rear spring install questions
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2004
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rear spring install questions
i have a new set of rear springs i'm going to install.the question i have is can i swap out one side at a time or is it faster to just unbolt both sides and go big?
i'm doing this myself and it would likely work better to do 1 side each night after work.
so to those who have done this how long will it take?
i have most every tool known to man to get it done and all new u bolts and shackles and spring bolts for now i'm reusing the rear shocks and being it is a ats kit i should not have to do any spring mods.
the fronts took me approx 4 hours but i installed a new front bumper too.
i have a new rear bumper if removing it first would help any.
so doing this alone how much time will this take?
pete
i'm doing this myself and it would likely work better to do 1 side each night after work.
so to those who have done this how long will it take?
i have most every tool known to man to get it done and all new u bolts and shackles and spring bolts for now i'm reusing the rear shocks and being it is a ats kit i should not have to do any spring mods.
the fronts took me approx 4 hours but i installed a new front bumper too.
i have a new rear bumper if removing it first would help any.
so doing this alone how much time will this take?
pete
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2014
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Time will depend entirely on how stubborn your shackle bolts are, if you haven't already soak them with PB Blaster or similar penetrating oil.
You can do one side at a time, which is somewhat preferable since it'll help keep your driveshaft and brake lines from being the only thing locating your axle.
Mine took me about 3 hours for the rear with an obscenely stubborn shackle bolt.
You can do one side at a time, which is somewhat preferable since it'll help keep your driveshaft and brake lines from being the only thing locating your axle.
Mine took me about 3 hours for the rear with an obscenely stubborn shackle bolt.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 30,593
Likes: 1,236
From: N. IL
I had one other guy helping with all hand tools. No rusty bolts, one side at a time. We did the C 'Mod'. Took us 6 hrs. in the driveway/garage.
Rear bumper can stay on, won't interfere with the install. Check those rear A/C lines, that's the slowest part.
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Joined: Jan 2012
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Not having done leafs on an excursion yet but on a few other trucks it took me about 3 hours time doing an add a leaf kit and new blocks on the rear leafs. One kit i did it in my front yard and with all the right tools still took me about the same time. I would stray away from driving it with only one side done at a time bc it will most likely put strain on your drive shaft and the angle will be out of wack as well. I know that most trucks have a curtain angle that you must abide by for the line of drive shaft to work correctly. I have seen people do the cheap blocks from part stores and not having the right angle for the blocks and it destroy their u joints in the rear and exploded from the strain. Granted that was after a couple months after install but im sure it was under stress from the get go after install and only a matter of time till something gave out. Good luck.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,923
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From: Sacramento Area
I did both my fronts and rears in a buddy's driveway with just jacks and jack stands and had no problems "locating" anything - the give of the slip joint on the drive shaft was plenty of movement room, and actually getting them lined up with the guides was easy.
For me the front was more of a pain than the rear...took a little bit of persuasion to get the front into place (ratchet strap).
PB blast them twice a day a good 3 days out if you are in a rust state.
For me the front was more of a pain than the rear...took a little bit of persuasion to get the front into place (ratchet strap).
PB blast them twice a day a good 3 days out if you are in a rust state.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2004
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sprayed the bolts with a product called deep creep tonight.weather took a turn for the worse and dropped 30 degrees and windy so no progress today.
I'm hoping the backs go better than the fronts as I could not get them back together at all until I dropped the track bar.and then I could not get it back in, had to order up a adjustable as the sock one was just about a 1/4" short.
tried pulling with ratchet straps and a come along to no luck.now that the adjustable is in things are good.
hoping with the ats kit things go much smoother this time.
i don't need to drive it if i only get one side done,but the wife likes her garage and i'll be blocking it if i cant at least move it 20 feet.
thanks guys
I'm hoping the backs go better than the fronts as I could not get them back together at all until I dropped the track bar.and then I could not get it back in, had to order up a adjustable as the sock one was just about a 1/4" short.
tried pulling with ratchet straps and a come along to no luck.now that the adjustable is in things are good.
hoping with the ats kit things go much smoother this time.
i don't need to drive it if i only get one side done,but the wife likes her garage and i'll be blocking it if i cant at least move it 20 feet.
thanks guys
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 4
From: North Texas
I found the rears to go in easier than the front for me. The weight of the spring packs was a bit more of a hassle back there, but I took both out at once and used wrachet straps to keep it from moving backwards while the axle sat on my jack. I had plenty of movement to line things up. The AC lines are a pain on the passengers side, but I was able to unclip them and work around them. I did it with minimal help from my wife who helped start some bolts while I held things in place.
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