Newby needs HELP with Rusty's 2" spacer kit

[brouillette]

Okay -- got the Rusty's kit and followed all the directions. Have the spacer bolted to the top of the spring/strut (which didn't fit very well, by the way). Loosely mounted the top of the strut tower back into vehicle. How in the world do you get the holes on bottom of the clevis to line up with the A-arm again? Do you disconnect the bottom arm from the vehicle altogether (that wasn't part of the instructions...). Any and all help greatly appreciated. Best regards.

 

[tjkj2002]

ratchet straps are your friend,attach to the clevis and attach the other ends to someplace on the other side and ratchet together.

 

[long_tall_texan]

Not sure about the Rusty's lift. But on the Daystar, it requires the ratchet straps like TJ said, plus... You have to turn the front and rear cam bolts for the LCA to push the LCA to the farthest out position. Be sure to mark the cam bolts before moving them. Then, after you get it put together, you can turn the cams back. It will still need an alignment ASAP, but at least you won't eat up your tires on the way to the alignment shop.

 

[kjweston]

damn all three three times I took apart my front end I didn't use ratchet straps.. and man was it a pain with the KK clevis above all.

 

[05kj6spd]

I used coil spacers.....compressed the springs about 2 inches and then pushed the forks up on a-arm. Nice to have an assistant to put the bolt in once you get it lined up.

 

[kjweston]

I used coil spacers.....compressed the springs about 2 inches and then pushed the forks up on a-arm. Nice to have an assistant to put the bolt in once you get it lined up.

yeah I doubt I would have been able to do the suspension work with only two hands. And I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I had the rusty's spacer lift and it was terrible. I feel like if I sat out there for a day I could watch it sag. (exaggeration of course) but it will rapidly sag your most likely already sagged coils. I wish I had done proper research before I lifted my KJ because I ended up spending a lot more money than i needed to. Just a heads up though. I had an 02, cant tell what year you have so it may sag at a slower rate but same goes for all. You'll slowly watch your lift go away.

 

[tommudd]

moving cam bolts is unneeded in my book never have I had to do that in the dozen lifts I have done or to mine with it being apart 20 plus times, nor do I have a second set of hands when working on mine,

rachet straps is all it takes and a few minutes

actually KJ lifts are easier I think than most any other lift I have done be it Wranglers / XJs/ YJs/ Toys/ Fords or Dodges,

GM's don't deserve to be lifted

 

[long_tall_texan]

The reason I have had to turn the cam bolts is because of the Daystar Spacer. It is larger outside diameter than the OEM, or OME springs. Because of that, it does not allow the fully extended spring/shock assembly to pull in to the center of the vehicle far enough to align with the LCA unless you turn the cam bolts. Tried the ratchet only, and it could not pull it far enough. Probably just a Daystar spacer thing. Have you done a Daystar kit Tom?

 

[tommudd]

The reason I have had to turn the cam bolts is because of the Daystar Spacer. It is larger outside diameter than the OEM, or OME springs. Because of that, it does not allow the fully extended spring/shock assembly to pull in to the center of the vehicle far enough to align with the LCA unless you turn the cam bolts. Tried the ratchet only, and it could not pull it far enough. Probably just a Daystar spacer thing. Have you done a Daystar kit Tom?

Yes I have !
Daystar, Rustys (junk), OME Springs only, also some with extras, full on Frankenlifts , I think that covers it.

 

[ATXKJ]

The best thing you can do with a Rusty OTT spacer lift - is toss it in the trash before it kills your struts.

if you're just into Mall crawling - you can probably get away with extending the bumpstops - but dead struts only take 1-2 cycles of the suspension - it stops on the internals - they aren't made to take the abuse.

Al has them http://jeepinbyal.com/prod-TeraFlex_Bump_Stop-653.aspx

 

[long_tall_texan]

Yes I have !

I figured you had. HeHeHe. I guess I am just a weakling then. Don't know why I have always had so much trouble with it. But turn the cam bolts and it is a breeze. Some day I will "spring" for the OME's and never have to worry about it again...

 

[tommudd]

I figured you had. HeHeHe. I guess I am just a weakling then. Don't know why I have always had so much trouble with it. But turn the cam bolts and it is a breeze. Some day I will "spring" for the OME's and never have to worry about it again...

OK I will admit that they can be a little bit of a pain for sure! Almost as bad as trying to install a 1/4 inch top plate on a Frankenlift with a clevis, way too much stuff to go in a small area ! Some that were sitting in my garage that day said it couldn't be done so had to prove it could !

 

[long_tall_texan]

Oh... (light bulb moment) I bet I could do it easily without turning the cam bolts without my 3/8" top spacer plate plus the 3 ring clevis. Only the Daystar spacer would prolly be "easy" to do...