Need Some Sanity

FDez · **Posted:** Fri Jan 14, 2011 8:26 pm

So I've decided to say screw it and sneak into my office tomrrow and work on the Jeep. I have all the parts, new muffler (Super 44) and associated parts, RK lift, new (to me) wheels that need polishing, side steps (yes, side steps, I have a sister, girlfriend and a girlfriend's elderly mother who all don't drive so I had to agree to put them on with the lift.) and some other small stuff. I would like to concentrate on getting the lift in since I desparately need new tires in this weather.

My question is, are there any tips/tricks with the RK lift I should know about? I have done some pretty complicated stuff in my day (putting a '91 Crown Vic fuel injection onto a 1971 engine block in a Bronco), but never any suspension work. I have all the tools already (Jack, stands, ball joint separator, straps, and any and all hand tools at my office). I also have nobody to help me. :ALONE:

How long does this usually take? As I said I am mechanically inclined but not a master mechanic. I'm just wondering if I should concentrate on the other stuff instead of doing the lift? ANy help is greatly appreciated.

Dez :JEEPIN:

At The Helm · **Posted:** Fri Jan 14, 2011 11:09 pm

The rk lift shouldn't be too hard to put on since you don't have to touch the springs or remove a bunch of stuff to get to the strut mounts. I see a ball joint separator is in your tool selection. Try not to use it on the upper ball joint. Just take a bfh or heavy dead blow and whack the hell out of your steering knuckle and it should separate. I've also heard of people upgrading the hardware on that lift. If you cant get your lower a arm to droop down enough to put the longer fork on, loosen the cam bolts at the a-arm pivoting point and try to tighten it back the way it was. DONT overstretch the brake lines. Remove calipers if you have to. The rear should be a peice of cake if you disco the sway bar. Have fun and good luck. :BANANA:

At The Helm · **Posted:** Fri Jan 14, 2011 11:13 pm

Time it takes for the lift depends on your speed and the tools you have. If your working in a shop w air tools and a lift maybe 2 hrs. Carport at home with one jack and stands and ratchets- 3-5 hrs

At The Helm · **Posted:** Sat Jan 15, 2011 3:00 am

Some info from here may help:
viewtopic.php?f=104&t=48731

FDez · **Posted:** Sat Jan 15, 2011 3:03 am

[quote="Atthehelm"] I see a ball joint separator is in your tool selection. Try not to use it on the upper ball joint. Just take a bfh or heavy dead blow and whack the hell out of your steering knuckle and it should separate.

Do you just hit the knuckle head on? The reason I got the ball joint separator was because I didn't know where to hit the knuckle and didn't want to end up smacking the wrong thing and destroying something important. :grim:

Thanks for the info by the way. :SOMBRERO:

Elt31987 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 15, 2011 10:39 am

Ya just hit the control arm on the point closest to you, where the balloting comes out of. If you've got a warm garage I cam come by and help on the weekends, weekdays I work till 3:30

At The Helm · **Posted:** Sat Jan 15, 2011 12:34 pm

Look at the picture on the link of Digger's how to. The area to hit is highlighted.

FDez · **Posted:** Sat Jan 15, 2011 6:07 pm

Thanks everyone. I decided not to do the lift today. I got a late start today and had some time constraints this afternoon so figured it wouldn't be such a good idea. I was able to get everything else done that I wanted to though. :seuss:

First I stopped and ordered my 245/75/16 Duratracs. :BANANA:

Then I put on the side steps:

Then came the Super 44:

Then I cleaned up the used Mickey Thompson's I picked up off ebay:

Then I test fit one of them on the Jeep to make sure it would fit. Probably should've done that when I first got them a few months ago. :ROTFL:

It was great to be able to do some wrenching again which was the first time in a VERY long time for me other than crap for work which usually involves actual crap (I work with sewer equipment :grim:

). Just what I needed after the last few weeks of life dumping on me. Literally and figuratively. :dizzy:

Unfortunately I probably won't be able to use my office too much since if my boss does find out that I was there today I will be even deeper in the stuff I work with now. :shock:

Word of advice, never buy a house without a garage. Probably the worst move I've ever made...so far.

Also, sorry for all the fecal puns. DOing that kind of work you need to have a sense of humor about it or you'll end up doing this all day :banghead:

, literally.

Coliniksi · **Joined:** Thu Feb 25, 2010 11:49 am **Posts:** 242

love the mts, i still have a set of 5 that i cant get rid off, and i cant mount them :banghead:

FDez · **Posted:** Sun Jan 16, 2011 10:44 am

Are they the wrong bolt pattern? The ones I have went on fine, I'm not sure how much clearance there needs to be behind the wheel but I was able to get my hand inbetween the rim and the stut and run my finders all the way around the back of the wheel. That's about all the clearance there was though. Not tight on my fingers but not much more room. Is that too close? Just wondering if I need to get some spacers.

Need Some Sanity

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