Lift on the Way

JeepJunky33 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 13, 2005 7:07 pm

I ordered my lift today from Rusty's Off-Road. I cant wait to get it. Anyone have any pointers for me, so the install is smoother once I get it and install it?

-Seth

BlackOps · **Posted:** Sun Jul 17, 2005 12:47 pm

Are you going to do the install yourself?

--BlackOps

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Sun Jul 17, 2005 2:39 pm

Get someone to help that has experience doing one, right. That is the best advice.

Other than that....either have a very good set of strut compressors or be ready to pay for them at your local auto shop. Call around now and get prices and to see who can do it/ Also, don't install on a Sunday if you plan to use the auto shop to compress them. Most are closed on Sunday's.

Get a complete list of tools that you will need for the job.

Get the torque settings for everything. I found two different sets of torque settings when I did mine and it had me confused.

JeepJunky33 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 18, 2005 5:07 pm

I just got it in the mail today and it looks difficult. I may just be being a wuss about it at first glance but since I have never lifted a jeep b4 I'm worried. I have my father and my friend to help me but we will see what happens. Does anyone know if they have a manual out for the libery yet? I'd love to get one before I begin. Anyone wanna help?

Skyjump136 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:50 pm **Posts:** 1633

I'll help. In return, this is all I ask:

Airfare for 2 from Denver to NYC. Three nights stay at some posh hotel and maybe some tickets to a broadway show. :lol:

Deal?

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Mon Jul 18, 2005 8:09 pm

I'll be a cheaper date........ticket for one to NYC, 3 day stay at the Weston, a hot escort, and I'll even do the jumping on your rear axle to help you get the spring in..... :lol:

Actually, it isn't very hard. I did mine and I had never done anything like that before, either.

There are manual's out there for the Liberty but they aren't cheap....unless someone on here sends you the soft copy of it.

vtjeep · **Posted:** Mon Jul 18, 2005 9:53 pm

Guys and Gals get a library card and check the manual you want out of the library. If they don’t have what you want locally they can do an inter- library loan. Being one of those people (firefighter) who cuts people out of there balled up cars, I used a spreader ( jack) to ease the rear axel down for the spring instead of jumping on it. :roll:

JeepJunky33 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 18, 2005 10:10 pm

WOW Guys.....as nice and wonderful as those offers sound. I still think I'll pass and try it my-self. When I have a problem though, ya'll will be my first contacts. Thanx guys....I'll keep ya updated within the next few weeks.

Skyjump136 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:50 pm **Posts:** 1633

Dang! And I promised my wife a trip to New York. Now you're making me look bad. :wink:

camper · **Posted:** Mon Jul 18, 2005 11:17 pm

seth...

here's a link to a .pdf file that will help a little....it's for a 2" liberty lift kit from another vendor but the process is essentially the same....

http://www.bds-suspension.com/pdfs/034201.pdf

it won't be everything you'll want to know but with some support from your team you can decide if you want to try the install....look at the .pdf link above and then pull a front tire and mentally pull a strut assembly....talk it over with your team and then ask a few specific questions here....give this forum a couple days and see if more information comes up....your types of questions will give some of the guys here an idea of your ability to proceed....

if you think you want to proceed, give yourself twice the time that you guess it will take....I say do the front first....you'll need a 1/2" breaker bar with metric and fraction sockets....sometimes wrenches will be more practical.....there's some large diameter bolts that are pretty tight.....don't give up on them, you can break them free....you don't have to have impact wrenches....

the make or break step is compressing the front strut assembly to recover the top mount and rubber pads....this requires a spring compressor and is very dangerous if you don't know what you're doing....no one here can recommend that you try to do this because of the risk to you....a solution is to remove the assembly from the chassis and take it a shop and pay to have them dissassemble/reassemble with new rusty's components....this will take some of your time but shouldn't be too expensive....I did mine myself and it was harder than I thought it would be to crank the springs down....I cleared the bystanders (wife) and was very careful....

pull the rear sway bar off the two rear control arms before you try to squeeze the rear springs out and then in....its only two bolts on each side....I have mine still on but some guys leave it off....

I personally don't think you need to obsess with torque values if you have a feel for pulling wrenches....but I'm willing to admit that that attitude only works for me because I'm responsible for myself, not you....you can dig a little deeper on the internet for some torque values if you want that confidence....if you take it apart with hand tools, you'll have an idea how hard to tighten 'em back up...

it's a significant additional expense, but tires with a stiffer sidewall will really make a difference in your satisfaction with the lift kit....

it's a great feeling to do it yourself....good luck....

vtjeep · **Posted:** Tue Jul 19, 2005 10:27 pm

If you start on the right front make sure you unhook the battery first. And wait a few minuets before taking the suspension apart. You do not want to have an airbag going off. Just a safety note. :!:

I made myself a spreader for the clevis to make it easier to get back on the new strut. It consisted of a 1/4 inch bolt two nuts and washers. Put the bolt thru the clevis with the nuts on the inside , screw the nuts out, you do not need much pressure. So when you go to assemble the clevis to the strut in the wheel well they will slide together easily. Hope this helps.

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