bellardine
Member
- Joined
- September 10, 2014
- Messages
- 17
- Reaction score
- 3
- City, State
- Los Angeles California
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2006 explorer XLT
Hey Guys,
I just finished installing the Traxada leveling kit on my 06 ex XLT. I figure I should give a little bit back after all the information I have taken from this forum. I did the install a little different than the Haynes method due to the fact that a little extra clearance was need to get the spacer in. Overall it took me a full day and a couple trips to the hardware store. I am by no means a mechanic so this procedure should be used for reference only.
Tools,
1. Jack/Stands
2. 15/16 deep well socket
3. 13mm pivoting ratcheting combo wrench (make sure it is tough)
4. 14mm pivoting ratcheting combo wrench
5. 15 mm deep well socket (for stabilizer)
6. 16 mm deep well socket ( for stabilizer)
7. Drill
8. 7/8 drill bit ( you need to bore out the rear strut mount a bit to get the spacer threads to fit)
9. Breaker Bar
10. 15/16 combo wrench.
11. 8mm combo wrench.
12. pry bar.
13. a punch or screw driver to line up the holes for the bolts.
14. automotive 6" puller (to pop out the Upper control arm)
15. 19mm socket and 19mm combo wrench. ( just buy a whole damn set in case I forgot one lol)
16. PB blaster
If you have them;
17. Impact gun
18. Friend
Procedure (rear);
1. I started by jacking up the car and removing the rear tire.
2. Remove the 3 13mm bolts holding the upper strut. These bolts were the biggest pain in the butt to take off. I used a lot of pb blaster and doubled up on the combo wrench for a little mechanical advantage.
3. Remove the stabilizer bar with a 15mm deep well socket up top and 16mm deep well on the bottom. Once the nut is off push the bolt through the bottom.
4. Remove the lower strut mount bolt from the lower control arm with a 15/16 socket and some power.
5. Remove the other bolt which connects the knuckle to the lower control arm. This will also require a 15/16 socket.
6. You are going to have to do some tugging to get the knuckle above the lower control arm once the bolt is removed.
7. Remove the strut and bolt on the spacer.
8. Install the lower strut. After some playing around with trying to get the strut back into the suspension I found it easier to just remove the whole lower control arm, and situate it over the knuckle so you don't have to pop it back in. I would recommend a friend to help you out with this. You are also going to need to jack up the strut and lower control arm to get the bolt holes to line up.
9. Follow the reset of the procedure in reverse.
Procedure (front)
1. Jack up car and remove the tire.
2. Remove the 3 top strut mounts with the 13 mm ratcheting combo wrench. For the front end I was able to get a 13mm socket through the engine bay which saved some time. You may need an extension to get the angle right.
3. Remove the stabilizer bar with a 15mm deep well socket up top and 16mm deep well on the bottom. Once the nut is off push the bolt through the bottom.
4. Remove the upper control arm bolt by screwing off the nut with a 19mm deep well socket. Then use a puller to pop it out all together. Doing this step makes pulling the strut and installing it much easier.
5. Remove the lower strut mount bolt from the lower control arm with a 15/16 socket and some power.
6. Pull the strut and install the spacer. ( I did NOT have to drill out the front. NOR would I recommend anyone to do this.)
7. Install the strut and mount the three 14mm nuts to the new top mounting threads on the strut.
8. Jack up the bottom and screw on the Upper control arm. You are going to need the 8mm combo wrench and the 19mm combo wrench to put it back on.
9. Bolt everything back up in reverse of how you took it apart.
Good luck!!
I just finished installing the Traxada leveling kit on my 06 ex XLT. I figure I should give a little bit back after all the information I have taken from this forum. I did the install a little different than the Haynes method due to the fact that a little extra clearance was need to get the spacer in. Overall it took me a full day and a couple trips to the hardware store. I am by no means a mechanic so this procedure should be used for reference only.
Tools,
1. Jack/Stands
2. 15/16 deep well socket
3. 13mm pivoting ratcheting combo wrench (make sure it is tough)
4. 14mm pivoting ratcheting combo wrench
5. 15 mm deep well socket (for stabilizer)
6. 16 mm deep well socket ( for stabilizer)
7. Drill
8. 7/8 drill bit ( you need to bore out the rear strut mount a bit to get the spacer threads to fit)
9. Breaker Bar
10. 15/16 combo wrench.
11. 8mm combo wrench.
12. pry bar.
13. a punch or screw driver to line up the holes for the bolts.
14. automotive 6" puller (to pop out the Upper control arm)
15. 19mm socket and 19mm combo wrench. ( just buy a whole damn set in case I forgot one lol)
16. PB blaster
If you have them;
17. Impact gun
18. Friend
Procedure (rear);
1. I started by jacking up the car and removing the rear tire.
2. Remove the 3 13mm bolts holding the upper strut. These bolts were the biggest pain in the butt to take off. I used a lot of pb blaster and doubled up on the combo wrench for a little mechanical advantage.
3. Remove the stabilizer bar with a 15mm deep well socket up top and 16mm deep well on the bottom. Once the nut is off push the bolt through the bottom.
4. Remove the lower strut mount bolt from the lower control arm with a 15/16 socket and some power.
5. Remove the other bolt which connects the knuckle to the lower control arm. This will also require a 15/16 socket.
6. You are going to have to do some tugging to get the knuckle above the lower control arm once the bolt is removed.
7. Remove the strut and bolt on the spacer.
8. Install the lower strut. After some playing around with trying to get the strut back into the suspension I found it easier to just remove the whole lower control arm, and situate it over the knuckle so you don't have to pop it back in. I would recommend a friend to help you out with this. You are also going to need to jack up the strut and lower control arm to get the bolt holes to line up.
9. Follow the reset of the procedure in reverse.
Procedure (front)
1. Jack up car and remove the tire.
2. Remove the 3 top strut mounts with the 13 mm ratcheting combo wrench. For the front end I was able to get a 13mm socket through the engine bay which saved some time. You may need an extension to get the angle right.
3. Remove the stabilizer bar with a 15mm deep well socket up top and 16mm deep well on the bottom. Once the nut is off push the bolt through the bottom.
4. Remove the upper control arm bolt by screwing off the nut with a 19mm deep well socket. Then use a puller to pop it out all together. Doing this step makes pulling the strut and installing it much easier.
5. Remove the lower strut mount bolt from the lower control arm with a 15/16 socket and some power.
6. Pull the strut and install the spacer. ( I did NOT have to drill out the front. NOR would I recommend anyone to do this.)
7. Install the strut and mount the three 14mm nuts to the new top mounting threads on the strut.
8. Jack up the bottom and screw on the Upper control arm. You are going to need the 8mm combo wrench and the 19mm combo wrench to put it back on.
9. Bolt everything back up in reverse of how you took it apart.
Good luck!!
