Daystar Spacer Lift Install HELP!

Deputyjoel · **Joined:** Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:57 pm **Posts:** 40

Hey all! This is my first post, but I've done a lot of lurking and searching on this great site. I just picked up a 2005 4X4 Limited Liberty about a week ago. I put some 245/75R16 tires on and then I wanted a lift! I looked all around this site and decided on a Daystar 2.5" spacer lift since this vehicle is for the family and will be used 95% on the road. My Rubicon is my off road rig! :twisted:

Anyway, I've installed several lifts, have lots of tools and am pretty mechanically inclined. BUT with that said, this lift has me pulling my hair OUT!

I understand the principles, got everything off, got the stuts reassembled with the spacers and have the top portion mounted back up in place in the fender well. HOWEVER, with the spacers installed the strut assembly is 2.5 inches longer and I cannot get the clevis bracket to line back up with mounting holes. I've used a crow bar, bottle jack, spring compressor, etc. I CAN'T get it back in place. Also, it appears that the bottom of the strut assembly is munching into the CV boot. So, hope someone could give me the secret or some advice if they have done this or a similar lift. Otherwise I'M SCREWED!

THANKS!

jason thompson · **Posted:** Sat Aug 11, 2007 3:10 pm

Where are you at?
You may find some one willing to come help out

That being said
did you remove the UBJ and the sway bar?
IRC when they did mine with the OME med. springs and struts the guy said it was a PITA
I know that others have used a rachet strap to pull it into place

Deputyjoel · **Joined:** Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:57 pm **Posts:** 40

I live up in Northern California (Redding). Yep, I took the upper ball joint off and unhooked the sway bar. Still not enough room to reinstall. It is a PAIN! I like the rachet strap idea. I don't know how you would hook it on, but I'll look into that!

Endurance · **Posted:** Sat Aug 11, 2007 3:37 pm

Try to stand on the rotor and push that entire arm down. Make sure your swaybar is disconnected.

Just play around with it, its not hard at all to get that strut back in there.

1) Put in the strut and attach the 4 top bolts, hand tight.
2) Attach thar fork looking thing to the botto, of you strut
3) Push the bolt through the bottom of that fork.
4) Straighten everything out by hand and secure all bolts.

ROADHAWG · **Posted:** Sat Aug 11, 2007 6:24 pm

I attached the ratchet strap to a hole in the factory skid when I did mine. Lotta messing around but it finally went.

Deputyjoel · **Joined:** Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:57 pm **Posts:** 40

Thanks for some of the ideas. I'm still working on it!

Deputyjoel · **Joined:** Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:57 pm **Posts:** 40

Well, I am about to call it a day. Unless I have assembled the strut incorrectly, and I've triple checked it, it is way to long! The chunk of rubber that gives you the 2.5 inches of lift just seems to make the strut to long to re-install. I've followed the directions to the letter, but the strut assembly is so long that it mashed into the CV boot. When you lift the rotor assembly up to push the CV boot in out of the way, you are also lifting the point where the strut fork or clevis mounts. I have pushed, pulled, pryed, jacked and I still can't get it back together. Like I said earlier I've done a couple of lifts on Wranglers without any problem. The rear install was a piece of cake, but the front has me stumped. I'm wondering what would happen if I took the lower ball joint appart to allow the lower control arm more freedom to move down? What do you think? Otherwise, I'm going to have to call a mechanic to come out to my house to finish the install $$$$$$.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:48 pm

Sometimes if you turn the wheel one way or the other it goes in easier...from past experience. Make suer the sway bar is off and out of the way.

TDI4BY · **Joined:** Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:56 pm **Posts:** 644

If you pivot the lower control arm alignment adjustments so that the lower arm is pushed out away from the cradle as far as it will adjust that helps. That is what it took on mine. You must have a CRD right?

Deputyjoel · **Joined:** Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:57 pm **Posts:** 40

No, I have a gaser, not a CRD. I had my neighbor come over and give me a hand, but still couldn't get it in. I appreciate all your input, but I'm going to take it all off (a day wasted) and take it to a shop. SUCKS!

