I bought the leveling kit leaf springs from a buddy of mine and I have the U-Bolts coming in the mail in a fews days so we are about to install it on the front of my truck...it doesn't look to bad..but I was wondering if any of you guys with expiereice putting one on have any pointers to make it easier or directions...because I don't have any instructions with it and any tips anyone will offer will greatly help!! THanks alot!!
leveling kit installation on 02 Super Duty
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
Joined
·
1,643 Posts
I put mine on yesterday. It was just add-a-leaves though. The hardest part was getting the axle re-aligned with the centering pins on the leaves.
I used 3 small ratchet straps. 1 to pull the axle towards the passenger side, 1 going toward the front bumper and hooked to the knuckle and 1 going toward the rear.
I had to jack the axle up and down many times while adjusting the straps to get the pin close. Then I would tap the leaves toward the drivers side to gain that 1/8" that I needed to get them to line up.
Once one side dropped in, I installed the u-bolts tight enough to hold the axle in place, but not torqued yet. Then I did the other side.
It took about an hour and a half to get my new leaves in and about 4 hours to get the axle re-aligned. I did it all by myself. With a helper it would have been much faster.
I would have dropped the track arm but I didnt have tools big enough. I think that would make aligning the axle much easier. All you would have to do is line the axle up and bolt it in then lower the vehicle and line the track arm up.
Oh well, its in and my truck looks awesome. The front sits about an inch lower than the rear but I wanted that. It wont look AS dumb when I hook a heavy trailer on.
P.S. Remember to re-tighten everything after a 100 miles. And dont forget to tighten your upper shock nuts!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif
I used 3 small ratchet straps. 1 to pull the axle towards the passenger side, 1 going toward the front bumper and hooked to the knuckle and 1 going toward the rear.
I had to jack the axle up and down many times while adjusting the straps to get the pin close. Then I would tap the leaves toward the drivers side to gain that 1/8" that I needed to get them to line up.
Once one side dropped in, I installed the u-bolts tight enough to hold the axle in place, but not torqued yet. Then I did the other side.
It took about an hour and a half to get my new leaves in and about 4 hours to get the axle re-aligned. I did it all by myself. With a helper it would have been much faster.
I would have dropped the track arm but I didnt have tools big enough. I think that would make aligning the axle much easier. All you would have to do is line the axle up and bolt it in then lower the vehicle and line the track arm up.
Oh well, its in and my truck looks awesome. The front sits about an inch lower than the rear but I wanted that. It wont look AS dumb when I hook a heavy trailer on.
P.S. Remember to re-tighten everything after a 100 miles. And dont forget to tighten your upper shock nuts!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Joined
·
638 Posts
Spray everything down with penetrating oil for a day or two and the bolts will come right out. Undo the track bar as was already said because it makes things much easier to move around. Disconect your sway bar as well to allow more mobility.
Joined
·
638 Posts
yes I would get your truck aligned after you are finnished. It is always a good Idea, and anytime after you mess with your front suspension or steering you should always realign your truck
Joined
·
192 Posts
I did my '99 a few years back. I was working by myself it was kind of slow going, about 9-10 hours over 2 days, but I wasn't in any hurry. I kind of drug it out to be a weekend project with a lot of breaks in between.
Like said above, aligning the axle was my hardest part. I had an alignment done, but nothing was out of spec and it really shouldn't be, your not messing with toe or camber settings, about the worst you could do would be get caster out of spec, but without a shim or something I don't see how that could happen. I'd say if you want to spend the coin, get it aligned, if not watch your tires for wear. You'll have to adjust your drag link to center the steering wheel, but that doesn't change the alignment.
I read a post somewhere that said they did it without removing the springs, I suppose that would save some time, but it didn't occur to me and I just followed the instructions and removed the springs to add the pack.
Like said above, aligning the axle was my hardest part. I had an alignment done, but nothing was out of spec and it really shouldn't be, your not messing with toe or camber settings, about the worst you could do would be get caster out of spec, but without a shim or something I don't see how that could happen. I'd say if you want to spend the coin, get it aligned, if not watch your tires for wear. You'll have to adjust your drag link to center the steering wheel, but that doesn't change the alignment.
