MAF Long 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.....

 

[GulfShoresFJ60]

You can use a C-Clamp around where the center pin is. This way you can force the arc and be able to tighten the center pin especially since the pin does not have a bolt head.

edit - you maybe could use a jack to force the arc and then c-clamp it since the springs are still attached to the vehicle.
I didn't do mine on the vehicle they had already been removed when I added the leafs. So I am no help about how to do it on the vehicle.

 

[DirtyLittleSecret]

Please use two C-clamps. One on each side of the retaining bolt would be ideal. I nearly lost a good buddy of mine back in high school who had one clamp pivot while wrestling with a spring pack. The spring unloaded and sent the clamp halfway through his sinus cavity.

 

[Dynosoar]

I would pull the spring off of the truck so you can clean, paint and lube them before you reassemble. Use some heafty C clamps to compress the new spring. I have seen springs that had a ton of crusty rust between the leaves upon disassembly. As far a lube a light coat of moly greese between each leaf keeps the springs happy. You probably want to replace the bushings at the same time unless they are almost new. The whoie job should be about 4hrs.

Have Fun

Dynosoar

 

[lcwizard]

when you reassemble align the leaves with a long piece of althread since your centerbolt is too short with the leaves separated. Using a couple or more C-clamps compress the spring tight them replace the
allthread with the center pin.....I actually did this earlier today, on the vehicle

 

[sigep0359]

So it is possible to do this w/o taking the springs from the shackles? Do the springs curve once weight is taken off of them? The AALs are waaay more arched than the OEM springs on there. Also once you heat the spring retainers(?) do they just come apart? This is my temp solution for lift until I can save for my OME stuff....

 

[K2KK]

So it is possible to do this w/o taking the springs from the shackles? Do the springs curve once weight is taken off of them? The AALs are waaay more arched than the OEM springs on there. Also once you heat the spring retainers(?) do they just come apart? This is my temp solution for lift until I can save for my OME stuff....

You can do the install with the springs on the shackles. C clamps a must. I sheared a center pin the other day and had to pick up my springs from the trail and get a new pin and reinstall all on the trail. Glad I had air and the tools not to mention some good help...

 

[Mark W]

So it is possible to do this w/o taking the springs from the shackles? Do the springs curve once weight is taken off of them? The AALs are waaay more arched than the OEM springs on there. Also once you heat the spring retainers(?) do they just come apart? This is my temp solution for lift until I can save for my OME stuff....

yes the springs arch as the weight comes off... that is th whole idea behind leaf springs...

Spring retainers? heat? huh? you just lost me there... if you mean th spring clamps... just bend them open... no need or reason for heat. and if you did heat them... you would still have to bend them. nothing there that will "just come apart:.


Mark...

 

[Kavik]

I would pull the spring off of the truck so you can clean, paint and lube them before you reassemble. Use some heafty C clamps to compress the new spring. I have seen springs that had a ton of crusty rust between the leaves upon disassembly. As far a lube a light coat of moly greese between each leaf keeps the springs happy. You probably want to replace the bushings at the same time unless they are almost new. The whoie job should be about 4hrs.

Have Fun

Dynosoar

This is sound advice. When I did mine, the bushings were frozen to all of the pins. I found Jesus that weekend. Once it was apart, reassembly was a snap. Definitely want to clean up the inevitable rust that is in there.

Oh, and it will ride stiff for a while. Just do a couple of baja runs to break them in. Long add-a-leafs are the best bang for the buck on a 60 w/ 33's

Have fun.