Adam Connell
Monster Truckin since 87'
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2006
Well I'm just happy my hands are in good enough shape to type. Got starter yesterday around 2 and worked until 7, and then again this morning at 10-8 tonight... I'm wore the hell out. That all does include breaks and parts store trips to get things like new suspension bolts. Damn 1/2in bushings...
So I did everything back there... here's what I did:
- Speedway upper and lower control arms
- DSE sway bar
- KYB shocks
- Duralast Springs P/N RCS5379S
Here's the run down... Lower control arms, no big deal other than having to get new bolts and drill out the mounts to 1/2in! Shocks, are super simple and I am honestly mad I didn't do them sooner. Springs were simple enough, but to get the stockers out I unloaded the suspension and cut half way through them with a cut off wheel and then jacked the rear up to break them. They fall out after that. Tape the insulator to the spring when reinstalling new springs. The new duralast springs are shorter and come out much easier.
Upper control arms... F*** U! I did not buy the special tool, and the ball joint press I borrowed from my neighbor was horrible... I easily spent well over HALF of my time getting the old ones out and new ones in. I don't even want to talk about it... I will never again do them without the special tool, or the right kind of C clamp ball joint press. I am a specialty oil field service technician, and this was the single biggest mechanical headache I have ever encountered in my life... They don't make words mean enough for those evil bushings. My hands tell the tale pretty clearly!
DSE swaybar was super easy to install. I was worn out and taking my time and I still maybe only had an hour into the installation.
Didn't drive the car yet, it got dark right as I got the car back on the ground. I'll tighten her up in the morning and go for a drive and let yall know how the new setup works!
After doing the rear I am highly considering just paying a shop to do the front!
The best part of my day was nicking my thumb with the angle grinder this morning and saying " awww F***, that's gunna need stitches! Where's the super glue?" loud enough for my neighbor to hear... apparently the way I said it was quite hilarious! I'm not sure if he knows I wasnt kidding haha!
So I did everything back there... here's what I did:
- Speedway upper and lower control arms
- DSE sway bar
- KYB shocks
- Duralast Springs P/N RCS5379S
Here's the run down... Lower control arms, no big deal other than having to get new bolts and drill out the mounts to 1/2in! Shocks, are super simple and I am honestly mad I didn't do them sooner. Springs were simple enough, but to get the stockers out I unloaded the suspension and cut half way through them with a cut off wheel and then jacked the rear up to break them. They fall out after that. Tape the insulator to the spring when reinstalling new springs. The new duralast springs are shorter and come out much easier.
Upper control arms... F*** U! I did not buy the special tool, and the ball joint press I borrowed from my neighbor was horrible... I easily spent well over HALF of my time getting the old ones out and new ones in. I don't even want to talk about it... I will never again do them without the special tool, or the right kind of C clamp ball joint press. I am a specialty oil field service technician, and this was the single biggest mechanical headache I have ever encountered in my life... They don't make words mean enough for those evil bushings. My hands tell the tale pretty clearly!
DSE swaybar was super easy to install. I was worn out and taking my time and I still maybe only had an hour into the installation.
Didn't drive the car yet, it got dark right as I got the car back on the ground. I'll tighten her up in the morning and go for a drive and let yall know how the new setup works!
After doing the rear I am highly considering just paying a shop to do the front!
The best part of my day was nicking my thumb with the angle grinder this morning and saying " awww F***, that's gunna need stitches! Where's the super glue?" loud enough for my neighbor to hear... apparently the way I said it was quite hilarious! I'm not sure if he knows I wasnt kidding haha!