MAF AAL Help

[sigep0359]

Ok, so the AAL kit arrived yesterday, wow do those springs look arched!! I am still waiting on the U Bolt kit from JTO, but I am trying to get some direction as to what others have done to install them. I have heard to not remove the springs from the shackles, rather undo the u bolts and remove the center pin and replace with the AAL. If you do that, how do you get them to arch with the old springs? Any ways any install info would help immensely..... Or if you want to help out, I have plenty of beer in the fridge and a garage full of tools to make the project fun and doable

 

[89s rule]

Hopefully you have new center pins for the leaves? Use some c clamps and tighten them don after you have the center pin inserted, but not fully tightened. Dont take the shackles or springs off, just remove the ubolts and put in the AAL and the spring pin.

Also be careful dealign with JTO I have heard very bad things about them in the past. Most of us in UC get our ubolts made @ the place on Hwy 25 in Gville.

Did you get them for front and rear? Dont forget to take b/f and after measurements from hub center to fender lip.

Did you get the bumper installed?

 

[CruisinTiger]

Good luck gettin your Ubolts.....ok for the aal.....take off the shackles they don't matter. You will need 4 C clamps.....my aal is the 3rd longest leaf so there are 2 leafs above and 3 below it. Once the spring is off you will need to clamp the 2 longest leafs together on the ends so the clamps don't get in the way of the aal....these clamps will stay on the entire time. Next clamp all 5 leafs between the center pin and the clasps that hold the springs together....once you have them clamped down you will want to remove the clasps...it may take some heat to bend them off....once they are off very slowly and carefully remove one of the inner C clamps but be careful, you've still got the center pin in so it'll hold them together but it could possibly twist the C clamp and bust some knuckles....once you've got that C clamp off go ahead and take off the other inner C clamp....then all that is left is to remove the center pin.....

put back together....kind of just the opposite..once you have the aal in the right place put the center pin back in then on one side start cranking it down with a C clamp....then wrap the clasp back around it......I'd leave the C clamp on just for safety while you crank down the other side and then wrap it the clasp back around it.....then put it back under and attach her to the axle.

Hope this helps......it's a lil overkill but it should keep any leafs from shootin out and bustin a knuckle or shin......If you got any other questions just let us know....good luck man

Chuck

 

[89s rule]

What chuck says works as well. If your shackles are original as well as the bushings leave them alone. Unless you plan on replacing them at the same time. Its not worth the effort or pain to deal with them as they are a pain to get off and then to have to try and reuse them, not going to happen (especially with the bushings).

 

[scott johnson]

Have had terrible luck with JTO. If your going to do hard core trails look into the 4+ U bolt flip kits from Man-A-Fre. Kind of high dollar but bomb proof.

 

[sigep0359]

We got the front on last night and we are getting ready to do the back today, I found it easier than I thought, it took about an hour per leaf to install. We used MAPP gas to heat the little clasps on the spring pack and it bent back in like 5-7 seconds, rebending was a cinch as well. Matt, I did get the bumper on and it looks awesome, I am going to post pics when we are done with the lift, thanks for the advice guys!!

 

[CruisinTiger]

Glad to hear things worked out for ya!!

 

[89s rule]

Sweet, swing out and all. Cant wait to see everything!

 

[sigep0359]

Pics

Ok matt, here are some pics of the lifted 60 with the swing away bumper, from some 4-wheeling this last weekend locally.... BTW does anyone know how to get to the cullowee ORV listed on the Forest Service Map for the Pisgah District? Just trying to find some stuff closer to A-ville/Hendersonville that is not as far as tellico....

 

[sigep0359]

more pics

more from same trip.. (unfortunately I don't get to get many of my truck as I am the designated trip photographer

The last photo shows the 60 leading the way home, in front of all the J@@ps

 

[sigep0359]

pics

1st is a group photo of me and my 4wd friends and neighbors (all heep owners )

The rest are just of the view from the top of the trail

 

[89s rule]

Looks great!!! I dunno about cullowhee being listed. We try our best to keep it on the DL here so it doesnt get shut down. Its really close to asheville though.