On avg. how long should installing 6" skyjacker kit which includes 4 leaf springs 4 shocks, pitman arm and drag link take and extended brake lines? One person doing it who has novice mechanics skill but has never done it?
4 hours? 6 hours? full day?
Into a '78 F250 4x4

 

It takes however long it takes to do it right. Work at your own comfortable pace and dont rush it! I'd say it would take a full day because something always comes up wether its a rusted bolt that needs to be cut or poor pinion angle that needs to be corrected with shims. (mine did for the front axle, skyjacker leafs) Clean or replace all rusted bolts and coat them with anti-seize on the threads and a generous amount of grease where the bushings ride. Torque all bolts to recommended specs. Use line-wrenches for the brake lines so you dont round off the brass fittings. Make sure the new brake lines have enough slack for the suspension travel and are clear of the tires. The hardest part will be trying to lift the truck and keep it safely supported high enough so you can undo the old leaf springs and have enough room to slide the new, taller leafs in their place. ( I used an engine hoist to lift the truck and support it with jackstands on big peices of wood, kept the hoist in place just incase.) Use common sense and try to get a buddy to help you, it'll make everything 100 times easier especially when trying wrestle the old and new leafs into place. (besides, you'll have to bleed the brakes, and that takes two people)

You'll need 7/8" and 15/16" deep and shallow sockets and wrenches for the springs and U-bolts, 3/8" or 1/2" line wrenches for the brake lines, a 1-3/16" socket or wrench (I think, im not sure on this one) for the Pitman arm, Grease for the drag link, brake fluid, and lots of patience!

If you get stuck on any part, read the directions again and again, compare to old parts (make sure to note which way the old leaf springs were facing!) and if you're still stuck, dont hesitate to ask us for help. (pictures would help if you have trouble explaining)

Also, it would be wise to measure the distance between the tallest part of the tire and the tallest part of the fenders to determine if your truck sat level with the stock and new leaf springs.

Good luck!

 

I'd take a weekend at least, if everything went well.

bleeding all the brakes, all 4 shocks, that pitman arm. its alot of work, and I have air tools , and have done alot of suspention work.

 

The rear sway bar will not connect anymore because the shocks get in the way? Is this normal? Would I have to keep the sway bar detached or should i get a longer rod to connect he sway bar?

Also another problem i came across is that the skyjacker front leaf spring compared to the stock leaf spring is that the middle of the spring to one end is longer so Ineed to bring the whole front axle forward by couple inches. Am I not doing something right?

 

sorry, nevmind about the front springs carry an offset center spring.
My mechanic is doing the work but he dropped the front axle competely off the truck is this needed to install the front leaf springs 78 f 250 4x4

 

bye the time the leafs, shocks, brakelines and pitman arm are disconnected the axle is pretty much out of the truck anyways.