I blocked my jack stand and now the weight of the rear of the truck is completely supported under the tow hitch. Suspension is completely relaxed and off the ground.

Now I should be raising the rear under the pumpkin until the weight is taken off of the spring shackles.

How do I determine that?? I would think that you would have to raise the rear ALL the way up in order to relieve the tension. If I do that, I start to defeat the purpose of blocking it under the tow hitch. I don't want to start loosening / removing bolts and have the springs go flying around under there.

Any advise is greatly appreciated cause I aint goin' nowhere with my **** in the air!!

Thanks..

Dan

 

All you should have to do is raise the rear of the truck (with the tires still on the ground) enough to take all the tension off the springs. Then you can remove/replace the shackles.

You may want to loosen the bolts before you jack it up though.

 

Put your jack under the pumpkin and pump the jack a couple of times. Watch the shackles, you'll be able to see and feel when they are loose enough to pull the bolt out. You may have to pump the jack several times until you hit the sweet spot. Do one side at a time.

Tim

 

I know what you say. Went trhu that. Just rise it a little until you see it is pushing the truck up. Then lower it a little. At that point turn loose all the bolts. Now play with it until the bolts come out without any effort. In my HD I had to take out the bottom ones first because for the top ones you need to rise the leaf all the way up in order to remove the bolt. May be the same in the Ls. Good luck

 

When I did my Belltech kit I just put the truck up on jack stands and then I jacked up the rear axle by the pumpkin 1/2" - 3/4". Bolt should come right out of the eye then.

 

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR THE PRONTO REPSONSES!!

I got under there and monkeyed with it. Driver's side is done!!

Going back for the passenger side now. I have to admit, I almost came back in and posted...."Now how the #@#$ do you get the top bolt out!!??"

But I raised the rear enough to get to the space above the frame to pull it out!! So does that at least gain me a few points to get out of the 'dumb ***' hole?

Thanks again, folks!! Appreciate it!!

Dan

 

ROF... Been there

 

Me too