99' Coils, New Shocks/Struts, but need advice on Daystar 1" leveling spacer install

[THEREALTOR1]

99' Coils, New Shocks/Struts, but need advice on Daystar 1" leveling spacer install

Took a box a stuff to my mechanic today (Included front/rears 99' coils, new brake shoes, new pads, set of rough country Nitro 9000 rear shocks and struts). Big thanks to ryanmaksuda for the coils, and Chris (aka 01t4rnr on here and also works at Rock Mountain Suspension) for the deal on the RC Nitro's.

My mechanic got all the brake work done, including resurfacing the rotors and drums, and got the coils, shocks, and struts in but unfortunately he wasn't able to get the front coils back in with my daystar 1" spacers up front (I don't think he completely disassembled LBJ's, or endlinks, or swaybar or whatever needs to be done to get enough clearance) so it looks like i'm going to have to find a way to do this on my own (hopefully with some help from some fellow members ) I need to swap out my swaybar bushing for some Energy suspension poly bushings anways so maybe i'll be able to get it done at that time.

BTW, here's a link to Wheelersoffroad for anyone interested in the shocks/struts, but I would recommend ordering from Chris at Rocky Mountain, he'll hook you up any way he can, just let him know you're a member here.


Anyway, here's a pic of the day I brought her home (pic #1) compared to the after with the 99' coils and the new Rough country shocks/struts (unfortunately no spacer yet)

 

[ryankmasuda]

I would un-bolt the LBJ and put a pry bar thru the lower control arm and push it down while you install the spacer. I had my girlfriend step on it and I was able to get my 5100 adjustable's with 3" lift coil in with no problem. What ever you do DO NOT un-bolt the center nut on the top hat or you will be either paying someone or renting a strut spring compressor.

 

[ryankmasuda]

By the way how do you like the 99' Coils?

 

[THEREALTOR1]

By the way how do you like the 99' Coils?

I just got it back tonight so I haven't the chance to drive it around town yet, but a quick spin around the neighborhood felt nice. Amazingly tight compared to how sloppy everything had gotten over time with the factories.

As for the spacer, can you put the top spacer in without disassembling the assembly? I know when we put them in with my old coils/struts we had to disassemble everything to put in longer bolts, but I guess if he left the long bolts I might be able to get away with it. I'll have to check. Hmm, good thinking ryan :thumb3:

 

[ryankmasuda]

If you remove the three nuts on the top plate and sway bar you may be able to use a pry bar and drop the top plate low enough to slide in the spacer and install the new longer bolts. I'm thinking that if you leave the bottom shock bolted in you should be able to get enough clearance. If not then remove the bottom shock bolt and try like I mentioned before.

 

[THEREALTOR1]

If you remove the three nuts on the top plate and sway bar you may be able to use a pry bar and drop the top plate low enough to slide in the spacer and install the new longer bolts. I'm thinking that if you leave the bottom shock bolted in you should be able to get enough clearance. If not then remove the bottom shock bolt and try like I mentioned before.

Got it, thanks Ryan.

 

[THEREALTOR1]

Finally got my Daystar spacers on this afternoon, damn what a PIA

Big thanks to Ryan and Zach for all their advice. Zach even let me call him and pick his brain while I was doing it so I wouldn't screw anything up. Final measurements are still screwy from side/side front/back (same as before), but i'll measure again some more later and especially after I get my alignment done on Tuesday.

From ground to bottom of fender flare:

Front DS = 36.5
Front PS = 37.5
Rear PS = 38.5
Rear DS = 37.5

:shrug:

Anyway, here's a not so good pic, but i'm hungry and tired and i'm spent at the moment so i'll post some more tomorrow.

 

[THEREALTOR1]

Here's a pic I took yesterday while I was at work (pre-spacers). The 2nd pic I took today after I finished getting the 1st spacer in

 

[IanB]

Looks great! I just got some '99 coils the other day, hope to get them installed in the next while with some new LBJ's, and a few other things. Could you measure from the center of the hub to the bottom of the fender flare? That way it doesn't matter what wheels/tires are on the truck, anyone can directly compare the lift you've got with their own.

 

[THEREALTOR1]

Looks great! I just got some '99 coils the other day, hope to get them installed in the next while with some new LBJ's, and a few other things. Could you measure from the center of the hub to the bottom of the fender flare? That way it doesn't matter what wheels/tires are on the truck, anyone can directly compare the lift you've got with their own.

Here you go Ian:

Front DS = 22.75"
Front PS = 23.25"
Rear PS = 22.5"
Rear DS = 22.0"

About a 1/2 tank gas if that makes any difference.