I read a post somewhere that said they did it without removing the springs, I suppose that would save some time, but it didn't occur to me and I just followed the instructions and removed the springs to add the pack.
Wrestling with the axle is a huge PITA. I didn't disconnect any linkages, so I was fighting that torque the entire time. Disassembly took about an hour. The problem with the kit I used is that the new center pins were too long.
half an hour to cut them down to size.
The center pin caps that fit into the socket on the axle were also too large in diameter, so I had to grind them down. Add another half hour.
Then it was time to wrestle everything back together. I used a scissor jack and the frame to get mine back into place.
Use new hardware, make sure you compensate for the different length U bolts, and you'll be all set.
half an hour to cut them down to size.
The center pin caps that fit into the socket on the axle were also too large in diameter, so I had to grind them down. Add another half hour.
Then it was time to wrestle everything back together. I used a scissor jack and the frame to get mine back into place.
Use new hardware, make sure you compensate for the different length U bolts, and you'll be all set.
Joined
·
393 Posts
Daryl just called me. He is having a hard time getting the sway bar on the passenger side to hook back up. He says it about 1" short. Any ideas on what he can do. I have done two lift kits but never unhook any bars. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif
Joined
·
871 Posts
[ QUOTE ]
Daryl just called me. He is having a hard time getting the sway bar on the passenger side to hook back up. He says it about 1" short. Any ideas on what he can do. I have done two lift kits but never unhook any bars. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
the axle is not setting level under the truck. raise the passenger side of the axle up /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif
Daryl just called me. He is having a hard time getting the sway bar on the passenger side to hook back up. He says it about 1" short. Any ideas on what he can do. I have done two lift kits but never unhook any bars. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
the axle is not setting level under the truck. raise the passenger side of the axle up /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif
I actually got tired of it all and pulled it and threw the stock suspension back underneath...but we are still running into problems with the sway bar connecting by the frame on the driver side. With the stock springs it is closer to lining up so the bolt can be through but we need a good half an inch. As of right now we have a smaller bolt just through just to hold it up. We have tried a lille of everything, lifting each side of the axle, lifting both sides, with the tires on and with the truck suspended on jack stands and the front suspension hanging down. When the sway bar was connected before connecting the leaf springs to the axle you couldn't get the leaf over to the axle because of the bind the axle is in...I have done lifts before but never seen a sway bar that wasn't adjustable..
Joined
·
490 Posts
You need an adjustable trac bar, The stock one wont work with a leveling
kit.
You can get it back togeather but everything will be in a bind, and
the rear shackles will be at a angle.
I paid a front end shop $85 plus $30 for an alignment. Worth every penny. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif
kit.
You can get it back togeather but everything will be in a bind, and
the rear shackles will be at a angle.
I paid a front end shop $85 plus $30 for an alignment. Worth every penny. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif
Yeah I am getting an alignment but my question is how to get that sway bar bolted back in on the frame on the driver side. I don't have the leveling kit on it anymore I have all my stock springs and shocks back on i just need to get that sway bar about another half inch to get the original bolt through it. If anyone has any suggestions I would greaty appreciate them....everything is stock underneath the front so that bar should go back up....
It shouldn't be too difficult to get the stock sway bar bolted back up. Are you guys talking about the 'Track Bar' or the 'Sway bar'?? I always unhook the track bar, and then once I get the tires back on, and the axle underneath, simply turn the steering wheel SLIGHTLY one way or the other, and you can connect the top end, at the frame... Kinda difficult to explain over the internet... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif
[ QUOTE ]
try setting the truck back on the ground. also, i always disconnect the sway bar from the lower link bolt at the sway bar not the frame. its easier to slide the lower bolt through as opposed to the upper bolt which is pressed in..
[/ QUOTE ]
I agree!
try setting the truck back on the ground. also, i always disconnect the sway bar from the lower link bolt at the sway bar not the frame. its easier to slide the lower bolt through as opposed to the upper bolt which is pressed in..
[/ QUOTE ]
I agree!
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
