| From | Message |
Lenny
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/01/2004
12:40:32
|
 Subject: Fabtech 3'' suspension lift question
IP: Logged
Message:
I just installed the lift on my 97 2wd and noticed that the urethan sleeve doesnt fit all the way through the control arm. there is about a quarter inch gap between the sleeve and the washer on the cross shaft. everything lines up correctly. is there anyone out there that has this kit installed? is this normal?
|
David GR
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/01/2004
15:25:11
| RE: Fabtech 3'' suspension lift question
IP: Logged
Message:
Mine was just installed on Monday by a shop, and it is the same.
|
Hack-Man162
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/02/2004
13:43:23
| RE: Fabtech 3'' suspension lift question
IP: Logged
Message:
Hey Lenny,
How difficult was the install? Any special tools?
--Hack-Man162
|
Lenny
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/02/2004
15:18:52
| RE: Fabtech 3'' suspension lift question
IP: Logged
Message:
I needed a coil spring compressor. I also had a pickle fork on hand for the ball joints. The cross shaft for the Upper Control Arm needs to be stripped of the bushing and sleeve, which takes some time if you dont have the right tools. Lots of WD-40.
I also used a floor jack up under the Lower Control Arm to compress the spring and hold it there till I got everything bolted up.
Also I would make sure that you unbolt the sway bar on both ends at the same time. I didnt and the second side was a pain in the ass to get out because the lifted side was putting tension on it.
|
Lenny
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/05/2004
16:53:52
| RE: Fabtech 3'' suspension lift question
IP: Logged
Message:
Just took it in to have it aligned. They wouldnt touch it unless I replace my crap Lower ball joints. So thats what next weekend looks like.
They also questioned the gap between the new upper ball joint and the spindle. Anyone have this too?
And what is required to get the lower ball joints out of a 97 2wd?
|
Lenny
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/05/2004
16:58:39
| RE: Fabtech 3'' suspension lift question
IP: Logged
Message:
I also needed the wheel spacers for this lift. I have AR 767 rims with 31" goodyear wranglers and they took the brake line support and brake line out on only the passenger side. Just though I'd share that.
The rear is one inch shorter than the front. I'm going to fab up some sort of block or new shackle to lift the rear another 2".
|
Brandon King
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/08/2004
17:35:06
| RE: Fabtech 3'' suspension lift question
IP: Logged
Message:
I'd be interested in some pics if you have any on hand. I'm getting ready to install the same lift...Fabtech recommended to me a 31x10.50 size tire with a 7" wide wheel with 3 & 3/4" back spacing with their 3" kit. So I'll probably try & find me some...dunno what brand I'll be going with yet though.
|
Lenny
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/12/2004
09:57:36
| RE: Fabtech 3'' suspension lift question
IP: Logged
Message:
k, so I just swapped out the lower ball joints. $130 later and about 5 straight hours did the job. what I had to do:
-Supported the lower control arm with a jack.
-Removed the tie-rod, caliper, rotor, and torsion bar from the spindle
-Unbolted the lower ball joint, and separated from the spindle.
-Used a cut off wheel to grind down the rivets holding in the ball joint.
-Drilled a 1/8" pilot hole through each rivet.
-Drilled a 3/8" hole through the rivets to remove them. (use cutting oil)
-Tapped out the old ball joint with a hammer.
-Installed new ball joint Moog # K7241.
-Reassemble
I'm no mechanic by any means. Up until I lifted my truck, the extent of my mechanical capabilites came from 10 years of working on a honda 250r fourwheeler. just thought I'd write out what I had to do since I couldnt find too much on the lower ball joints on here.
|
Brandon King
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/12/2004
10:12:54
| RE: Fabtech 3'' suspension lift question
IP: Logged
Message:
Thanks for the input, that'll come in handy when I go to replace mine. I too am an atv racer/mechanic myself...don't have a whole lot of automotive experience.
|
greendak
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/13/2004
22:44:19
| RE: Fabtech 3'' suspension lift question
IP: Logged
Message:
so...are the fabtech kits not coming with the right parts?
|
Lenny
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/14/2004
08:24:39
| RE: Fabtech 3'' suspension lift question
IP: Logged
Message:
No, Fabtech sent me the correct parts. they dont come with lower ball joints, so I had to buy those myself before I could get an alignment. everything was there and fit correctly.
|
Lenny
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/04/2004
10:02:12
| RE: Fabtech 3'' suspension lift question
IP: Logged
Message:
I bought the lift from perfromancelifts.com. The lift came fine, but when I ordered the spacers, I had some problems. It took them over 3 weeks to send them out, while the lift came in in about a week. I didnt want to get an alignment until I had the spacers. So i drove on a very badly aligned front end for three weeks, with washers as my spacers. Needless to say, there isn't much left on my front tires. I should've ordered them when I ordered the lift. I wouldn't have minded a week wait. I recieved the spacers on Friday. However, they conviently sent the wrong lug nuts with them. So now I either wait another 3 weeks to get the correct ones, or buy my own. Maybe I'm bitching about meanial things, but I'm not too happy with them right now.
|
Chris_CA
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/06/2004
18:25:29
| RE: Fabtech 3'' suspension lift question
IP: Logged
Message:
thats good info. I will need to replace my lowers soon.
|
conig
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/07/2004
17:11:52
| RE: Fabtech 3'' suspension lift question
IP: Logged
Message:
hey lenny way to buy the tools and dodge the fools. after all its only nuts and bolts.
|
| | P 1 |
|
Post a reply to this message:
Username Registration: Optional
All visitors are allowed to post messages
|
