I had lunch with "BigBlue" yesterday, and saw his truck with the 2" spacers on top of the coil springs. Now I want to get me some.

So I called down the suspension shop that he had his done at, and they were outrageous on their prices. For the Daystar spacers, they wanted $225 for the pair. I looked on the internet, and found them for $159 at suspension-components.com. Who are they trying to cheat? and that price didnt even include labor!!

so anywho, If I get them, I will be installing them myself. So I want to know any tips from people that have this kind of lift. I was reading the instructions from Daystar, and I got overwhelmed. It talked about removing ball joints, and trackbars, and the whole brake assymbly. is all that necessary?

I wanna change out to the Rancho9000's, and I figured that since my front end is sagging, I would just install the spacers too. But I need some reassurance on the install first...


thanks
Phillip

 

My humble advice is to find out what is involved with the job, and then price the install out through several reputable places. Decide if you wanna do it or let someone else.

4 Wheel Parts in Indy did all my suspension work for a good price with great service. I will not look back on it at all, other than to offer my experience to others!

FWIW - got a friend with a similar truck to yours and I am trying to persuade him into a Skyjacker 2.5" Class II lift. It is essentially a fancy leveling kit with the added benefits of better ride, new shocks and springs. I think that it is worth it for him in the long run. Also, the handling characteristics would be better, IMHO, than just putting spacers in. Just a thought.

Good luck!

Matt

 

Thats a matter of opinion....some guys claim that the ride from the skyjacker with new springs is a lot harsher than stock. Now I dont know who to believe....

 

Installation of spacers is pretty easy. You've got to pull the tire then the stock, then the shock tower, I took the sway bar loose which made getting the spring out easier. Then you just put it all back together in the reverse. Only thing I had a problem was getting the spring and spacer back in. I used an old Jeep TJ trick of taking the jack that comes with the truck and putting it between the axle and the frame, then spreading them just enough to get the assembly back in. That's all it takes. You may want to get an alignment done. I didn't and that was 25,000 miles ago, with normal tire wear. Since you're going to have the shock out, might as well replace it with something better. A stock-length shock will work, but you can get a 2-inch longer shock from most suspension companies when you buy the spacers. The only thing you'll need that may be different are some really tall jackstands, or some other means of holding the truck up my the frame.

 

Yes Doc, you are right. All in what you want. I got a more solid ride that some may consider harsh, but improved handling, IMHO.

Matt

 

http://www.suspension-components.com/PDF/P10476-02.pdf

This is the set of intructions that threw me off a little. The way you explain it Erics76, it isnt that bad.

thanks

 

hey GSDOG1 u have a web site for that skyjacker 2.5 class II lift? i want to level the front and get a size or 2 biger tires under the truck! just wanting to c some different options than the one im looking at now.

 

I just put Revtek spacers in the front of mine a few weeks ago. I bought them from Here They are m,ade out of Aluminum instead of poly like some of them, they are very well made. I did about the same as the above on the install. The directions said to take one control arm bolt out on each side, but I didn't find it necessary. I didn't take the shoick loose from the tower either, just unbolted teh tower itself and took the shock out at the lower mount. Tilted the shock out of the way and stuck the spring back over it. One thing to check is the wire down to the 4x4 actuator on the axle, it was a little short when dropping the axle so I unpluggedit and hooked it back up when all was done. It took some prying under the spring to get it back down into the lower perch but all went ok, If you have access to a spring compressor (outside type) that will fit around the big coils that would be the way to go, but mine was too small so I just worked it in wit a pry bar. Pretty easy install IMO.

Here is after pics. It gave me enough room to fit 315/7017's on a 4.5" bbackspacing wheel. Before the spacer the tires rubbed like a SOB on the inner fenders during a turn.
Here
Here
And Here

 

powerwagon440:

I have some pics posted here on the DTR that you should be able to access, and also here -

http://dtw.truckmoxie.com/mygallery.asp?id=5323

Hope that link works.

Also, I am running the 4.5" Skyjacker Class II standard flex. My buddy wants the 2.5" so it will still fit in his garage!!

Matt

 

The Skyjacker springs are harsher than stock, that's why I have a set of custom 5.5" coils coming with a 15% softer (than stock) spring rate. I'll post my results when I get them installed (in about two weeks). The price for custom coils was suprisingly reasonable, less than $350 for the 5.5" springs. Less height would probably be cheaper yet.

I'm not a big fan of spacers, coil or body. Do an internet search for coil spring manufacturers, call a few. You might be suprised what a local shop can do for a few bucks......

 

the install is very easy. assuming you have air tools, it can be done in about two hours. i have done several leveling kits and can get it done in about 4 beers, i mean 1 1/2 hours, i drink slow. for tools i use, impact, torque wrench (for wheels), long extensions both 1/2 and 3/8, deep 15mm, short 15mm, 1/2 drive 3/4 and i believe the lower shock bolt is 22mm.(i could be wrong on that last one and my truck is in the shop so i cant ck for you. start w/ jacking the veh and resting the frame on jack stands. i use the jack to raise and lower the axle so i leave it there. remove tires. remove the upper shock mounts. you'll need to remove the aircleaner and tube. take the 15mm socket and a couple long extensions (i dont have a real long extension so i join 2 together), take the nuts off the shock tower set aside (just move them to the side). then i remove the nut from the upper swaybar link on both sides and move the bar out of the way. the the lower shock mount bolts need to be removed, pay attention to where the nut falls, it's attached to a piece of sheet metal to aid in putting it back in. mark the position of the spring so it goes back in the same position. i used a spring compressor to get the springs out, but you dont really need one, just makes it easier to install. pull the old parts out and put the new ones in. a spring compressor will help get the springs in, but so will a jack. be careful not to over stretch the lines going to the axle disconnect. install all the parts in reverse order. it's all pretty easy, it just sounds like there's alot of steps. i really can get it done in just over an hour, and thats taking my time and not throwing tools. good luck... oh by the way i use tuff country spacers and love the look of the leveling kit. you will too.

 

Ive heard of at least 1 guy having trouble with the spacer. He put the 2.5" skyjakcer coils in and his problem was cured....

On the other hand, lot of guys use spacers with good results.

 

As I posted before, I really like my SJ D25 coils with the Class II up front. It has worked for me and my driving style. Also, I want to state the fact that for every 1 story of a good personal install "in my own driveway that went well and had X number of buddies helping me and had all the right tools", I have heard at least 3 to 5 that didn't go so well, not too mention down right bad. And when you do it yourself and things go bad, well..... Do your research. I really mean all this in a very helpful way. My experience and all.....

Oh, and as Dirty Harry once said, "A man has got to know his limitations".

Up to you all. I had no problems letting the pro's do this work for me for the price I paid and the service I received.

Up to you all.....I don't want to re-hash my previous posts.

Last parting piece of sincere and cordial advice - go and take a ride in a truck that is equipped the way you think you want your's done.

Matt

 

i had the 2" spacer b4 i went with the 5" lift and had no probs. with it at all. install took me and my buddy about 1 1/2 hrs but it was easy. we did have spring compressors which made it easier but could of got by without them. did pretty much the same as erics76 to install. had great tire wear, no probs at all

i got mine from Tuff Country for $129 plus shipping, really nice people

 

turbo terror that is exactly what i want!!! nice rig!!!