LiLredLibby · **Posted:** Sat Aug 11, 2007 11:28 pm

Deputyjoel wrote:

Well, I am about to call it a day. Unless I have assembled the strut incorrectly, and I've triple checked it, it is way to long! The chunk of rubber that gives you the 2.5 inches of lift just seems to make the strut to long to re-install. I've followed the directions to the letter, but the strut assembly is so long that it mashed into the CV boot. When you lift the rotor assembly up to push the CV boot in out of the way, you are also lifting the point where the strut fork or clevis mounts. I have pushed, pulled, pryed, jacked and I still can't get it back together. Like I said earlier I've done a couple of lifts on Wranglers without any problem. The rear install was a piece of cake, but the front has me stumped. I'm wondering what would happen if I took the lower ball joint appart to allow the lower control arm more freedom to move down? What do you think? Otherwise, I'm going to have to call a mechanic to come out to my house to finish the install $$$$$$.

If you did'nt seperate the lower balljoint from the lower a-arm,you would probably never get the clevis bolted back up.This is how I did mine,and I could'nt imagine stuffing that strut assembly back in there unless you did.If it's not too late,seperate the lower balljoint from the lower control arm,and see if you don't have a better day tommorow. :wink:

And I do hope this helps.

Ron

Deputyjoel · **Joined:** Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:57 pm **Posts:** 40

Thanks Ron! In looking at my problem this looked like a really good idea, but I was afraid to tear into it since no one else was suggesing it. I'll give it a shot tomorrow and report back! THANKS again!

corwyyn · **Posted:** Sun Aug 12, 2007 2:38 am

Before you go out to tackle the clevis problem, there are two posts worth reading. The first one is a write-up on a Frankenlift installover on jeepkj.com, and the other is when Moose went to install his a while back. Between these two write-ups I was able to install my daystar lift by myself (OK, the struts came already assembled since I bought it used). Anyway hope this info helps.

Deputyjoel · **Joined:** Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:57 pm **Posts:** 40

Thanks Kevin! Those two write ups are helpful. I finally got the passenger side done tonight with the help of my neighbor. Took the lower ball joint off for more droop and used a spring compressor! Still fought it! Then lots of fun getting the lower and upper ball joints put back together. The strut assembly with the Daystar 2.5 inch spacer is LONG! What a PITA to get back in. Seems that with a 2.5 inch lift it should be the same as the Frankinlift set up, but I don't hear the kind of problems I had with installing this Daystar spacer kit! I wouldn't recommend it after my install experience. I still have the driver side to do!

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Mon Aug 13, 2007 9:34 am

I wonder if you got "an old puc" set...they were the full 2.5" up front until they realized that a puc about 1.75-2" gave the full 2.5" of lift? You should measure the front puc from the bottom to the point where the coil springs sits...If it is a full 2.5" send it back!

Deputyjoel · **Joined:** Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:57 pm **Posts:** 40

I did check this measurement and it is about 2 inches from the bottom of the spacer to the point where the bottom of the coil sits. I haven't tackled the driver side install yet, needed a rest! I'll keep ya'll posted!

Deputyjoel · **Joined:** Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:57 pm **Posts:** 40

Well, I got the Daystar lift in!

What a PITA! I want to thank all of you that made suggestions. The ratchet strap around the clevis was a great idea. Taking the lower ball joint appart was also a big help. Not a lift project for the weak at heart! Like I said in an earlier post, I've done 2 wrangler suspension lifts, a body lift and helped a buddy with a Cherokee lift, NONE were as tough and challenging as the Liberty! Anyway, thanks again everyone for all the help. This is a great site and I am sure all do a lot more searching and have a lot more questions! Lots more mods to do! VIVA LA KJ!

Deputyjoel · **Joined:** Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:57 pm **Posts:** 40

Well, I finally got to take her for a spin after the lift install! Klunk, klunk, rattle, rattle!!!! Every little bump in the road causes a rattling sound. I'm hating all the rattling! Is this the norm on the Daystar lift? Anyone got a dianosis? I've gone through and made sure all bolts are tight. I'm thinking it is the upper A arm hitting the spring. If this is the case, what's the fix? Al's A arms? I can't stand it!!!!

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:40 am

The standard clunks are rear shock bolts not tightened (spec is somewhere around 90ft/lbs I think)
or front sway bar bolts (tightened when the wheel was extended instead of sitting level)

so 1st pass recheck all bolt torques and you might loosen/retighten the front sway bar while it's sitting level.

wildrussian · **Posted:** Thu Aug 16, 2007 12:23 pm

I just read in a post where somebodies clucnking was the sway bar hitting lower control arm. Check and see if you can tell if there was contact between the two.

Daystar Spacer Lift Install HELP!

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