- Joined
- Jan 6, 2002
- Messages
- 6,919
- Points
- 5,101
- City
- Pittsburgh
- State - Country
- PA - USA
- Vehicle Year
- 2020
- Vehicle
- Ford Ranger
- Drive
- 4WD
- Engine
- 2.3 EcoBoost
- Transmission
- Automatic
- Total Lift
- 1.5"
- Tire Size
- 265/70-17
- My credo
- "220, 221, whatever it takes."
Me and @sgtsandman were unsuccessful today in our first attempt to put a leveling kit on my truck.
Lessons learned:
The ball joint and tie rod end don't pop off with the tap of a hammer like the YouTube videos on a rustproofed 30,000 mile truck. Basically that's where we got stuck. Couldn't get the tie rod end off.
No one tells you about the two negative battery cables above the top strut bolts on the driver's side that keep you from reaching the bolts. The bolts screwing them into the frame don't want to come off.
On the top strut bolts a regular socket is too short and a deep wall is too tall. Not an insurmountable problem with a little bit of creativity.
Vastly easier and better to remove the sway bar bushing bolts instead of the end links on the knuckle.
Have the proper torque specs handy for putting things back together.
Lessons learned:
The ball joint and tie rod end don't pop off with the tap of a hammer like the YouTube videos on a rustproofed 30,000 mile truck. Basically that's where we got stuck. Couldn't get the tie rod end off.
No one tells you about the two negative battery cables above the top strut bolts on the driver's side that keep you from reaching the bolts. The bolts screwing them into the frame don't want to come off.
On the top strut bolts a regular socket is too short and a deep wall is too tall. Not an insurmountable problem with a little bit of creativity.
Vastly easier and better to remove the sway bar bushing bolts instead of the end links on the knuckle.
Have the proper torque specs handy for putting things back together.