sorry to drag up an old thread but after reading this post I thought I'd give this angle a try. No go, there's no way the lower arm would swing low enough to get the shock/spring assembly out, let alone put it back in with the added height of the spacer. I'm not sure how you guys did it, but it was a big fail for me.

 

got my 2.5" today.

gonna install it on sunday at work.
AIR TOOLS FTW!!!

will post pics of it when im done

 

before:


after:

 

I'm looking forward to this, mostly step 11

 

Alright...I'm convinced to do the install myself..well and the help with a friend with tools..lol!!!

so where is a good place to order from?

Also..I have an 04 4.6 and not the 5.4, will the 2.5" be level or will it be higher than the back? I know the question was asked, but I didn't see an answer? so should I go with the 2.5"?

 

I just got my 2.5" AS level kit today. Can't wait to install sometime next week. Need to borrow some friends tools...lol!!!

 

Just got through with the install today...Thanks to this very helpfull thread, we got the job done in about 1.5 hours.

We didn't even remove the strut. All we did was remove the ball joint nut and the sway nut located at the bottom of the lower arm. We had it compressed with the jack and as soon as the arm came loose, we lowered the jack and the strut came down with it. With the help of a ball joint remover, got the arm off in seconds. Also had the airtolls which made the install that much better.

We were also able to get to the top of the strut (3 screw nuts) through the engine bay with a long extensioner and that mad it that much easier. I held the plastic sheild away while my partner loosened them from the top.

I'll post some pics tomorrow...thanks again for this write up..

 

Before:



After:

 

OK all of you who have installed the leveling kit. I have an 04 Lariat supercrew 4X4. Original owner mostly hard top driving.

After you install one of these leveling kits, Does the truck ride any different?? Is the handling IYO the same, better, worst ect????

Also dito on the original post with pics. Fantastic job!!!

 

To me the ride is the same, but just that the front end is higher so I'm just adjusting to that, but no biggie..

get an alignment though..

 

Installed AS 2.5 yesterday....almost gave up cause I couldn't get the strut out without taking the bottom bolt out....decided it wasn't going to whip me. Bottom bolt came out without much trouble. EZPZ - Thanks for the write up

New rims and brakes too

 

Nice write up! I am putting 2" Auto Springs up front on my 05 Screw FX4 this weekend. My question is did any of you guys damage the rubber fitting on the ball joint when you took it apart? Nobody mentioned this happening but I'm wondering if I should pick up new ones just in case. Also it seems like a pickle fork might be a better way get the ball joint to seperate? No one mentioned that either so maybe it's not a big deal? Thanks for any input!

 

i just did an auto spring 2" lift on my 2005 FX4. I thought the article was a lot of help but here are a few things I found out on my install that may help yours. First, it would be nice if you didn't have to take out the struts bottom bolt and just had to swing the strut out of the top mount and install the lift and push it back in (as some have said) but I couldn't. The strut had to come out because the lower assembly(spindle, control arm??) is limited in the amount of drop by the length of the break lines. The other thing I found helpful was on my second side I didn't pop out the steering connection. Yes the tie rod nut still comes off but by not removing the steering nut all the way it had travel but didn't allow the assembly to flop around like it did on side one. You just have be more careful when putting the strut back in. The only hard part from there was making the lower strut bolt line up properly with the top in. However, take your time use a little force here a little there, use the jack to move the assembly up and down a bit and you will get it back in.
My project took 2 hours on the first side and 30 minutes on the second. I bet I could do both sides in an hour now. This isn't a hard project but it makes you think. I love my trucks new stance. I went from 3" of rake to only .5 inch (I know the math doesn't seem possible and maybe she will settle out a little yet) By the way, my toe was off a half a degree (what ever that means) when I took it in for alignment.

 

Here is mine with the the 2.5 with my DC Cepek rims and FCII tires...

And yes...I used a pickle fork to get the ball joint off. I put it in there and hit it once and wallah...bad boy fell hit right through. Got both sides done in about an hour. I did tear a boot on the passenger side, but real small....not a real big problem, but having a spare might be a good thing..lol!!!! I'll be replacing mine when I have the time.

 

Nicely done write up. will be very helpful to me soon!