How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop?

[WellsLaw]

Okay, my shackles are here and I am ready to shackle and torsion twist:

Leebo says I can dfdo this in my driveway with a floor jack ... any hints re the springs and stuff. Like do I jack up the bady, the axle ????????????

As for the title of this thread: about how many turns does it take to get 1.75" of front lift out of the torsion bars -- tock Sport "B" bars I think ...

thanks b/c this weekend should be it, unless I have a presidential victory party to attend, but that'll probably be in December...

 

[leebo]

132.....as for the lift. Check out the explorer tips page for info on how to do the Torsion twist. I have a late model explorer so I can't speak on this. As for the rear.....you will need a bit more than a floor jack...but not much. Get some wheel chocks(big pieces of wood) and put them under the front wheels. This is a MUST. Jack up the rear by the diff as far as you can go. All the weigh must be taken off the sprins. Put a set of jack stands under the truck in front of the rear tires. Lower the jack till you can get the bolts out easly. Put in the new shackles and you're off. When I said you can do this with a floor jack.....I wasn't thinking. You can do this with a floor jack and the tools you should always use with a floor jack. Sorry, it's not much more though.

 

[WellsLaw]

duly noted leebo ... thanks for the safety tips ... my parents always got pissed off when I would disconnect fuel lines while smoking back when I built my first baja bug in .... well, about 18 years ago

Why is smoking dangerous ..... BOOOOM!

 

[Ray Lobato]

There is no set number of turns to make it 1.75". Infact it won't even be the same from side to side, because both bars are of unequal length. The one thing I can tell you is after you have adjusted the bars, roll over the curb a few times to settle in the torsion bars. then measure for your final measurement.

 

[CBoug76]

Well My Warrior Shackles just arrived at my House, so it looks like Saturday I will be installing them! Though I Could have used them last weekend when I decide to break my Explorer in on the trail's.

 

[WellsLaw]

thanks ray

and good luck Cboug -- I may have to wait yet another week b/c of sister-in-law's party and beach volleybal challenge?!? No rush -- no exxtra $$ for the tires yet anyhow.

By the way, 32" tires will fit with this lift correct -- I know I have read it (I think) but am only confirming...

Thanks

 

[WellsLaw]

CBoug:

I just viewed the picture of your truck -- on the link. I ahve a quick question:

You wrote here that you "just got your shackles" and at the site it says you have 265-75-R16 tires. I have a '97 Sport as well and wondered: did you fit those tires on before you did the shackle lift. Those tires are the hieght I want to put on my sport but I thought I HAD to lift it first -- also one of the picture shows the Firestone tires?? Simply: did you fit the 265/75/16 without a lift of any kind onto a '97 sport? thanks for any info

 

[CBoug76]

Originally posted by WellsLaw
CBoug:

I just viewed the picture of your truck -- on the link. I ahve a quick question:

You wrote here that you "just got your shackles" and at the site it says you have 265-75-R16 tires. I have a '97 Sport as well and wondered: did you fit those tires on before you did the shackle lift. Those tires are the hieght I want to put on my sport but I thought I HAD to lift it first -- also one of the picture shows the Firestone tires?? Simply: did you fit the 265/75/16 without a lift of any kind onto a '97 sport? thanks for any info

Yes I had the 265-75-R16's on BEFORE any lift.
I Did have some rubbing at full compression in the rear, but hopefully after the shackles are on, there won't be any rubbing. The Pidture with the Firestone's is my "Before" Picture. Now I have the BFG's.

 

[WellsLaw]

Well, I can't wait.

I decided to take the rest of the day off and I just got the shackles on -- the left side about an hour, the right about 1/2 that. Learned the tricks on the left sdie I think ... ??? !!!

Now I will attempt the Torsion Twist .... more later (hopefully not too much later) ...

Bobby

 

[CBoug76]

So what kind of Tricks are there????

 

[kubben]

This task is very simple. As the directions read I measured the distance from the tire to the fender well then turned the torsion bars until there was a 1.5 inch difference. The shackles are super easy, the bolts might seem hard to get off but Liquid Wrench and a breaker bar will take them off in a snap.

