Builds Work In Progress aka: Badass (8 Viewers)

[Cruiserdrew]

So if you install both springs, and then drop the axle onto the springs, it's pretty easy to align. I've done it that way a bunch of times and I'm not looking to work extra hard. I'm almost always working by myself, like you.

I did have to replace bushings in my FJ60 and tried to take the lazy mans way out and not unbolt from the axle. It was 20 times the work of just unbolting everything. I had ratchet straps, jacks, highlifts and lots of dangerous force to keep me from undoing 4 bolts. Never again.

Do you have a spud wrench or two? Helpful in lining up bushings with holes. I have a Stanley and a really nice old school Klein and it really helps with this job.

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

Bushing removal and install was zero sweat.

 

[gt7058a]

Bushing removal and install was zero sweat.

Wait until the rears. On mine the driver side rear was a beast.

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

Wait until the rears. On mine the driver side rear was a beast.

I’m pretty sure mine had been done not too many years ago. They slid right out quite easy. Biggest problem I can foresee on my rear is the cement hard oil seal that was coated all over everything back there the most. I’m gonna have to open up all the edges of everything w/ a paint scraper.

 

[89BIGBLUE]

A second, smaller floor jack helped me out.
I hung the springs first, and then lowered the axle onto them.
Big one under the axle, and the other one under the leaf pack as needed.
I found if I put enough “subtle” force on each in the right direction, a nice mallet tap or two would set the center pin home on the perches.
It’s hellofa core workout, rolling and squating under there!
I got to do it a few times, because I just had to add a leaf at all 4 corners after the initial install...sigh.
You got this!

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

A second, smaller floor jack helped me out.
I hung the springs first, and then lowered the axle onto them.
Big one under the axle, and the other one under the leaf pack as needed.
I found if I put enough “subtle” force on each in the right direction, a nice mallet tap or two would set the center pin home on the perches.
It’s hellofa core workout, rolling and squating under there!
I got to do it a few times, because I just had to add a leaf at all 4 corners after the initial install...sigh.
You got this!

Exactly right on that subtle force. I needed the push from the inside tho so getting a good wack from that way was tough. I even tried a long 2x4 from the passenger side w/ a mallet but just couldn’t get the right push where I needed it.
I have the bottle jack and a floor jack. Two smaller jack stands and two large. When I just got home I squatted down low at the front end to envision how I would have arranged things if I’d done both at the same time and I just can’t teally. Call it being a novice but jacking vehicles up on stands and then needing to lower them a smidge just makes my head implode. They either stay up on the stands or they come down, there’s no inbetween. I suppose I need a third jack for piece of mind.
And yes, definitely a chore. I’ll have bruises to show for all that in a few days. And glad I push a med cart cuz I definitely made use of a dose of Tylenol and ibuprofen for myself tonight!

 

[gilamonster]

Not sure if I missed weather or not you got it in place yet. But, you will have a much easier time doing it with both leafs detached. At least just unbolt and remove the other side's shackle.

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

Not sure if I missed weather or not you got it in place yet. But, you will have a much easier time doing it with both leafs detached. At least just unbolt and remove the other side's shackle.

I did get it finally yesterday AM. Thanks. So doing the opposing side should be just as fun eh?

 

[g-man]

Fel, it's not much but here is what I did with my OME install. I know your's is a different brand but might help. The rear springs were not lining up with the center pin. Make sure your springs are oriented correctly. ie...the front of the spring to the front of the truck and left or right side if so indicated. Read the second half of this quote to see my technique on lining the rear springs up.

The OME...technically the EMU Dakar heavy/heavy suspension..install went pretty good. The fronts really fell into place. With the truck jacked up as far as I could I placed jack stands at the front of the truck just behind the trans crossmember. I pinned the spring eyes to the fixed pin and the shackle first. Then I used the new axle bolts and nuts to pull the spring pack and spring seat up to the axle making sure the center pin lined up. I cleaned up ie wire brushed and greased the spring seat. There is no rubber insulator that comes with these springs. After getting the spring snug to the axle with an impact wrench, I mounted the shock and stabilizer bar links. Once everything is in place I dropped the weight of the truck down on the wheels and snugged it all up even more. The rear springs were a bit harder. The center pin on the bottom of the spring seat was about 3/4 inches EDIT: rearward (after pinning the spring eyes) so I had to move the axle EDIT forward or the spring EDIT: back to get it to pop in place. I flexed the spring by putting a pry bar thru the shackle and with my foot on the wheel well laying on my back I pried the spring rearward until it popped in place. The original isolators (rubber and metal piece that goes over the sides of the spring pack) are deleted.. as in not used, and a metal bushing is used to take up the difference between the small centering pin and the large hole it goes in.

