I finally got the front half of my Frankenlift installed, about an hour ago. I'm through for the day, but I'll get the rear end installed tomorrow. Getting the old struts out wasn't too bad, but I had a bear of a time trying to get the lower clevis BACK in. (AND, I ended up going for a drive, for a 21mm bolt, as well).

I tried using a spring compressor, but wasn't able to find one that fit the strut, so I put a come-along on the opposite clevis, and was able to get it back together.

After I tightened the clevis bolts, I found out that the ball joint wanted to spin. and spin.................... A little work with a C-clamp and a jack, and I was back in business. The 2nd side took MUCH less time.

Tomorrow, I'll replace the rears. It should be ONLY another 15 minutes.

_________________
E.E.P. for my Jeep (EMPTYING EVERY POCKET)
2004 Limited - Stock no more
JcrOffroad sliders-Trail tested, mud approved
Frankenlifted
Al's A-Arms
Stock Skids
235/70/16 Cooper Discoverer HTPs

How long did it take? I'm putting mine on Tuesday.

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2005 CRD , Moab Rims, 245/75/16 Goodyear M/T
RL rear bumper, TMJ Front bumper, Frankenlinft,
*TOTALED*

1985 Mitsubishi Pickup SP 2.3 Turbo Diesel Watercooled turbo,4D56 ported head,
12" Suspension Lift with JK Rubicon axles, Elockers, 5.13's, Fox coilovers, Atlas 5.0, Rock Lizard supersliders

1996 Lexus LX450 -locked and lifted-

I'm NOT a good person to ask: I started yesterday, about 10, realized I needed an 18 mm socket, had to drive 40 miles round trip to get it, then ended up going out a 2nd time for a 21 mm socket. I started at 11, yesterday morning, and called it quits at 7, last night, due to the fact I hadn't figured out how to get the lower clevis bolt in.

I started back in this morning, loosened the bolts on the strut mout to give me a little more room, and tried using a ratchet strap. That didn't have enough 'kick' to it, so I used a come-along, attaching one end to the clevis on the opposite side of the Jeep, as an anchor point. THEN, I was finally able to get the lower clevis, with some extra persuasion from a crowbar, to move into place. After that, I had a problem with the ball joint, since every time I tried to tighten it, it would just spin. After jacking the lower A-arm up so that it would fit into the knuckle, I clamped it tight to the UPPER A-arm, which gave enough resistance, so that the bolt didn't spin until I had the nut tightened enough.

This morning, i started at 9:30, and finished the 1st strut by 4. The 2nd one, I did between 4 and 6:30. It would have gone much faster, but I had problems with the upper ball-joint, again. BTW, NO. It WON'T take only 15 minutes for the rears, but it will be MUCH faster than the fronts were.

Also, I tried to install Al's Upper arms, but I couldn't figure out how to get enough room to fit a wrench onto the rear bolts, on the driver side, closest to the firewall. For THAT, I'm going to have to defer to my local mechanic.

In any case, a 2nd pair of hands is definitely a plus.

_________________
E.E.P. for my Jeep (EMPTYING EVERY POCKET)
2004 Limited - Stock no more
JcrOffroad sliders-Trail tested, mud approved
Frankenlifted
Al's A-Arms
Stock Skids
235/70/16 Cooper Discoverer HTPs

They say the frankenlift is harder to do but WOW didnt think it was that bad. Just did a Rustys yesterday for jerbacher in less than 4 hours (of course the springs/struts were already together), and that was with me forgetting what size the nuts were.
Maybe I never want to tackle one of those Frankys!

