Help me decide on front end lift solution. (1 Viewer)

[OffRoadRN]

OP here: I ordered Dobinsons UCAs from Exit Off-road. While the truck is in the air, I pulled the original UCAs. Not too bad after all. Repeated strikes with a BFH while applying pressure with a breaker bar did the trick.

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Funny thing. I went to start installing the Dobinsons UCA in my hundred yesterday. I had opted not to pay the $70 to have the ball joints preinstalled, as I had installed ball joints in UCA's before. I got a ball joint press from O'reilly, and I had no luck getting them in. Called around and found a shop nearby with a hydraulic press. They only charged me 30 min of labor ($75) but told me it took 10 tons on their 50 ton press to get those ball joints in!! When Dobinsons says it needs to be installed by a professional, they mean it haha.

 

[DIFF LOCK]

Funny thing. I went to start installing the Dobinsons UCA in my hundred yesterday. I had opted not to pay the $70 to have the ball joints preinstalled, as I had installed ball joints in UCA's before. I got a ball joint press from O'reilly, and I had no luck getting them in. Called around and found a shop nearby with a hydraulic press. They only charged me 30 min of labor ($75) but told me it took 10 tons on their 50 ton press to get those ball joints in!! When Dobinsons says it needs to be installed by a professional, they mean it haha.

Thanks for confirming I was smart to pay the extra $70 up front Glad that it still worked out for you though.

 

[yackowski]

I concur lol those ball joints were an unnecessary B-Word.

 

[JOSHD]

I decided to spring for the Ironman 4X4 Foam Cell Pro 2" Suspension Kit, Stage 2. It's scheduled to be here Friday. Still undecided if I'll get aftermarket UCAs or not, but I'm leaning in that direction.

In-between conference calls, I removed the OEM front shocks and ASFIR front skid plate. What are the specific hardware components I need to reattach the skid plate once the diff drop is in place?

If you just have the front skid, then all you need are the spacers that will come with the diff drop kit. If you have the trans skid then you will need to source some half inch spacers. I got mine from the hardware store. Also, you may or may not need to get bolts that are 10mm longer but the Diff drop kit may come with them. I had to get my diff drop from Trail Tailor because IronMan was sold out.

 

[DIFF LOCK]

Factory torsion bars are off. In the words of Kip Dynamite, “I guess you could say things are getting pretty serious.”

 

[clrussell]

That thing is crazy clean underneath

 

[DIFF LOCK]

That thing is crazy clean underneath

I wish that were true, but it had some light surface rust when I got it and I made the mistake of trying to address it with Krud Kutter The Must for Rust. It’s got phosphoric acid in it. I put it in a spray bottle and went to town on the undercarriage. It looked great for about a week while it sat on there. Then I hosed it off and was left with white corrosion all over with the frame paint flaking off. It looks awful and I’ve even had people ask what happened.

 

[DIFF LOCK]

Ironman 4x4 Foam Cell Pro Lift Kit, Stage 2 arrived.

 

[Ayune]

I have that same floor. Drop a screw and it's gone forever...

 

[PaulBunyan303]

any update on how your ride looks with the kit? I'm about to order the same Ironman Foam Cell stage two and was curious how it turned out.

 

[DIFF LOCK]

any update on how your ride looks with the kit? I'm about to order the same Ironman Foam Cell stage two and was curious how it turned out.

Wasn’t sure who this was directed at but here are some pics of mine.