

 

I did them with the leafs still on the truck. Getting them together wasn’t hard at all, realignment of the center bolt into the axel was kind of a bitch

 

How big of a clamp is needed to do AAL and how did you do it without removing from truck?

 

I suggest two 3” and two 4”. The 4” for closer to the pin.

Start with four clamps on the Oem leaf, two on the leaf above the overload as far out as you can. Put two close to the center pin. Remove pin, flip it over and thread through with out putting the nut on. Remove 2 clamps by pin and drop the overload leaf. Clamp one near the center and grind off the rivet.

To install aal, remove the clamp near the center and thread the two extra clamps wide enough you can hold the AAL uncompressed and oem leaf. With the center pin in the aal, stick it in and push the factory pin out the top and put the nut on the aftermarket pin. Do not tighten the nut to compress, but grab those two spare clamps and compress. Putting the pin nut on is only buying you a free hand to get the clamps going. I suggest they be about 4” from the pin on either side. Dont be gentle here, clamp them hard.

 

Just got done on the install finally un-hitched that invisible trailer I’ve been pulling for the past 2 weeks lol