 

[Willard]

What g-man said, I did the exact same thing and had to redo the rears, once I got it right the axle dropped right in and everything went together perfectly.

My biggest issue on rears was the drivers side rear shackle. I had to remove the tailpipe from the hanger and in the process broke the bolts. The bolt was seized in the bushing. I drilled holes into the bushing and around the bold and it came out just fine. Using a torch would have been easier, but the rubber smell in the house would have not.

There is no way around it, the job is a bear. That said as you can see it can be done, you are doing great.

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

Thanks guys. I gotta tell you tho envisioning that in wordsmight happen but might not. I’m really bad at seeing through words. Once I’m there and in the thick I’m sure I’ll see it better. What I feel I need to ask is should I borrow two more jack stands and a third floor jack?
I did a lot of pondering and looking from different angles when I wanted to shift the axle or the frame a bit at times. I was really paranoid I’d screw up and drop something I shouldn’t. Thankfully I didn’t but man like I said I felt like my brain was going to implode much of the time.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Yes. The tall 12 ton jack stands are invaluable to raise and support the front of the truck on the frame. I've always used 2 floor jacks, 2 12 ton stands, and 4 6 ton stands for this job and never had an issue. Never needed a bottle jack, though the Toyota bottle jack makes an acceptable substitute for a jack stand.

Even for the other side, I would unbolt the U bolts on the side you have already done. Get the axle up and out of the spring install equation.

You did catch a break. Your existing bushings are yellow OME bushings, so obviously someone else already went through things.

 

[Willard]

No
you stated you have 4 that is enough.

1 jack 1 bottle jack you are set.

I am sure people would add more is better. You do not need it.


2 on the body
2 on the axle that is it.

Jack on the axle and bottle jack where needed.

Remember I am the crazy bastard who did his springs and then decided I was going to install my full floater. I did not remove the springs for that and manhandled the old axle out and then manhandled the new axle in place (needed to remove 1 bump stop). Still managed to get it lined up and installed.
I did that with exactly what I have above, less the bottle jack.

 

[Willard]

You did catch a break. Your existing bushings are yellow OME bushings, so obviously someone else already went through things.

Trust me in the North East, that means little. Mine were the same and I had to hammer the bolts out. My original OME was done around 2000. PO never greased the bolts (they were greasable) and they were frozen in place. The bolts were rusted out and all pitted. Nothing was salvageable.

 

[Seth_O]

Fel your experience was very similar to mine when I did my '40 years ago. I felt like I was mcgyvering every single step of the way. Jack's + jack stands + 2x4's + ratchet straps + mallets + sledgehammer + propane torch + drill, etc.

I agree that doing both sides at once is easier, but that's no help for you this time.

It really is an issue of "inch it over here, push it over there" until it jockeys into position. You're doing a great job on a challenging task. Especially given your size

 

[g-man]

I had (4) 3 ton jack stands. Kinda smallish. 12 ton would be much better. I had them on some plywood boards to get them up and spread out the weight (it was summer at the time and I didn't want the stand sinking into the hot asphalt driveway. Even so I used a few more board to get them up even higher. If your working with small jack stands I recommend putting some boards like 2x8 or 3 or so sheets of plywood underneath to give you some lift. Even with that I had my stands raised all the way up which looks really unstable and scary. But you need it up high to allow for sagging springs. I used 4 stands, two on each side under the frame, and a floor jack under the axle which was nice as it allows some movement.

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

Especially given your size

Thanks for pointing that out. I’m small, I am strong but my strongest position is a way to use my legs in a push or pull and that chore left me w/ no way to do that. It was a humbling experience as a ‘petite’ female. My son was just grabbing at my arms and clearly my triceps got a hard workout cuz they are sore as heck!

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

If your working with small jack stands I recommend putting some boards like 2x8 or 3 or so sheets of plywood underneath to give you some lift.

That I did and my driveway is old pavement so it’s got frost heaves. I layered a few folded cardboard boxes under the edge of the wood stack to make it not wobbly. You can see it behind the old pin in my hand.

 

[cruisermatt]

Getting the fixed pins out is by far the hard part in my opinion. They’re almost always frozen under the head to the spring hanger and there’s never enough room to really swing a hammer from the other side

 

[cps432]

Getting the fixed pins out is by far the hard part in my opinion. They’re almost always frozen under the head to the spring hanger and there’s never enough room to really swing a hammer from the other side

Gotta get inventive.