Wheelers "5-Leafspring" group buy???

Just finished putting in everything today (5100's/881's/5pack/brake line - Demello Sliders). It really helps to have a friend with the 'extra large' Makita impact driver and the experience. His air impact wasn't even able to free a few but the makita took care of it no sweat.

Anyway - Take-away No. 1. Buy new top plates and cushions for the fronts if they're rusty, with the time wasted to take apart the old semi-rusted struts and pull the aged top-ends... I would pay the ~60$ (get your top-plates online or as close to cost as you can) to have all new on a ~1100$ suspension setup it looks better at the end, will last another 100k miles and save an hour-ish tracking down a spring compressor and eff'ing with trying to loosen rusted nuts/bolts and replacing a broken stud etc.

Take-away No. 2. Careful with that damn hammer! - If you're re-using your factory shackles, be very careful pounding out the lower bolts! i ended up smashing a thread enough to have to get creative with the grinder so i could thread the nut back on.

Take-away No. 3. Cutting the U-bolts and replacing with new will save you much time and frustration, again, the small price is absolutely worth the time savings.

Will post some pics of the before/after tomorrow when i'm not ready to pass out.

Thanks again to everyone for the info and GB setup!

*Edit* Wanted to mention, when you cut the U-Bolts and/or the old leaf's out, BE CAREFUL AND UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE DOING. There's a lot of tension back there. You may just get slapped in the face with a wad of metal, i take no responsibility for that. Take these shortcuts at your own risk.

 

sweet man! can't wait to see it!

 

Nice, any pics of the truck?

 

I'm playing tag with UPS... they keep trying to deliver stuff when I'm and work.

 

oh darn! i hate that..

 

Don't really want to muck up this thread too much, but here's a few before/after's. Currently have a 10-yard dumpster in my driveway making it hard to take a good photo.

Pre-lift (with all the new susp parts in the bed)
35fl
36fr
36rl
36rr

With (old susp parts in the bed.)
37.33 fl
37.5fr
38rr
38rl

This will settle and works itself in i'm sure. Also, i noticed when i first installed my front struts/springs my CV Boots were tight, very small valleys. it worried me, but then i drove 15 miles home, and when i got out, they were 'plenty fine' pics later in a diff thread with more.

Here's before with just the tires:


Here's some of the process:
replacing the broken top plate stud-

Rear end after (Right side is slightly higher due to jack)-

Jeff Wwelding up sliders:

Demello HD Round Sliders After:

Front right After:

The wife ready to drive me home after a few celebratory beers the day after!

 

Looks awesome!

 

X2

 

That looks sweet. Nice job. You runnin 265/75's?

 

Thx guys, yeah 265/75/16's.

And let me say, to all you waiting to put a similar kit on when you had high mileage on your stock components. WOW. What a difference. On pavement, yeah sure, it'll be nice. When you really will love it... at 40mph on a rutted dirt shoulder... Seriously. I was on my way home and thought, "let's see what happens" so i just put it in the dirt, and no shittin', could hardly tell i'd left the pavement... jaw dropped at how smooth it was and how planted the tires stayed/felt.

GET YOUR KIT'S ON AND POST PIC'S!

Oh yeah, and Take-away #4 - If you bought the leaf spring bushing kit (Which you damn well should've!) DON'T FORGET TO APPLY THE LUBE! I spent a few hours today back-tracking when i found the tube of lube that came with 'em sitting un-opened on the floor

 

Thanks! Good to know, i was a bit hesitant to hope that the 881's will hold long term as i've got the DC and plan on fabbing up a plate bumper in the next year or so but with all the info i gave Dan@Wheelers and your report, i'm feeling good about the 881's vs. the 882's. Jeff (The guy welding in the pics, has a 99 v6 ext. cab with 882's and it's a noticeably firmer ride.

And who knows, maybe i'll just AAL and bump the billies up another setting down the road if they do settle.

*To clarify - my measurement is from ground through center line of hubs to the bottom of the fender flare. And remember my tire size is 265/75/16

 

just ordered front billies eibachs diff drop 1'' shackles and new bushing for front!! can't wait to put em on!!

after everything goes on gonna measure what size of 5125/5150 rear shocks i need..

and looks great man! makes me reconsider not upgrading to 33'' tires..

 

All my stuff should be here soon. Went ahead and called him up on Monday and added new coils and had him assemble them as well. New bushings all over the place, new u bolts, leafs, shocks.... list goes on and on... i didn't even ask what my bill was up too...

But in the end, i'll have a brand new suspension under the ol '95!!! Bad thing is I won't be able to install everything for another month or so....

 

two evening and three rain storms I FINALLY got my new leaf spring installed in the driveway, Rear now sits at 37 1/2 inches with bald 265/70. Now I can't wait to install my new chrome moto metal 955's Any help with tire sizes 265/75 or 285/75. I don't mime doing the pinch weld mod but I don't want to get the torch out either. I do have a 2 1/2 in spacer on the front.

 

do you offroad or primarily drive on the street?

 

On the street , just want the bad boy look.

 

Recieved my leafs and coils yesterday. Thanks Dan and Jason for the prompt service and quick follow up email's.

I practically watched the UPS quantum ship tracker, update right before my eyes as those parts screamed down the I-5 corridor. Fast ship!

 

In that case, you should order a 2nd gen non-functional hood scoop, too.

 

well 285's will fit with some trimming but you can kiss any chance of 20 mpg goodbye.