Help on installing Coil Spacers....

[MrMatt]

I thought up another question for everyone.

What do I do if I am trying to take that nut off the spring retainer and the bolt busts off? Im not too worried about breaking the nut cuz I could always just get another, but how would one go about replacing that bolt if it were to come to that.

I am still hoping all goes smooth I just want to have an idea of what to do should things not go quite as smooth as i hope them to go

My lift is on its way, should be here Thursday, might have time to put it in over the weekend, if not it might have to wait a couple weeks

-Matt

 

[410Fortune]

Dont worry so much, it will come off, it's not that hard.

Dont use lock tite on that thing either, otherwise you will end up either stripping out the axle beam itself, taking the radius arm bolt out of the axle instead of the spring retainer, and having to cu thtat bolt off to get the spring out.

Youcan install both F-150 spacers in under two hours with hand tools, it is very straightforward. If you dont have a 1-1/8" socket, go buy one. You can use ot for all sorts of stuff on your Ex, like the radius arm nuts, spring retainers nuts, radius arm to axle nuts, etc......

You can buy camber shims at auto parts store's, do yourself (and your ball joints) a favor and get MOOG brand shims, You will probably need 2.75 or 3 degree shims. Install them youself and the alignment will cost $35 instead of $150

 

[MrMatt]

Thanks for the reply guys.

Yeah I am hoping they will come off easy, but with a 11 year old vehicle that sees Minnesota Winters stuff can be a pain sometimes, so I just want to cover all the possiblities so Im not waiting hours to get a reply if things should not go so smooth.

Yeah I wouldn't use Loc-tite on it, no reason to in my opinion. I have a 1 - 1/8" socket but Im not sure if its deep enough. I am going to sears to buy some extensions anyway so I may pick up a deepwell socket as long as I'm there.

Where exactly are these Camber shims located at? Ill check around the local auto shops and see if I can find them, I would just asume buy and install them myself if it will save me some money.

Well thanks again guys
-Matt

 

[410Fortune]

They wont be in stock, so be sure to order them ahead of time.
Find out who carries MOOG suspension products, then go there and have them order you some 2.75 degree and some 3 degree camber shims for a 91 Explorer 4x4.

Be careful because a 2.75 degree shimi for a 4x4is the same as a 2.25degree shim for a 2wd, so make sure they understand what you are looking for. They are about $15 a piece, you can return the ones you dont use. I would guess you need the 2.75 degree shims, the 3degrees put more strain on your ball joints anyways and wont make that much of a diff (the 2.75 will get your alignemtn within spec)

Soak those bolts now and every chance you get between now and then. With a breaker bar they willcome off, they are not that tight, or as bad as you think....

Goodluck.

 

[MrMatt]

Hey,

Do you have any suggestions on where to start looking for MOOG suspension parts? I haven't seen anything by that name in any stores I have been in.

Also where do I install these at? Are they farily easy to do myself?

I have can of Liquid Wrench and I have been soaking all the bolts I plan to remove every day, once its gone Im going to get a can of Blaster as some people have reccomended it.

Thanks again
-Matt

 

[Kirby N.]

I doubt youll need the alignment cams or shims. You are not adding alot of hight. I added 3" and didn't need them, then I put in the spacers and still didn't need them. This is the Eaiest install you'll do. The Bolt is metric, however. I know because when I put my radius arms on the holes didn't line up and i ended up boogering the threads. I had to but a Tap in like a 17 for the threads, but I think the bolt is like a 22 or something. I have used an 1 1/8 on it like 3 times. Really it is totally straight forward. Just jack it up, Use and end wrench on the nut with a big bar and let the jack down, twist the spring to remove it, put in the spacer and put it back, simple!
The Shackle bolts are 3/4 I think. That is as straight forward to do, though.
Good luck.

 

[Ryan1]

Hey Matt,

I live in White Bear, When are you planning on putting in you spacers and shackles? Ill be more than happy to help. I Will be putting the shackles and spacers on my truck along with 6in skyjacker and 2 inch body lift.

let me know. Ive put lifts on trucks before. Rebuilt a motor or 2 and put new axels in before. but I haven't messed with ttb yet.

Ryan

 

[MrMatt]

Hey,

Glad to hear you can help. I don't imagine I should have much trouble, just wanted to clear some things up here incase I do. Not sure when I will be installing this lift yet, it kind of depends on when I can afford to go have an alignmnet afterwards, Im hoping sometime soon but it might be 2 - 4 weeks out.

