Autospring install with photos
Senior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 303
Likes: 1
From: PA
Sorry to bring up a old thread, figured better than starting a new one. A newbie here to f150s anyways, I recently purchased a AS leveling kit, started tearing apart the front, strut/spring is unbolted, upper ball joint unbolted, sway bar too. Problem Im having is getting the strut out & any easy way getting it back in with the spacer bolted to the strut? Any pointers greatly appreciated. The truck is 4wheel drive. I really dont want to unbolt the IWE & half shaft. Going to unbolt the steering & caliper tomorrow, hopefully have more room & give with the bottom A-arm to get the strut in and out. Thanks
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Well, I just want to say thank you for the very easy to follow instructions. I just installed a 2" kit on my 2010 XLT SCREW 2wd. with these instructions it was a breeze. Only problem is my front is 1/2 higher then the rear. Hopefully it will settle after alignment.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: Kingsland, GA
Thank you Aaron j!!!
Just did this on my 2005. One thing I can say is that I should have used the hammer for the ball joint, but I'm military, and the auto hobby shop has every tool you can think of. So my dumb *** gets the ball joint splitter (kind of like a puller) and gets it stuck between the coil spring and the control arm. Took me about 10 minutes to unstick it. Hammer worked on the third hit.
Just did this on my 2005. One thing I can say is that I should have used the hammer for the ball joint, but I'm military, and the auto hobby shop has every tool you can think of. So my dumb *** gets the ball joint splitter (kind of like a puller) and gets it stuck between the coil spring and the control arm. Took me about 10 minutes to unstick it. Hammer worked on the third hit.
Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 41
Likes: 2
Great instructions, thank you for sharing!
I do find it strange that some are able to install this kit without removing the large bolt at the bottom of the strut, but others still have to. I tried to remove the strut assembly without removing that lower bolt, even unbolted tie rod, sway bar, and brake line bracket too, but there was no way I was getting the lower control arm to drop far enough to tilt the strut assembly out the top, let alone reinstall it with the spacer mounted on top of it.
Took me 1 hour on the first side, then about 20 minutes on the second side.
I did not end up having to remove the sway bar link, but still removed the tie rod, brake line bracket, and of course the upper ball joint and the 30mm lower strut bolt.
Air tools rock.
I do find it strange that some are able to install this kit without removing the large bolt at the bottom of the strut, but others still have to. I tried to remove the strut assembly without removing that lower bolt, even unbolted tie rod, sway bar, and brake line bracket too, but there was no way I was getting the lower control arm to drop far enough to tilt the strut assembly out the top, let alone reinstall it with the spacer mounted on top of it.
Took me 1 hour on the first side, then about 20 minutes on the second side.
I did not end up having to remove the sway bar link, but still removed the tie rod, brake line bracket, and of course the upper ball joint and the 30mm lower strut bolt.
Air tools rock.
Last edited by rkneeshaw; Aug 14, 2013 at 08:50 PM.