OME Install help! (1 Viewer)

[NexusD]

Today I tried to install my OME lift kit along with a few other odds and ends I need to take care of before my trips with in the next few weeks. Please keep in mind I’m following the Slee’s install instructions. So here is what is going on, as of now I have changed out the tie rod end and I’m work on getting the old steering stabilizers off! Man, is that a big pain. I’ve tried applying heat from a blow torch, lube and the pickle folk w/ a big F’ing hammer! This old stabilizers will not budge. Tomorrow I’m taking off of work to find a SST puller some were.
Do you guys think that will work or should I buy a new plate for the stabilizer?

Next question;. Ok I may sound like a dumb a$$ for asking this but here it goes. I’m using a impacted wrench on the shock’s and the shock body keeps moving on me. Slee’s instructions said to use a pipe wrench. Is there another trick or something else I can use?
Oh I’m also doing this by myself.
Thanks for the help!

 

[yellowchaosfj80]

AS for the SS I justed used a slide hamer... and for the shocks ya thats about the best or get some one to hold it with vicse grips.... !

 

[tech_dog]

I used a big channel pliers for the shocks.

Most people seem to use some sort of good qualty puller on the seering damper, or the fight with it and bitch and complain.

 

[FirstToy]

Nexus,
A pickle fork works well to pop off the steering stabilizer- maybe a tie rod puller?

one front shock was a bitch so we drilled a hole in the old shock body, stuck a screwdriver in it to hold it while the other guy wrenched. The other 3 came off no problem.

If you need help, PM me and I'll come by

 

[Mickldo]

If you plan on doing a few more shock changes over the coming years (bigger lifts, replacing worn out shocks, etc. ) invest in the proper pipe clamp pliers. They are worth their weight in gold. They don't damage the shock and they clamp the shock securely making shock changes easy.

 

[NexusD]

cool thanks for the tip, I may make a hard ware store run tomorrow. I guess you can say it's worth have the right tools for the job.

 

[elmariachi]

If you apply heat, only apply it to the relay rod, not the steering damper pin. The rod opening will expand away from the pin and when you whack it with a hammer it will pop out.

I use this use to hold my old shocks when removing them.

 

[Hayes]

To get my steering stabilizer off I dropped my 80 by the auto-shop at the high school where I teach. When I picked it up at the end of the day, the new stabilizer was on. Piece of cake.

Apparently took a couple manly whacks on a pickle fork.

Hayes

 

[ed97fzj80]

Dan did a thing on the steering stabilizer not too long ago, and there were some good recommendations in the thread.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=90760

 

[Riad]

yep, pickle fork on the OEM steering stabilizer worked great for me. I had to pound on it for a while, I bet if I has heated it up it could have been broken loose faster.

As for the shock, I held/grabbed the shock body with one hand (heavy duty rubber gloves) through the wheel skirts and used the other hand to trigger the impact wrench, one small pull on the trigger at a time, until the nut came loose. Use a little PB Blaster on it, that might help.

 

[TroutRunner]

I too did the OME install by myself. I used a cheapo monkey wrench from Harbor Freight. If you are gonna trash the old shocks anyway, who cares how jacked they get by the monkey wrench? If you plan accordingly you can put the wrench against the wheel well (as long as it is very sturdy in that area) and then wrench away from above.

It worked for me.

For the SS I used a tie rod puller. You have to line it up just right. When it goes you'll be looking for an entrance and exit wound.

TR

 

[Bryan E.]

I did an entire OME lift, and springs on my truck, and the steering stabilizer was the only pain in the ass that I couldn't get off myself. I bought special pullers, hammered for hours even after soaking for day's with PB Blaster. I finally called a shop next door to my work, and the head mechanic told me he would do it right then so I let him. I thought he was going to use some special impact wrench tool, but he just used a good quality pickle fork and a hammer and banged the shi* out of it. I couldn't believe he was hitting it so hard but it poped right off. I thought I was hitting it hard, but probably not 1/2 as hard as he hit it. I might even recommend holding the fork with a leather glove, then with a channel lock and have use a 4 pound sledge and wack it extremely hard. Just don't miss hince the glove tip to get your left hand out of the way.

 

[e9999]

what I've done on the shocks is to put a visegripchain affair on the body in the right spot, tighten it, and then let the shock turn until the handle of the gizmo was hitting something strong and stopping the rotation. Easy as pie. Put a scratch or 2 in the paint if that but no damage.