Thanks Roush, I know you had my back but it's unnecessary, I think Chuck reads these forums

Bushtree, I appreciate the help. I did get the vacuum lines extended by taking out some pushpins and pulling on the lines for some slack, still need to zip tie those suckers so they don't get severed while offroading. I think I'm going to go back out there and take my front cv halfshaft off so I can install the bearings, it's 12am and I got a class in the morning *sigh*. I'd like to get to class on my own power :P

 

Does the fabtech kit come with instructions? After reading this thread I think im going to put my lift on myself.

 

After reading THIS? You must be crazier than Josiah.

 

Besides the brake line problem it went preety smooth didn't it?

 

Yep it comes with instructions. You can actully download that fabtechs website and take a look at them first to see what you would have to do.

As for the HalfShafts Josiah,

Just disconnect the upper control arm from the sterring knuckle (right at the ball joint). And hopefulyl you should be able to lean the steering knuckle out enough to slide the cv halfshaft out. If not your going to need to disconnect the lower control arm from the steering knuckle as well.

It shouldnt take to long.. Mabey ask someone to help you if you can, that way they can hold the steering knuckle out of the way while you slide the halfshaft out.

 

You guys are killing me!

Thanks Bushtree. I walked out into the garage last night, walked around the truck one time and walked right back in. The reason I asked what was needed is I did not really follow the Fabtech instructions, and instead did everything out of order and took apart everything before removing the cv axle. You wouldn't happen to remember the socket sizes for those bolts would ya Sockets are just spread out everywhere, thats probably what took the majority of my time.

 

Great. Just found a seventh bearing and there are probably more. This is wonderful. These bearings are about 1/4" in diameter. One side has 6 bearings, the other 6, so now I believe both sides need to be reinstalled. I am about to send this to a shop, very angry. I probably lost several of the bearings if they are falling out while I'm driving.

Edit:
Just found 4 more, 11 altogether. They seem to be falling out of the front.

 

If they are from the CV axles, you may consider just getting new/remanufactured ones. I'm not sure what the cost is for our trucks, but when I replaced them on my Nissan Maxima they were cheap. I just brought them to the autoparts store (Van's) in Austin, TX and for $60 each I traded them in for remanufactured ones. I have since put 60k miles on them without any problems. Just a thought and maybe something to look into. It would probably be cheaper than taking it to a shop and the install was easy.

 

getting new bearings or axles? I'm assuming for that price you're talking bearings. I found 11 of them now.

 

No, the price I quoted was for a remanufactured axle half. You trade in your axle half plus $60 and they give you a remanufactured one. I did the install myself and if you installed that lift, installing an axle half should be cake.

 

What sort of places carry remanufactured axle halves (i.e. 4wd shops, etc)? I have called several and nobody does this around here. Sucks to be working on a vehicle in a small town, you have to go out of town to get parts.

 

Anybody want to take bets on how long it takes for him to really break something now? Put 200lbs on each corner, drastically increase the driveling angles and let him loose with it the way he "uses" his truck and you can bet they are some major drive train parts that have their days numbered! This should be FUN!

 

I'll take a bet on me breaking something, it's going to happen, I'm just hoping it won't be too pricey. You know, it's a pay to play game, I'll probably always be trying to beef up my axles to support the new shoes, but I'm sure you knew that, you know everything I know it's foreign to see people use their 4wd for recreational purposes, but at least we're doing something that will improve it's "function" and not because we saw it in a rap video. Hey SST, do those things spin? If not I think I found your ballbearings in my driveway

 

 

Actaully since I know everything, I can see it broken setting in the driveway and you out of money to fix it with. I mean hell if you cant afoard to register and insure it I don't think you afoard to keep fixing it. A little trust fund money only lasts so long......