Tom

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MUDD'S MOTORSPORT'S We do IFS lift installs ,
03 OVERLAND EDITION /Kilby-Skidrow-Mopar-4XGuard skids/ 2.5 inch TOTAL CONTROL JBA coilovers -JBA Arms/MOABS-31 FALKEN WILDPEAK AT3W / 4.10's etc, 04 Kilimanjaro Edition loaded, plus 05 KJ limited

An easy way to tighten the UBJ nuts is to use a wrench on the nut then hold the balljoint stud with a 10mm wrench(that's why it looks like a nut on the end of the stud).They best way so far to realign the lower clevis bolt is with 2 ratchet straps on the clevis and the front skid with a jack raising/lowering the LCA.For Al's a-arms you need a long extension with a swival joint and 18mm deepwell socket for the rear most bolts,at least you don't need to hold the other end of those bolts.The rear will be mush easier,just remember to unbolt the rear sway bar to make it even easier.

I lost a couple of hours going after sockets that I didn't have. It'd been a long time since I DIDN'T have the right socket, but stuff happens. Last night, I didn't have a ratchet strap, so I borrowed one, but I wasn't able to put enough pressure on it to get the clevis in. That's where the come-along played into it. It made short work of the problem, for the record. As for the upper A-arms, like I said, I utilized a C-clamp, and was able to place enough tension on it to get them to tighten. Usually, it wouldn't be that big of a problem, I just ran into a couple of 'unusuals'.

Again, I'm betting that if you get a lift party going, it would make short work of it. Whenever one person gets stumped, there's ALWAYS someone else who's seen something like it, and can get a 'different' bead on things. When you're by yourself, you sometimes get stuck in one mind-set...................Of course, if I'd been smart, I would have a couple of beers. I'm SURE that would have cleared my 'mindset'................................

_________________
E.E.P. for my Jeep (EMPTYING EVERY POCKET)
2004 Limited - Stock no more
JcrOffroad sliders-Trail tested, mud approved
Frankenlifted
Al's A-Arms
Stock Skids
235/70/16 Cooper Discoverer HTPs

Yeah, had a bear of a time getting my driver's side strut mount (AKA clevis) back in place. So much so that my mechanic buddy & i broke the mount!

Of course, at 1:30 Sat. afternoon no dealer open to get a new strut mount. Fortunately my buddy's neighbor is a really good welder. He welded the broken piece back on there which allowed me todrive it until replament came.

Anyway, now that's she's lifted she's pretty sweet yes???

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'04 Renny
Mod's: See Avatar
Conquests: Poughkeepsie Gulch, Governor's Basin, Black Bear/Imogene/Engineer/Cinnamon pass, Coal Creek OHV, Badlands OHV, S.M.O.R.R., K-Rocks, Parent's driveway

Ouch! And here I put a come along on mine! Anyway, I had to work too long yesterday, and by the time I got off of work, and got home, it was getting too dark out to play last night, so I've got to wait just one more day, and hopefully I'll get the rears in tonight.

_________________
E.E.P. for my Jeep (EMPTYING EVERY POCKET)
2004 Limited - Stock no more
JcrOffroad sliders-Trail tested, mud approved
Frankenlifted
Al's A-Arms
Stock Skids
235/70/16 Cooper Discoverer HTPs

Rears much easier than the front. Good luck gettin' it done. You will love it!

_________________
'04 Renny
Mod's: See Avatar
Conquests: Poughkeepsie Gulch, Governor's Basin, Black Bear/Imogene/Engineer/Cinnamon pass, Coal Creek OHV, Badlands OHV, S.M.O.R.R., K-Rocks, Parent's driveway

Oops! I ran out of daylight, again! Got one rear spring in, but it was getting too dark to see the nuts and bolts anymore, so I'll have to wait just ONE more day.

But man, oh man! It already looks GOOD! Thanks for the encouragement. If all goes well, I'll be wheelin' this weekend, in and around the Black Lake area, near Cheboygan, MI.

_________________
E.E.P. for my Jeep (EMPTYING EVERY POCKET)
2004 Limited - Stock no more
JcrOffroad sliders-Trail tested, mud approved
Frankenlifted
Al's A-Arms
Stock Skids
235/70/16 Cooper Discoverer HTPs