Im interested in possibly installing a 2" body lift as well after I have the el-cheapo suspension lift in, is that something you might be able to help me do? I kind of leaned away from it with how old and rusted those bolts might be Also do they come with brackets to relocate your bumpers or is that a custom deal?

Maybe we could get together for the body lift if I decide to do that. How long would you imagine something like that would take? We should also see if we can get an explorer gathering together somewhere in the metro here.

Well Im rambling now, off to class, Talk to you later
-Matt

 

[Ryan1]

ya, I wanna help you put your body lift on. I put a 3 in one my 4 runner. Maybe I could order mine and we could do ours at the same time. I found that summint racing sells them for 69.95 thats not bad at all.

The only thing thats gonna suck is that I hear you have to drop your gas tank, that I did not have to do for my 4Runner.

The main thing we have to worry about is just soaking those bolts for a week or so.

Im ready to do all this stuff before it gets cold.

Ryan

 

[Maniak]

Matt,
I have found the Moog parts are normally carried by real auto parts stores.. the kind that shops use.. not Autozone, Pepboys, Checker etc..

Carquest is the only chain I've found so far that carries it..

~Mark

 

[410Fortune]

YOu will need camber shims after the F-150 spring seats are installed, otherwise your tires will look like this:

\ /

 

[Ryan1]

410,
Where do you get the camber bushing and how much do they usually run.

Matt,

What local college do yo go to


Ryan

 

[Ryan1]

Yo 410,
you seem to know a lot about everything. Check my post under Suspension, Shocks, lift kits......"2 inch body lift"

and in Under the hood "penetrating spray"

Ryan

 

[410Fortune]

from Carquest (anybody who carreis MOOG) about $18 ea. Anything over 2.5 degrees will not be adjustable. Your choices are 2.5, 2.75. and 3. I have the spacers with my 3" Duff lift and they required the 2.75. The 3's would have worked too but more strain on the balljoints and with the 2.75 I am withing 1 degree, so tire wear should not be a big deal.

Truck rides great now that it;s all said and done...

 

[Ryan1]

how do you know which ones to buy? im gonna have 6 inch skyjacker lif with the coil spacers. do you just guess or do you go to an alignment shop, have them tell you, put them on yourself and the take it to get it aligned?

Ryan

 

[410Fortune]

well the Skyjacker 6" lift is a great kit, well built and it will hold an alignment. Are you sure you want to run the coil seats on top of the 6" lift? with the TTB 6" is perfect with a 4" drop pitman arm, the steering linkage will be binding with the spacers.

If you do it I think the 2.75 degree shims should work perfect, but until it;s settled (the springs) and on the alignemt rack there is no true way to know, buy the 2.75 and 3 degree, install the 2.75 and take the 3's with you, if they need the 3's at least they wnt get you for parts. OH an make sure you take it to an alignment shop that knows WTF they are looking at with the TTB and lift kit, no cheapo alignment shop will set you up right. Also a good shop will give you a free re-align after 90 days so your lift can settle in.......

 

[Maniak]

By the adjustable style.. You put them in.. and then you can rotate them to the desired camber...

Thats the kind I got.. makes life so much easier..

~Mark

 

[410Fortune]

Mark, HOWEVER the adjustable shims only go up to 2.5 degree's, with the spring seats he will likely need more then 2.5, this is why MOOG makes 2.75 and 3.
They are the only company (I have found) that makes 3, and only one other company (Specialty Products, not as good as the MOOG) makes anything over 2.5.

So dont get the adjustables withthe spacers because they will not be enough. Trust me I have been through this like 20 times, around and around.......

 

[Maniak]

If I get a chance tonight.. I'll check what my adjustables say.. I thought they were 2.75 (course that could be what they do on 4x2)....

If they don't have >2.5 degree adjustables.. then that won't help..

~Mark

 

[410Fortune]

Thats right a 2.75 on a 2wd is only 2.5 on a 4x4.....this gets the stupid guys behind the counter at Checker confused every time. I dont know how many times I told the guys at Napa, Checker, and Autozome that I did NOT want the 2.75 for a 2wd, then I pay, order, go pick up, sure enough 2.75 2WD. DAMN!!! Finally went to Carquest (further from me) and paid the $18, they were there same day, Moog 2.75's for 4x4, just what I wanted.

You can go around in circles all day trying to get the right shims, most shops and parts guys only list up to 2.25 for a 4x4 in their books because their books suck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you can get the MOog part number off a post I wrote up a few weeks back when I had to go through this all over again, I wanted to set the record straight------------>


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