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Finished my AAL!

Mneofreek

Well-Known Member
Joined
February 11, 2005
Messages
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City, State
Twin Cites, MN
Year, Model & Trim Level
96 V8 XLT AWD
I finished my AAL just a few minutes ago. I started at about noon and finished at about 3:30 and that included two trips to the hardware store for an 18mm deep socket and a bigger C-clamp. I was able to get the center pin off without taking the spring off of the shackle and just raised the axel out of the way. A thing that might help anyone out in a future is to use the provided center pins as just a temp until you get the extra leaf in and the clamps holding everything together and then put the 2.5" bolt in afterwards.

I was disapointed with the amount of lift that it gave me though. The rear is only about 1/2" higher than the front. Not really even enough for me to need to do a TT to even it out. I am going to have to get some shackles to get away from the stock height.

Before
60328.jpg


After
60329.jpg


Picture of the AAL
60330.jpg
 



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put some warrior shackels on it....ohh and post some pics of it too.
 






SkanlaxJMO said:
put some warrior shackels on it....ohh and post some pics of it too.


I will see what I can do as far as pics go.


Another thing is that you don't need air tools to do this modification. I had no problem breaking bolts free with some PB Blast and a pipe. The only tool that I didn't have was a grinder and I picked one up for $15 at Northern tool. So this is something that really anyone with some decent hand tools can do.
 






^^ air tools just make it go faster... :D
 






hey did you recently order the AAL kit? the procomp one? if so, did you use the center pin included...i just got mine in and there are 2 sets of center pins, one skinny one thick..im guessing the thick is whats being used now b/c most people on here have said they bought new ones. what'd you do?
 






use the thick one
 






pfeffer1728 said:
hey did you recently order the AAL kit? the procomp one? if so, did you use the center pin included...i just got mine in and there are 2 sets of center pins, one skinny one thick..im guessing the thick is whats being used now b/c most people on here have said they bought new ones. what'd you do?

I just used the large center pin to make sure that everything stayed lined up while I closed it all up with the C-clamps. When they were all closed up I took the provided center pin out and then used a 2.5" x 3/8" grad 8 hex bolt to hold it all together. I don't see how you could even do it any other way and not have any problems. The 2.5" bolt was barely long enough. It really should be a 2 3/4" bolt instead...if you can find one.
 






gotcha, the ones that came with mine are definately long enough, i just didnt know if people were usin the thick one or not. good deal, thanks skanlax
 






the thiner one has been known to break off.... It happend to Ggarret i think :EEk!
 






yeah i figure bigger/stronger is always better. im doin my AALs tomorrow or the next day, ill be sure to post if i come across anything unusual, or a way to make it easier.
 






Spray some lubricant (wd40, liquid wrench, pb blast) on the the u-bolts and shock mount to make it that much easier for the bolts to come off. The last thing you want is a broken bolt on Memorial Day.
 






I posted some pictures on the first posting for you guys.
 






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