Suspension swap was going so smooth and then...

[Carl Fisher]

So the rear coils, shocks, and bags all went in ridiculously smooth in just around an hour to do both sides. Then I pulled the fronts off, went up and grabbed the spring compressor so I could reclaim my top hat for the new struts and coils.

Fronts were setup to go just as smooth. Dropped the LCAs, pulled the stock struts, nothing bound up, nothing in the way until...

Compressed the spring and wouldn't you know it, the 17mm nuts on top of the stock struts are seized so bad that I sheared off the nub that you grip to keep the shaft from turning without ever even budging the nut. And I had already done a good soaking in PB Blaster starting last weekend and a few more times during the week. They are soaking again now but I don't have high hopes.

Looks like I might have to break out the cutter and cut the nuts off tomorrow if I can't get anywhere letting it soak again overnight.

I just knew it was going too smooth.

 

[Carl Fisher]

Well I win on one side anyway.

Had to cut off the nut and air hammer it into pieces to get it apart. Next hurdle is that it's a b**ch to get the spring compressors on and even worse getting them off these moog springs. Had to remove the screw completely and hammer the crap out of them to get them un-wedged from the coils.

But one side is done and ready to put back in. Tomorrow I'll tackle the other side.

 

[OVERLAND IN TX]

Well. 3 steps forward, 1 step back. Something like @ least. I used penetrating oil for a few days before I tackled my complete lift a few months ago. Good luck on the rest of the project.

Side note, you could use a smaller socket and slam force it on, or use a special socket for rounded off heads @ local autopart store. The right tool, always makes things go much faster & further.

 

[Carl Fisher]

Side note, you could use a smaller socket and slam force it on, or use a special socket for rounded off heads @ local autopart store. The right tool, always makes things go much faster & further.

Been there, done that. But these actually weren't stripped. I had no physical way to hold the shaft while putting enough torque to break the nut free. The little nub at the top sheared off one and no matter what I used to try to hold the shock shaft, it just chewed into it and kept spinning.

I expected something along the way, so I guess being able to do this on the bench instead of on the truck should be a blessing.

On a side note, has anyone who used the Moog FJ springs on the rear had trouble getting them to sit all the way down on the lower perch? Mine didn't want to seat all the way and I'm hoping that a bit of driving will settle them down.

 

[ddnww]

Sucks you're having trouble, hope all works well tomorrow.

I read a few people having trouble with rear springs seating,
Mine had no problem.

 

[xpeppyx]

I had trouble getting my rear Moog springs to seat. I got one to seat with a couple of large pry bars. The other one I got to partially seat and then just figured it would seat itself after driving around. 2 weeks later and it still hasn't seated itself. I'll have to come up with a more creative way to get it to seat.

 

[Carl Fisher]

I had trouble getting my rear Moog springs to seat. I got one to seat with a couple of large pry bars. The other one I got to partially seat and then just figured it would seat itself after driving around. 2 weeks later and it still hasn't seated itself. I'll have to come up with a more creative way to get it to seat.

I'm in the same boat. One sat about 1/2 way down the other maybe a little more. Going to drive it for a bit and see if they won't sit down. I've got some towing to do coming up in a few weeks so if that doesn't do it I'm not sure what will.

Otherwise the truck is sitting pretty right now. Right around 37 in the back and 36 up front. If those springs ever seat I should be just about flat all around.

I'll get pictures later. Still doing some other work to it before I send it off for an alignment in the morning.