Frankenlift & Al's Arms Questions

Prospect62 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 20, 2008 5:16 pm

Hey guys...I know this is a boring topic that has been gone over before, but I'd like some new input from anyone who cares to respond. I am planning to tear out my Rusty's OTT lift and buy a Frankenlift pre-assembled front end only lift to replace it. I'm also going to buy Al's Arms to replace my stockers which have bad UBJ's. I've already replaced the bearings and CV shafts on both sides and have had the entire front suspension apart a couple times in the last year. My struts are shot.

Problem is, I never had to take the upper A-arms off before and I was wondering how big a job that is. Anybody have any suggestions or hints to help me along? Hopefully when I get the arms and Frankenlift in my KJ will be quiet again. Right now it sounds like, well, see my sig.

Thanks alot for any help or ideas guys!

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 20, 2008 5:26 pm

The UCA's are easy,make sure your KJ is completly cooled down to ease the burning of your arms on the exhaust manifolds though.

I use a 3/8" drive flexhead ratchet,15" extension,impact swival,and a 18mm deepwell socket to change the UCA's.To make it easier to get the forward bolts use a 10mm socket/wrench to unbolt the brake line block(bolt is in the wheelwell).You will need to remove the airbox,to make things easier you may want to remove the battery tray also(going to have to remove anyways to do the lift).It's just mount 2 bolts per UCA,no need to have a wrench to hold the otherside either.Takes me about 30-45min to replace both UCA's in my KJ.

Prospect62 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 20, 2008 5:38 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

Takes me about 30-45min to replace both UCA's in my KJ.

Awesome. Yea I'll get that airbox and battery tray outta there first thing, like you said I'll have to do that to get the old stuff out anyways. Thanks alot for the info!

Oh, another thing I meant to ask. Will I need a spring compressor to get that frankenlift in? So far I've never needed one to take my front end apart and put back together, even with the 2.5" spacer in there.

Thanks.

KJ04 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:32 pm

Prospect62 wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

Takes me about 30-45min to replace both UCA's in my KJ.

Awesome. Yea I'll get that airbox and battery tray outta there first thing, like you said I'll have to do that to get the old stuff out anyways. Thanks alot for the info!

Oh, another thing I meant to ask. Will I need a spring compressor to get that frankenlift in? So far I've never needed one to take my front end apart and put back together, even with the 2.5" spacer in there.

Thanks.

No, but you might need a rachet strap or prybar to get the lower bolt in the clevis fork.

Prospect62 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:46 pm

Cool. Thanks guys.

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:47 pm

Not a problem in doing the upper arms as tjkj stated, I did mine myself in about 40/45 minutes and that was even with some well chosen words on the left rear bolt. :wink:

With the frankenlift I had to use a rachet strap to pull the right side in but the left went in no problems. Not that much different than a regular OME

nlife · **Joined:** Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:43 pm **Posts:** 226

tommudd wrote:

Not a problem in doing the upper arms as tjkj stated, I did mine myself in about 40/45 minutes and that was even with some well chosen words on the left rear bolt. :wink:

I was just thinking the same thing. That one was NOT fun at all.

N

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Mon Jul 21, 2008 9:27 am

Yea just like Troy and kj04 said.
Kinda easy to do.
I used the rachet strap around the clevis fork and hooked it to my front skid and also used a floor jack under the knuckel to move the strut fork into place.
It took 2 people. Can be done with 1 but 2 is better.

Here is a full detailed install with pictures by some one on the kj country forum.
It does not have the UCA install thoe. But it shows you the rachet strap trick.
http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29193

Prospect62 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:13 am

Thanks again guys! Great stuff here.

Prospect62 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 15, 2008 6:31 pm

THAT LEFT REAR BOLT WAS A sensored word!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :evil:

Holy hell!

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Aug 15, 2008 6:50 pm

Prospect62 wrote:

THAT LEFT REAR BOLT WAS A @$#%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :evil:

Holy hell!

told ya so!! :lol:

Guest · **Posted:** Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:30 pm

Which left rear bolt?

Dje Ryu · **Posted:** Sat Aug 16, 2008 2:52 am

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

Which left rear bolt?

UCA (Driver side, rear), although I must have found a "sweet spot" this last time (2nd time replacing UCA's) 'cuz I was getting almost 1/4 turn on the ratchet, and I managed to get a pry bar over it when it came time to torque it down.

nlife · **Joined:** Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:43 pm **Posts:** 226

Prospect62 wrote:

THAT LEFT REAR BOLT WAS A @$#%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :evil:

Holy hell!

Yep!

Frankenlift & Al's Arms Questions

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