Lifting a 2008 - Tire/wheel questions

[MrBlargMan]

Glad to hear you got everything ordered! Sorry, I think ecoboost when I think 3rd gen. I forget that not all of the 3rd gens had it. You should be just fine with the 5.4.

Figured I would toss a picture of mine up on here as well...
This is also with the 3.5" / 2.5"

 

[briandye]

Man, tires came today, I cannot wait!

This is gonna be the longest week ever! I wish I could know everything would go smoothly and I could install it tomorrow as soon as I got off work. My luck though it won’t, and it’ll be a two-day process.

 

[SigepKat]

Hey Blargman, what size tire did you go with?

CM

 

[J Ski]

Hey Blargman, what size tire did you go with?

CM

He’s got 35/12.50/17. See what offset he’s running with and start from there but just remember the body panels are slightly different between yours and his

 

[briandye]

Those of you who’ve installed your own lift on third gens, how long did it take? I have some running around to do Friday, but really want to get it done and make it to the tire shop before they close. Am I looking at 2-3 hours or should I make sure I have a whole day set aside?

 

[J Ski]

Those of you who’ve installed your own lift on third gens, how long did it take? I have some running around to do Friday, but really want to get it done and make it to the tire shop before they close. Am I looking at 2-3 hours or should I make sure I have a whole day set aside?

4 hours. If you don’t have an air powered impact wrench, and an extra set of hands for the front suspension install then plan on 6-8

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Those of you who’ve installed your own lift on third gens, how long did it take? I have some running around to do Friday, but really want to get it done and make it to the tire shop before they close. Am I looking at 2-3 hours or should I make sure I have a whole day set aside?

Took me about six hours but I also replaced all the shocks before adding pucks..I did have air tools and a lift. Not that air tools helped with lower shock mounts on the front...had to use a breaker bar and 6' cheater bar to bust that nut.

 

[briandye]

I have a 1/2” breaker bar, and just bought a nice (well, nice to me) impact to replace the garbage brand Walmart sells that I think put out maybe 50 ft/lbs lol. Just took the rustiest rear differential out of my other project Crown Vic, so I think I should be good.

4-5 hours is super reasonable. I won’t have a second pair of hands...handy, but I have a few people who would be glad to stop by if needed. (I heard that rear control arm is a PITA, or maybe it was the lower strut mount)

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Both will be easier with a second set of hands...biggest issue is the size of the assemblies...just easier if someone can use two hands to get the assemblies in..I forgot what year you had so i don't know if it will work on yours..but really helped me get the front ones back in was loosening the axle nut... the front hub may have only moved a 1/2" out at the most but it was all I needed..Also plan on moving the rear break line mounts down...I just drilled and tapped a new hole a few inches below the existing ones. I would also start soaking the connections down tonight with PB.
Good Luck!

 

[briandye]

Mines a 2008, I’ll have to run out and buy a tap and die set. Could’ve came in handy a few times now, and brake lines aren’t something I want to Jerry rig up.

I watched the (Readylift?) installation video, they took the front axle nuts completely off for more room down there. I guess we’ll play it by ear and see what I have to/don’t have to do!

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Mines a 2008, I’ll have to run out and buy a tap and die set. Could’ve came in handy a few times now, and brake lines aren’t something I want to Jerry rig up.

I watched the (Readylift?) installation video, they took the front axle nuts completely off for more room down there. I guess we’ll play it by ear and see what I have to/don’t have to do!

There is also a good video on YouTube by stage3motorsports I think...it matched what was under my 10. Word of advice go to Habor freight and spent 60 bucks on the tap and die set...they r ok for a few uses but the important thing is you get a good assortment of sizes standard and metric...if you find yourself using one size over and over I would get a good set in that size..but random every day fixes you can't beat it...

 

[briandye]

Maybe that’s the video I saw then. They have quite a few products for the third gens, and some nice how-to videos.

I’ll check that set out at HF, thanks!

 

[Rebel4fun]

Just out of curiosity... what does the Icon control arms buy you? I went with the 3.5/2.5...

View attachment 24353

From what I understand it helps with the travel of your suspension. The uni ball has alot more angle articulation from the standard ball joint.
Basically built for less restriction when your tire goes way the hell up and way the hell bottoms out.

 

[J Ski]

From what I understand it helps with the travel of your suspension. The uni ball has alot more angle articulation from the standard ball joint.
Basically built for less restriction when your tire goes way the hell up and way the hell bottoms out.

I think the icon coilovers are only max 2.5” adjustment. Get more lift out of a 3/2 like Readylift up front for bigger tires but yes more articulation with icons than standard OEM components

 

[Adieu]

Mines a 2008, I’ll have to run out and buy a tap and die set. Could’ve came in handy a few times now, and brake lines aren’t something I want to Jerry rig up.

I watched the (Readylift?) installation video, they took the front axle nuts completely off for more room down there. I guess we’ll play it by ear and see what I have to/don’t have to do!

Thats all crap, detach the sway bar on one end, loosen but don't detach everything connected to the knuckle, then get the upper control arm actually out of the knuckle... and you're pretty much done

Strut should now just come out when unbolted

Use a 2x6 for leverage to pry it all back together

 

[J Ski]

Thats all crap, detach the sway bar on one end, loosen but don't detach everything connected to the knuckle, then get the upper control arm actually out of the knuckle... and you're pretty much done

Strut should now just come out when unbolted

Use a 2x6 for leverage to pry it all back together

I agree. I would be very cautious removing that axle nut. No need to do that. Loosen everything and let it drop to remove the strut

 

[Sccritterkiller]

I agree. I would be very cautious removing that axle nut. No need to do that. Loosen everything and let it drop to remove the strut

I didnt need to loosen axle nut to get it out...I really didn't want to mess with it either but to get the assemblies with puck back in I had to loosen it. I did not remove it just backed out to end of threads...its not that big a deal.

 

[briandye]

Ok, I’m stuck.

Aside from the shit lugnnuts, everything is going great so far. However, I’m stuck at the lower shock but/bolt. Does anybody know what size the nut and bolt is? I need to have a friend pick me up and drop me off those size sockets. I didn’t realize they were that huge. Largest I have on hand is 1” and it’s bigger than that.

Found a few old posts but they list quite a few sizes.

Mine is a 2008.

 

[briandye]

Also - is the rear the same size? If not, and it needs anything larger than a 22mm or 1 inch, please share details on that size as well.

Thanks a ton.

 

[Adieu]

Mines a 2008, I’ll have to run out and buy a tap and die set. Could’ve came in handy a few times now, and brake lines aren’t something I want to Jerry rig up.

I watched the (Readylift?) installation video, they took the front axle nuts completely off for more room down there. I guess we’ll play it by ear and see what I have to/don’t have to do!

Ok, I’m stuck.

Aside from the shit lugnnuts, everything is going great so far. However, I’m stuck at the lower shock but/bolt. Does anybody know what size the nut and bolt is? I need to have a friend pick me up and drop me off those size sockets. I didn’t realize they were that huge. Largest I have on hand is 1” and it’s bigger than that.

Found a few old posts but they list quite a few sizes.

Mine is a 2008.

30mm actual, 1 3/16" should also work... other side is a 28mm i think, you can sorta get away with 1 1/8"

Get it in deep impact iirc, you need to tighten that thing to like 350 lbs