Lift guide
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Harrison, AR
Lift guide
Hey guys! I have just received my donahoe lift via trucktoysperformance.com, and am getting ready for the install. I am putting a 4" front leaf replacement with pittman arm, track bar relocation bracket, and rear blocks, shocks, etc. on a leaf sprung 2004 6.0 crew cab 4wd superduty. I am aware of most aspects of the project such as driveline vibration, etc., and how to fix, but I need to know specific tool requirements, process, etc.
1. Am I going to need special tools? ie: pittman arm puller?
2. What size is the pittman arm nut? leaf? etc.
3. Are there any "tricks" to the install or is it all pretty much just nuts and bolts?
4. How should I raise the truck, without a lift, to install front leafs? (not looking for the "take it to the professionals" speech!)
I am mechanically inclined and should have everything to do the job, but I am trying to draw from other trial and error, errors, made by my superduty kinfolk.
Thanks for all the help.
1. Am I going to need special tools? ie: pittman arm puller?
2. What size is the pittman arm nut? leaf? etc.
3. Are there any "tricks" to the install or is it all pretty much just nuts and bolts?
4. How should I raise the truck, without a lift, to install front leafs? (not looking for the "take it to the professionals" speech!)
I am mechanically inclined and should have everything to do the job, but I am trying to draw from other trial and error, errors, made by my superduty kinfolk.
Thanks for all the help.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Houston, Texas
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 6
From: Ketchikan, AK.
for the front... a couple tricks.... take off the front bumper. this will make it much easier to get to the front spring bolts.... and for those bolts, use heat !! the factory locktite can be a major PITA to get loose without the heat. you will probably have to unbolt the driver side bracket of your A/C condensor to get the leaf bolt to clear. when i put them back in, i switch it around to the other way. if your doing this i a driveway, your going to need to get the truck pretty high to account for the arch on those new springs. as for the pitman arm, you will definately need a puller.... and be prepared to put up a fight !! they can be on there pretty tight, and sometimes get stubborn. otherwise, they are pretty straight forward to do. the pitman arm was the hardest part of the last one i helped with, but we did it on a lift, so the rest was easy. hope this helps some !!!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 6
From: Ketchikan, AK.
the last one that i fought with, we actually had to take a tapered pry bar an pound it in between the pitman arm and box housing while applying pressure from the puller.... just be very careful not to damage the box. they can be a huge PITA!!!
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,948
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Snap-on CJ119B.
No need for anything else.
Right tool for the job always pays for itself.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....store&tool=all
Have yet to have a pitman arm that took more than a minute or two to get off. Quick blip with the impact, and they pop right off. No hassles at all.
Makes it look soooooo easy.
No need for anything else.
Right tool for the job always pays for itself.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....store&tool=all
Have yet to have a pitman arm that took more than a minute or two to get off. Quick blip with the impact, and they pop right off. No hassles at all.
Makes it look soooooo easy.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 245
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From: Harrison, AR
Thanks fellas, I appreciate the honesty! Hopefully I will get to it this week. I've been waiting on the box kit to come in from Donahoe. Apparently some of the stuff shippped from Trucktoyzperformance, and some from DR in Canada or something???? Either way, it's all supposed to be here by tom (monday), and I'm getting pretty impatient...but you know how those things can be! I'm def. starting with a pitman arm puller and starting off with the truck jacked high!!!
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 6
From: Ketchikan, AK.
Originally Posted by 75F350
Snap-on CJ119B.
No need for anything else.
Right tool for the job always pays for itself.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?search=true&item_ID=10316&PartNo=CJ119B&g roup_id=1245&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all
Have yet to have a pitman arm that took more than a minute or two to get off. Quick blip with the impact, and they pop right off. No hassles at all.
Makes it look soooooo easy.
No need for anything else.
Right tool for the job always pays for itself.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?search=true&item_ID=10316&PartNo=CJ119B&g roup_id=1245&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all
Have yet to have a pitman arm that took more than a minute or two to get off. Quick blip with the impact, and they pop right off. No hassles at all.
Makes it look soooooo easy.
i really like the looks of this puller....has a lot more contact with the arm than the standard 2 jaw puller type, which would put more force on the arm. maybe ill look into getting one of those for the toolbox.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
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Originally Posted by mattd17
i really like the looks of this puller....has a lot more contact with the arm than the standard 2 jaw puller type, which would put more force on the arm. maybe ill look into getting one of those for the toolbox.
Yeah man, worth every penny. I was explaining this same thing in another post that my time is worth something, even if I am working on my junk, and by spending less time, and have zero problems, no four letter words, makes the whole thing so much easier, and worthwhile. I mean fight with a weak tool and spend an hour or two, busted knuckles, and messed up parts, or buy the right tool, and remove parts like a pro. Simple as that.
Guys that don't like to turn wrenches probably have been in a fight with a fastener, or in this case a pitman arm, and lost, simply because they went to battle with poor ammunition.
This is a quality tool, and like I said, "makes a tough job seem soooo simple".
Oh yeah, important. That tool does not fall off like the multi arm jobs often do. Once it is on there, it is not coming off without the arm.
Don't know if anyone has ever had a puller jump off under load, but it is pretty exciting. This one stays secure.
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