fabtech 2.5 help? my first install.

[RGMs03]

so I paid $200 for the fabtech controll arms and 2.5 coils which are supposedly camburg.

first off i dont know if i have all the parts needed for the install.

in the picture from fabtech it shows litttle blue tabs which i belive are the bumpstop mounts. where can i get those? should i call fabtech? what are all the other little things in the picture and where can i get them?
does it matter which side the UCA's go on? how can i tell? they both look the same.
is ther an up and down on the coils?
because everything is repainted i cant find any type of makings on anything.
i know i could have a shop do this but id rater do it myself and gain the experience.

 

[odie1969]

As I have pieced the Fabtech setup together. I'm not running the Bumpstops and have hand no Issues so far.

 

[RGMs03]

well i answered some of my own questions by calling fabtech. there is a left and right for the a arms, the ball joint is supposed to sit more forward. the bumpstops and all the hardware can be ordered.
i still have a few un answered questions though.
will i need to get the alignment bolts?
will stock rims work with larger tires, fabtech site says they wont, site say to use rims with 3.75 back spacing, 4in max
do i need to replace the shocks with the 2.5 lift shocks from fabtech or can i get away with using the stock ones?
because i'm only lifting the front 2.5 inches, will this level the truck or will it put the front a bit higher?
odie1969, how does your truck ride? is it alot better than stock?

 

[odie1969]

well i answered some of my own questions by calling fabtech. there is a left and right for the a arms, the ball joint is supposed to sit more forward. the bumpstops and all the hardware can be ordered.
i still have a few un answered questions though.
which end of the spring goes to the top/ bottom?
will i need to get the alignment bolts?
will stock rims work with larger tires, fabtech site says they wont, site say to use rims with 3.75 back spacing, 4in max
do i need to replace the shocks with the 2.5 lift shocks from fabtech or can i get away with using the stock ones?
because i'm only lifting the front 2.5 inches, will this level the truck or will it put the front a bit higher?
odie1969, how does your truck ride? is it alot better than stock?

Well when I bought my truck it came with aftermarket tires and the fab-tech coils. So not sure about the wheels. But I found the front to have a softer wide. But now I need to do something about the rearend.

 

[bobsleder251]

you will need longer shocks, or shock extenders, preferably longer shocks though, the front will sit higher than the rear, i would buy shackles, beltech 6400. heres the fabtech parts site i would buy the alignment kit for 40 bucks, itll put you back in factory spec, and then take it to get aligned

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

 

[RGMs03]

looks like i am just going to have to order some of the parts i need like bumpstop mounts, hardware etc and maby some wheel spacers since i belive the stock rims wont work. but i'll have to check the backspacing on them maby they will. it would be nice.
are the fabtech shocks that are made for this kit the ones i should go for or are there better out there in a similar price range?
i'm thinking of leaving the back stock height depending on how much higher the front is.

do you think i made the better choice going for the a arm and coils rather than the spindles? i figured the a arm coil combo would give more performance.

 

[odie1969]

looks like i am just going to have to order some of the parts i need like bumpstop mounts, hardware etc and maby some wheel spacers since i belive the stock rims wont work. but i'll have to check the backspacing on them maby they will. it would be nice.
are the fabtech shocks that are made for this kit the ones i should go for or are there better out there in a similar price range?
i'm thinking of leaving the back stock height depending on how much higher the front is.

do you think i made the better choice going for the a arm and coils rather than the spindles? i figured the a arm coil combo would give more performance.

Deff the UCA's the better way to go the Spindles wont make the performance any diff. than it was just taller. I also left the rear the same Height. The truck has a slight lift in the front but not that big.

 

[bobsleder251]

the fabtech ones are pretty soft, but if you have the money bilsteins are twice the price. the coil swap is def. better than just a spindle, plus if your correct, youve got camburg coils, which will ride great

 

[RGMs03]

is this the way the ball joints on the uca are supposed to be? welded on the top? how do i know if the ball joints are good?
Also, earlier odie1969 said he wasnt using the bump stops. should i worry about getting the bumpstops and mounts?

 

[odie1969]

is this the way the ball joints on the uca are supposed to be? welded on the top? how do i know if the ball joints are good?
Also, earlier odie1969 said he wasnt using the bump stops. should i worry about getting the bumpstops and mounts?

I'm not sure about the bump stops like I said I'm not to crazy with the truck.
But the ball joints are not suposed to be welded in. when I got mine the Bj's(ya I said Bj's) were welded in and it was a total pain in the ass to remove. Lot of time with a chesel and BFG. then a dremel with a grinding wheel to clean it up. the reason they are welded in is because the moogs are just a bit taller than than stock bjs. The way I put my moogs is by the snap ring that snaps in from the bottom of the Joint. and I have had no Problems so far with approx 5-8 thousand miles on the BJs and UCA's

 

[Smurf Mobile]

odie1969 the moog bj's didn't fit in the fabtech arms you got? They fit in mine... granted they broke after a week but they did fit.

RGMs03 You will need new shocks up front and the alignment kit. If its going to stay on the street you'll be fine with that. If you plan on getting any air in the truck I would spend the money on some limit straps which wont be much more than the bumpstop kit. The problem with the bump stop design fabtech uses is that all of the energy goes into that upper ball joint. With limit straps the energy stays away from the week ball joints and stays in the frame, strap, and lower control arm. I've got some pictures somewhere if you want them.

Andrew

 

[bobsleder251]

arent bump stops and limit straps used for different purposes? bump stops limit up travel and limit straps limit down travel. so i would add both, that way the ucas and ball joints last as long as possible

 

[RGMs03]

odie1969 will the ball joints work welded in how they are?

Smurf Mobile yeah some pics would definately be helpful. i drive my truck pretty hard out here in the desert, and after putting on the new suspension parts i definately plan on seeing if i can push a lil harder.

 

[odie1969]

odie1969 will the ball joints work welded in how they are?

Smurf Mobile yeah some pics would definately be helpful. i drive my truck pretty hard out here in the desert, and after putting on the new suspension parts i definately plan on seeing if i can push a lil harder.

I wouldn't see why they wouldn't work. but again they will be a pain in the ass to change out. but if they are still good roll with it. and you really don't want to see smurf pics they are really disapointing. I'm sure he will show the one he broke driving down the road after his shody install. (just F-ing with smurf, also smurf check the regional forum about another get together)