So I get the rear lifted..

[jonathon]

Took longer than I expected so I didn't start on the front..

Is there any tips or tricks I should know about the front? The biggest thing I'm having trouble visualizing is balancing the axle with the pumpkin offset like it is.

I had no trouble with the rear other than lining up the axle by myself sucked balls.

 

[colbystephens]

i do it by taking the tires off, dropping the front axle to the ground and then you know it's level under the rig so the offset weight doesn't get in the way...

 

[yellowK20]

use two floor jacks

 

[GNERGY]

Disconnect the steering arm, use 2 jackstands to get the axle real low and some wood under the yolk to keep the axle from tipping. Take the brake calipers off and tie up out of way. Disconnect swaybar and tie it out of the way or take off.
Tarey

 

[jonathon]

Good info guys.. I may just drop it down onto the little jack stands I've got. I've also got these big ass ones I picked up at harbor freight.. 3 clicks up and I can drop the rear all the way down onto the little ones and had plenty of room for the blocks

I'm doing this on gravel so a floor jack is just about useless, even though I am using plywood

 

[supersize75k5]

sounds harder, but the method colby mentioned does work well but you need to be able to lower the whole truck = tall jack

 

[dfl701]

I used a bobcat and it worked wonders

 

[GNERGY]

I forgot to mention to take the tires off too.
Tarey

 

[apache]

I always do one side at a time,then you dont need to worry about the axle rolling or slipping around. This is with a 4" kit though,I dont know if it will work with a 6" or 8" due the the big difference in drop. Ive always been able to raise the one side under the frame about 6", remove the wheel off the side Im working on remove the sway bar etc,caliper,remove U bolts and with a floor jack under the axle drop it enought to remove the spring pack and put the new on in. Then raise the axle back up and manupilate the spring pin back into the axle,jack it up some more to basically fully load the springs and put the U bolts on and just snug up the nuts. After both sides are done I then set it on the tires and torque the U bolts and check everything.

 

[jonathon]

Apache, I'll give that a shot.. sounds safer with my setup, especially on the front.. the rear wasn't a problem but I could pick the whole truck up with my large floor jack under the pumpkin. Thanks

 

[apache]

Make sure you support the frame with J stands on the side your wrenching on. Once up and the front end is hanging Id place the floor jack under the side close as you can to the spring pack not the center of the axle,the the pumpkin on the other side is OK. I actually just got done replacing one rear spring pack and hour ago the way I mention. Be prepapared as the axle will need to be manupilated forward or back to drop the pin into the axle. I manage to do it by hand or foot but a racheting tie down would be the hot ticket if way out of wack.

 

[jonathon]

That's what I did..

I jacked the axle up using my big floor jack and a little one, threw my 12 ton jack stands under the frame and dropped the frame down on it. I did not need to support the pinion, but I only did one side at a time and think that helped keep the axle from rotating downwards.

Overall.. lot of physical labor, not real technical. The steering arm was a motherfocker.. but doable. Heat + bfh = win My grandfather and I took turns swinging till we got it loose.

Pics to come tomorrow.. looks awesome!

 

[colbystephens]