tallsville
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Yesterday i tried installing a 3.5/2.5 spacer lift by myself. Its possible but not recommended. Could of used an extra pair of hands a few times. The instruction that came with the front spacers kind of suck. Had pictures and said do this do that but weren't all that helpful. Luckily the rear spacer instructions were nice and gave bolt measurements, which was helpful. a list of tools used
1. 30mm(bottom strut bolt), 21mm(steering shaft and top antiroll bar), 19mm(bottom antiroll bar) all 1/2in sockets
2. 14mm(top strut bolts) 10mm(used to hold bolt from spinning) 1/4in socket
3. crescent wrench(also used to stop bolt from turning and to tighten spacer to strut)
4. vice grips(used to turn bolt once the inside bolt started to turn)
5. 2 3ton jack stands
6. 2 ton floor jack
Not going to give a play by play, since must of it is common knowledge(like placing jack stands, loosening lugs on ground before lifting, etc.). Most of the process is fairly easy. I took me like 2hrs on first wheel and about 35minutes on the second wheel. So I'm just going to list the problems that i had.
One major problem was trying to get the anti roll bar loose. I was able to get the nut off but couldn't get the bolt loose from the knuckle. So i had to try and get the bottom bolt that goes through the bottom control arm. That nut came loose to certain point than the bolt started to turn, and since it is in a small area a little bigger than the socket could use other tools to keep from turning. Got it as loose as possible.
The spinning bolt problem happened on several bolts. The upper control and the steering shaft(which i removed just make it easier to deal with strut). It is a simple fix. i used a 10mm socket and with wrench or a crescent wrench to hold the bolt as i used a vise grip to loosen or tighten the nut.
Can use the jack to lift the suspension when trying to put the bolt back into upper control arm.
I tried to do the back suspension as well yesterday but couldn't break the 30mm lower strut nut loose. So its going to my mechanic tomorrow to be finished up. So right now i have a 2nd gen expy with a cali lean/ pre runner look.
Pic 1 is right before beginning
Pic 2 is upper control apart and can see jack stand in background holding up other side of truck
Pic 3 is strut out
Pic 4 is spacer installed on strut
Pic 5 is strut with spacer reinstalled.
1. 30mm(bottom strut bolt), 21mm(steering shaft and top antiroll bar), 19mm(bottom antiroll bar) all 1/2in sockets
2. 14mm(top strut bolts) 10mm(used to hold bolt from spinning) 1/4in socket
3. crescent wrench(also used to stop bolt from turning and to tighten spacer to strut)
4. vice grips(used to turn bolt once the inside bolt started to turn)
5. 2 3ton jack stands
6. 2 ton floor jack
Not going to give a play by play, since must of it is common knowledge(like placing jack stands, loosening lugs on ground before lifting, etc.). Most of the process is fairly easy. I took me like 2hrs on first wheel and about 35minutes on the second wheel. So I'm just going to list the problems that i had.
One major problem was trying to get the anti roll bar loose. I was able to get the nut off but couldn't get the bolt loose from the knuckle. So i had to try and get the bottom bolt that goes through the bottom control arm. That nut came loose to certain point than the bolt started to turn, and since it is in a small area a little bigger than the socket could use other tools to keep from turning. Got it as loose as possible.
The spinning bolt problem happened on several bolts. The upper control and the steering shaft(which i removed just make it easier to deal with strut). It is a simple fix. i used a 10mm socket and with wrench or a crescent wrench to hold the bolt as i used a vise grip to loosen or tighten the nut.
Can use the jack to lift the suspension when trying to put the bolt back into upper control arm.
I tried to do the back suspension as well yesterday but couldn't break the 30mm lower strut nut loose. So its going to my mechanic tomorrow to be finished up. So right now i have a 2nd gen expy with a cali lean/ pre runner look.
Pic 1 is right before beginning
Pic 2 is upper control apart and can see jack stand in background holding up other side of truck
Pic 3 is strut out
Pic 4 is spacer installed on strut
Pic 5 is strut with spacer reinstalled.
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