fordkrazy
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 3, 2000
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- City, State
- Plantation FL
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 96 xlt 4x2
Ok everyone, here is a detailed write up on the procedure for lowering your rear (uh hu hu hu...he said lower your rear hu hu hu)
set your parking brake
first thing you need is a jack and three jack stands
1. start by loosening (NOT REMOVING) the lugs on the wheel you choose to do first then place the jack on the leaf spring just in front of the axel and raise the tire off the ground
2. place a jack stand in front of the front leaf spring mounting bracket on the frame( this is in case the stands and jack slip in the following steps so you dont have the entire car fall just the axel and springs)
3. remove the tire
Note:
dont raise the jack any higher than to get the wheel off the ground as it will twist the springs and make the next step more difficult. if you have to raise it more to get a jack stand under the frame its ok....just lower it back down approx. the ammount extra you had to raise it
4. place one of the jack stands on the leaf spring just to the rear of the axel giving you just enough space to loosen the nuts on the U bolts(mine wernt on that tight to me but im so increadibly strong
so dont give yourself too much room as you will sacrifice stability ) lower the jack until the spring just rests on the stand being carefull to balance the weight on the stand and the jack (you will see what i am talking about when you do it)
5. remove the lower shock bolt and swing the shock out of the way(this could be done first if you like...it doesnt really matter when you do it as long as its off when you are ready to take the spring plate off.
6. proceed to loosening the U bolt nuts in the method you see fit as long as it doesnt involve mass convulsions that might make the suspension fall....even pressure is the best method....if you cant get it with a breaker bar then you may have to add a helper pipe to give you more leverage but i dont see this being a problem....just give them a liberal dousing of wd-40.
(you must loosen all the nuts equally to insure stability in the spring)
ok now you should have the spring/shock mount plate and 2 U bolts and 4 nuts in your hand
7. once you have that removed lower the jack ensureing that the rear jack stand is close enough to the axel that it wont slip off(as long as you are about half way in on the shortest leaf you should be ok) then move the jack directly under the axel on the leaf spring. raise the jack just enough to leave just a slight pressure on the stand. put another stand in front of the axel at a corrisponding location to the rear one....lower the jack putting all the weight on the stands to stabilize it.
8. now for the fun part....if you are using the auto zone universial block kit then you will need to slightly modify the U bolts so that they will fit easier...to do this take one of the bolts and force it on the axel as best you can...then take a hammer (see i told you it would be fun) and pound it down (CAREFULL OF THE BRAKE LINES) untill the crown of the bolt is on the axel (the ends will be flared out now)...after you have fully seated the bolt remove it...place one end of the bolt close to where it curves in a vice...take a piece of pipe and slide it over the end that is clamped and bend it inwards to compensate for the flare ( it is best to do a little to each side of the bolt so that it is even)....test your bends on the spring plate to ensure you have a good width....now do the same for the other bolts (4 total) now you are ready to install the block.
9. with the spring already on two jack stands, take the jack and place it under the axel itself and raise it enough to place the block between the spring and the axel..(this process is quickened if you use a wire brush to clean the spring where the locator nut is) place the block on the spring so that the locator nut at least halfway engages into the block and the block is square with the springs....lower the axel ( it should line up but dont worry if it doesnt go in all the way that will be the next step.
10. now you will need to return the jack and stand configuration back to the way it was it step 4. that is one stand in rear of the axel on the spring, the jack in front of the axel on the spring and one stand on the frame in front of the spring mount...reasemble the spring plate and U bolts....this is the tricky part and there is no good way to explain it other than to just do it (it may help to have an extra set of hands to hold your beer) once you get it all lined up and have one bolt in it put a washer on and get a nut started so you can free up a few fingers.
11. now you shold have all the nuts hand tightened.....start cranking them down making sure that the block hasnt twisted ( if it has just wack it w/ the hammer to get it back in line and show it whose boss)...you also have to tighten all 4 of them equally to ensure that the inital pressure of the bolts is the same...you can check to see if you are equal by looking at the exposed threads of the bolts....they should all be about the same.....you will really have to crank to get the block to seat fully.
12. once every thing is good and tight and seated put the wheel on in the proper manor (im sure everyone knows how to do that) and lower everything back on the ground....reattach the shock and repeat for the other wheel.....its that easy.