 

[leebo]

or air tools like I used.

I too would like to hear what "tricks" you have found to see if it was just me or if it was the easiest way to go.

Keep us posted.

 

[WellsLaw]

You guys give me WAY too much credit ...

By tricks I mean I think I figured out how to take the pressure off the lower bolt after I busted my ass (and knuckles) trying to get the spring down to go onto the lower Warrior Shackle ... ON the other side I used the jack under the diff much more and found taht the jack does a lot of work for you. I ain't no physics major you know! Anyhow for some odd reason I still think the right side was a lot harder.

One trick (or maybe obvious but not to me) is to loosen the TOP bolt before you remove the bolt from the bottom - otherwise you cannot get any torgue on the bolt b/c it (and the bushing) move with you?!? So don't do that -- loosen both --

Otherwise, go slowly, think, and read leebo's directions carefully -- don't just say F it I'm doin' this today, like me. One thing added to leebo's directions ... lowering and RAISING the differential will allow the bolt holes to line up and make removal AND INSTALLATION a whole lot easier -- I think that was my goof. My Sport now has a few pieces of my skin as proof of my goof.

As for the torsions twist -- done as well -- even took a shower before I wrote this! I did that quite quickly I thought and think I may have raised it a hair too much but will see after some more driving to settle those bars back down. I had a full tank of gas so the right side was lower than the left to begin with and I leveled it off, but left 1/4-3/8" lower on the right so it doesn't totally go the other way when I run lower on gas?!?

Question: If I did go to high will I just be able to do some (slow) hard turns and see if the CV joints buckle or grind or make any unsual noises too figure that out. The truck is level (maybe a hair higher in the front, but it is sitting head-in in the driveway that is not completely level for drainage) right now and I would like to keep it that way -- I may lower it about a few turns on each side later but in the interim -- can I just test for CV noises to make sure I am safe???

Thanks for any reply...

 

[WellsLaw]

Oh, and thank you all very much -- my lil' sport now looks like it really might be a 4x4 ...

damn, i need tires!

goodluck CBoug -- I'll be around, but be sure to use that jack a few times back and forth under the diff before trying to bend a spring with your bare hands (although it can be done)

 

[leebo]

LMAO....is your hand ok???

I could see just where the spring could hurt just a bit. Sorry for not speaking up on the top bolt first....just slipped my mind(lmao) About how far off the ground did you raise the rear tires??? When I did mine they were about a foot or two off and the springs had very little weight put on them at all. How about you??

 

[CBoug76]

well I have a Jack, but I think I will just let the "LIFT" do all the lifting! yes you heard me right, I have a Lift in my Garage! It makes Oil Changes, Brakes, Exhaust, and just about any other reason for getting under the truck EASIER!!!!

 

[leebo]

NO YOU DON'T

You're going to hurt yourself. You better get ready to duck and cover quickly. When you raise the truck off the ground enough to walk under there is nothing to support the diff. When you take off the top or bottom bolt that spring is going to go fling at you like a bat out of heck. YOU MUST SUPPORT THE REAR DIFF This is a must. All the weight will be put on the jack and not on the springs. When no preasure is on the springs the bolts will come right out. You can raise and lower the jack to get the bolts lined up to make it eiser but that's about it.

You can however use the lift ONLY to raise it up about a foot or two but you'll still need to be on your back with the jack under the diff. You are working next to a spring with several hundred pounds of pressure on it that can kill you. Do NOT try to make this a simple job. You are installing a lift in some sorts so keep that in mind.

 

[CBoug76]

I Never Said i was going to lift it enough to walk under it. Just enough to take the pressure off the Springs.

 

[WellsLaw]

I second leebo -- that sucker will slap you silly when those bolts come off if the diff is unsupported.

I think with a lift you could support the diff (with one of those super tall jacks they use to old exhaust pipes for welding) and more the vehcle up and down -- same result right leebo??

just my $0.02 -- but that spring would surely hurt ...

leebo, what is LMAO??

 

[CBoug76]

LMAO = Laugh My Ass Off
LOL = Laugh Out Loud