sonerick
New member
I finally got around to installing my lift over the holiday weekend. I went with OME 885's up front, Toytec Superflex coils for the rear, and Bilstein 5100s all around. My XREAS wasn't leaking or anything, but after installing the lift it was apparent that it just wasn't performing that well after 100k miles.
I used the how-to guides from this forum and from the 120 forum (the one without spring compressor for the fronts), and found the install pretty straightforward. I did run into a couple of hold-ups though:
All said and done, I'm extremely happy with how it turned out. I had new tires put on yesterday and an alignment done. I went with 255/75/17 Firestone Destination AT's (white letters out), and am pretty satisfied thus far. They are a bit noisy on the highway, but this is to be expected from an AT tire. Once I order up some Spidertrax, it should look pretty mean.
For the alignment, I told the guy at the shop to try to get 0 camber, 0.04 toe, and max out the caster. Here's what he was able to do:
Before
LF Camber: 0.9
LF Caster: 1.4
LF Toe: 0.16
RF Camber: 0.7
RF Caster: 1.0
RF Toe: 0.10
After
LF Camber: 0.1
LF Caster: 0.6
LF Toe: 0.06
RF Camber: 0.1
RF Caster: 1.8
RF Toe: 0.07
Since the caster is way out of spec, the truck is slightly twitchy, but not much worse than it was before the lift. The steering wheel is still perfectly centered and it drives straight as an arrow. I'm debating whether I want to add some new UCAs to get it completely within spec though.
Oh and I also figured it would be worth mentioning that after the lift, both my inner CV boots started to leak at the small clamp within the first mile or so of driving. After reading some threads on here, I expected that to happen to be honest. I have some hose clamps on there as a temporary solution, but plan to re-grease and re-clamp when I find the time.
Here's a quick iphone pic:
I used the how-to guides from this forum and from the 120 forum (the one without spring compressor for the fronts), and found the install pretty straightforward. I did run into a couple of hold-ups though:
- On the rears, I found it difficult to squeeze the taller rear springs in, but a quick trip to Autozone to rent a spring compressor took care of that problem.
- Also on the rears, there is a metal bushing retainer for each of the XREAS shocks that had rusted to the frame so I thought they belonged there. When I installed the 5100s, despite jacking up the rear axle, I just could not get enough thread to screw the top nuts on. But I realized my mistake, popped off the old busing retainer, and problem solved.
- On the fronts, I didn't realize that the bushings and retainers were not included with the 5100s, and I destroyed the existing upper bushings getting the XREAS top nuts off. I put the torn bushings back on for now and it feels fine, but I have new upper bushings on order right now and will be installing them as soon as they come in. The lower bushings and retainers looked fine, so I reused those.
- Also on the fronts, the XREAS shocks had rusted so badly that I couldn't get the lower bushing retainers off for re-use. I set them aside and planned to use an angle grinder to get them free, but completely forgot about them. So I completed the front install, and just as I was reinstalling the sway bar, I realized I had left them out. Long story short, I had to re-do the entire front install. Do not forget these lower bushing retainers!
- And finally, I tore one of the lower ball joints trying to pry down the LCA because I didn't want to loosen the eccentric bolts. Easy fix though, so I wasn't too upset. I probably should have just loosened the bolts in the first place to give myself some more wiggle room for the install. Oh well.
All said and done, I'm extremely happy with how it turned out. I had new tires put on yesterday and an alignment done. I went with 255/75/17 Firestone Destination AT's (white letters out), and am pretty satisfied thus far. They are a bit noisy on the highway, but this is to be expected from an AT tire. Once I order up some Spidertrax, it should look pretty mean.
For the alignment, I told the guy at the shop to try to get 0 camber, 0.04 toe, and max out the caster. Here's what he was able to do:
Before
LF Camber: 0.9
LF Caster: 1.4
LF Toe: 0.16
RF Camber: 0.7
RF Caster: 1.0
RF Toe: 0.10
After
LF Camber: 0.1
LF Caster: 0.6
LF Toe: 0.06
RF Camber: 0.1
RF Caster: 1.8
RF Toe: 0.07
Since the caster is way out of spec, the truck is slightly twitchy, but not much worse than it was before the lift. The steering wheel is still perfectly centered and it drives straight as an arrow. I'm debating whether I want to add some new UCAs to get it completely within spec though.
Oh and I also figured it would be worth mentioning that after the lift, both my inner CV boots started to leak at the small clamp within the first mile or so of driving. After reading some threads on here, I expected that to happen to be honest. I have some hose clamps on there as a temporary solution, but plan to re-grease and re-clamp when I find the time.
Here's a quick iphone pic:
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