Note: on the pass. side there is an emergency brake cable that is tied down w/ a piece of metal on the spring plate REMOVE THE METAL BRACKET BEFORE YOU BEGIN.
also you may want to drive around the block a few times and then check the bolts to ensure they are good and tight (and equally tight..a torque wrench is handy but not necessary if you have a good feel for that)
sorry its so long winded but i wanted to cover all the details as i didnt have any pictures.....frankly pictures are over rated....a good explaination is usually best......good luck all....and btw...the thread "going for the gusto" can tell you how to lower your front so your not allways draggin your a$$
set your parking brake
first thing you need is a jack and three jack stands
1. start by loosening (NOT REMOVING) the lugs on the wheel you choose to do first then place the jack on the leaf spring just in front of the axel and raise the tire off the ground
2. place a jack stand in front of the front leaf spring mounting bracket on the frame( this is in case the stands and jack slip in the following steps so you dont have the entire car fall just the axel and springs)
3. remove the tire
Note:
dont raise the jack any higher than to get the wheel off the ground as it will twist the springs and make the next step more difficult. if you have to raise it more to get a jack stand under the frame its ok....just lower it back down approx. the ammount extra you had to raise it
4. place one of the jack stands on the leaf spring just to the rear of the axel giving you just enough space to loosen the nuts on the U bolts(mine wernt on that tight to me but im so increadibly strong
so dont give yourself too much room as you will sacrifice stability ) lower the jack until the spring just rests on the stand being carefull to balance the weight on the stand and the jack (you will see what i am talking about when you do it)5. remove the lower shock bolt and swing the shock out of the way(this could be done first if you like...it doesnt really matter when you do it as long as its off when you are ready to take the spring plate off.
6. proceed to loosening the U bolt nuts in the method you see fit as long as it doesnt involve mass convulsions that might make the suspension fall....even pressure is the best method....if you cant get it with a breaker bar then you may have to add a helper pipe to give you more leverage but i dont see this being a problem....just give them a liberal dousing of wd-40.
(you must loosen all the nuts equally to insure stability in the spring)
ok now you should have the spring/shock mount plate and 2 U bolts and 4 nuts in your hand
7. once you have that removed lower the jack ensureing that the rear jack stand is close enough to the axel that it wont slip off(as long as you are about half way in on the shortest leaf you should be ok) then move the jack directly under the axel on the leaf spring. raise the jack just enough to leave just a slight pressure on the stand. put another stand in front of the axel at a corrisponding location to the rear one....lower the jack putting all the weight on the stands to stabilize it.
8. now for the fun part....if you are using the auto zone universial block kit then you will need to slightly modify the U bolts so that they will fit easier...to do this take one of the bolts and force it on the axel as best you can...then take a hammer (see i told you it would be fun) and pound it down (CAREFULL OF THE BRAKE LINES) untill the crown of the bolt is on the axel (the ends will be flared out now)...after you have fully seated the bolt remove it...place one end of the bolt close to where it curves in a vice...take a piece of pipe and slide it over the end that is clamped and bend it inwards to compensate for the flare ( it is best to do a little to each side of the bolt so that it is even)....test your bends on the spring plate to ensure you have a good width....now do the same for the other bolts (4 total) now you are ready to install the block.
9. with the spring already on two jack stands, take the jack and place it under the axel itself and raise it enough to place the block between the spring and the axel..(this process is quickened if you use a wire brush to clean the spring where the locator nut is) place the block on the spring so that the locator nut at least halfway engages into the block and the block is square with the springs....lower the axel ( it should line up but dont worry if it doesnt go in all the way that will be the next step.
10. now you will need to return the jack and stand configuration back to the way it was it step 4. that is one stand in rear of the axel on the spring, the jack in front of the axel on the spring and one stand on the frame in front of the spring mount...reasemble the spring plate and U bolts....this is the tricky part and there is no good way to explain it other than to just do it (it may help to have an extra set of hands to hold your beer) once you get it all lined up and have one bolt in it put a washer on and get a nut started so you can free up a few fingers.
11. now you shold have all the nuts hand tightened.....start cranking them down making sure that the block hasnt twisted ( if it has just wack it w/ the hammer to get it back in line and show it whose boss)...you also have to tighten all 4 of them equally to ensure that the inital pressure of the bolts is the same...you can check to see if you are equal by looking at the exposed threads of the bolts....they should all be about the same.....you will really have to crank to get the block to seat fully.
12. once every thing is good and tight and seated put the wheel on in the proper manor (im sure everyone knows how to do that) and lower everything back on the ground....reattach the shock and repeat for the other wheel.....its that easy.
Note: on the pass. side there is an emergency brake cable that is tied down w/ a piece of metal on the spring plate REMOVE THE METAL BRACKET BEFORE YOU BEGIN.
also you may want to drive around the block a few times and then check the bolts to ensure they are good and tight (and equally tight..a torque wrench is handy but not necessary if you have a good feel for that)
sorry its so long winded but i wanted to cover all the details as i didnt have any pictures.....frankly pictures are over rated....a good explaination is usually best......good luck all....and btw...the thread "going for the gusto" can tell you how to lower your front so your not allways draggin your a$$
