Question for Shmidty! Rancho Install
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From: ARIZONA
Question for Shmidty! Rancho Install
Shmidty - I am considering installing the 4" Rancho myself and am wondering what kind of tools did you need to do it. I will have access to a lift, so that should help. If any one else installed this lift, please give me some input. Also, the bracket that you cut, which one is it and what did it take to do it? Ill probably do it on a four day weekend, so that should give me plenty of time....right?
Thanks, RV
Thanks, RV
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Joined: Jul 2003
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Fordabbits-
Sorry for the delayed reply. A four day weekend should suffice if you are mechanically inclined. You can expect all of that time to be allocated to the front end. The rear is like an oil change compared to the front, only about 2 or 3 hours. The 7 hour estimate they put in the manual still makes me laugh to this day.
As for the tools, I think I used every tool I had it seemed. As far as specialty tools, there wasn't anything too crazy. The coils on our babies are beefy as hell and the coil compressor I rented from Kragen auto barely grabbed the thick diameter of the coil.... in other words, get it done at a local tire shop. I paid wheel works to do it for $75. Which was nice since it allowed me to move on with the next step and saved some time. You'll also need a brake bleeding tool at the very end for the front brakes also.
The other tricky part you already mentioned, cutting. A bastard indeed. I used a sawzall for most of it, but the ideal tool would have been a dremel with a metal cutting drill bit attachment. It will take a lot longer but is MUCH easier to get in that hard-to-reach-spot with accuracy. Use a tri-square to measure out that perpendicular cutting line it asks for... you'll see what I mean. And don't skip the part where you have to paint black enamel over the cut. Get a good rust-proof paint.
A final word of advice. When removing and replacing the wheel hub assembly, there is an o-ring that seals the whole thing in the middle. Notice how the manual says, "do not damage this o-ring". THEY MEAN IT! I broke mine, tried to get one from Ford and they wanted buy to but a whole new wheel hub assembly for $550! I sayed f-that and did a search online for the manufacture of them. I found this super nice guy at O-Rings West out of Seattle and he helped me get the right measurements to a 1000th of an inch and the mailed me a "sample" for free! This guy was cool.
Moral of the story= DON'T DAMAGE THE O-RING! Pull it out with extra care.
Good Luck, you'll have sore arms, shoulders, hands and fingers in the end but it's all worth it!
Email me at jschmidty22@yahoo.com if you get stuck at all and definately get pix up ASAP!
Sorry for the delayed reply. A four day weekend should suffice if you are mechanically inclined. You can expect all of that time to be allocated to the front end. The rear is like an oil change compared to the front, only about 2 or 3 hours. The 7 hour estimate they put in the manual still makes me laugh to this day.
As for the tools, I think I used every tool I had it seemed. As far as specialty tools, there wasn't anything too crazy. The coils on our babies are beefy as hell and the coil compressor I rented from Kragen auto barely grabbed the thick diameter of the coil.... in other words, get it done at a local tire shop. I paid wheel works to do it for $75. Which was nice since it allowed me to move on with the next step and saved some time. You'll also need a brake bleeding tool at the very end for the front brakes also.
The other tricky part you already mentioned, cutting. A bastard indeed. I used a sawzall for most of it, but the ideal tool would have been a dremel with a metal cutting drill bit attachment. It will take a lot longer but is MUCH easier to get in that hard-to-reach-spot with accuracy. Use a tri-square to measure out that perpendicular cutting line it asks for... you'll see what I mean. And don't skip the part where you have to paint black enamel over the cut. Get a good rust-proof paint.
A final word of advice. When removing and replacing the wheel hub assembly, there is an o-ring that seals the whole thing in the middle. Notice how the manual says, "do not damage this o-ring". THEY MEAN IT! I broke mine, tried to get one from Ford and they wanted buy to but a whole new wheel hub assembly for $550! I sayed f-that and did a search online for the manufacture of them. I found this super nice guy at O-Rings West out of Seattle and he helped me get the right measurements to a 1000th of an inch and the mailed me a "sample" for free! This guy was cool.
Moral of the story= DON'T DAMAGE THE O-RING! Pull it out with extra care.
Good Luck, you'll have sore arms, shoulders, hands and fingers in the end but it's all worth it!
Email me at jschmidty22@yahoo.com if you get stuck at all and definately get pix up ASAP!
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From: ARIZONA
Schmidty- Hey, thanks for the help. Im TDY right now and wont be back home until October. But as soon as I get back, Ill be buying stuff for the truck. Ill post pics as soon as I can though. I should also have a freind helping me so that should help with somethings. Again, thanks for the advise and Ill be in touch. RV