Not good when the manager parks next to you, hates your guts, has been lookin' for a reason to get rid of you and is a total @ssh0le. I will create a build post at some point when it is all finished, but I thought I would share a few teaser pix since I have nothing better to do.......@#!%* brake lines!
](./images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Banging my head"){kind=small}
This is my garage, to the left is the managers parking stall. I love her, to death.
I did the entire lift in my carport with about 1 foot of room on the passenger side to maneuver, and sometimes less than that on the drivers side. The BIOTCH did come and go every so often so I had more space to move.
Now, I'm just gonna throw up some images that show the parts and work involved in Overland's 4" spindle lift. I spent many, many hours researching exactly what parts I would need in order to get all the goodies that a 1500 series GMC/Chevy pickup would have bolted to it's spindle. The list of parts is significant, expensive and not all readily availble at your local autoparts store. I literally had stuff shipped from all over the USA.
Dan and I exchanged about 10 million emails back and forth, and when all was said and done he informed me that I might need wheel spacers to prevent my wheels (ProComp 1079 15x8" 3.75 backspacing and -19mm offset) from rubbing the caliper and spindle. I pretty much $hit my pants when I heard that because I had asked him VERY specifically if I would have issues like that BEFORE I placed my order. I just spent $600 on those wheels 5 months ago and I wasn't about to get new ones for this lift. So, I thought it would be a GREAT IDEA to make a test fixture, the exact wheel/tire combo I intended to run. Everything fit perfect, with 1/2 - 3/4" room to spare.
The spindles from Overland arrived unpainted with ever so slight surface rust beginning to form so I knew the parts would need to be painted for longevity. Only problem was we had a friggin' freak rain storm here in CA with tornados
and the works one day after a triple digit heat wave, go figure. So great painting days quickly turned to crap by the time I was ready to paint. I painted on the balcony, then moved the parts inside to dry. I found the bathroom with a space heater running and the door closed worked great!
Now it's time to get dirty!
Old spindle comes off:
Now if your gonna bother with replacing the entire spindle, rotor and calipers it seems like a good time to install new Moog Heavy Duty BJ's as well. I had issues with this, but I'll save that for later. Long story.
To remove the ball joints You MUST rent a ball joint press. Cannot be done otherwise!
Out with the old:
Get yourself a new 1/8" and 1/2" drill bit, and a stool to sit on. You will be drilling for a long ass time I gaurantee it. But those rivets come out pretty easy afterward:
In with the new:
Now, as some of you may have seen in my "TRW / Moog Variable Rate Coil Springs" post, I decided to get some! Spent $100 plus $50 shipping at Kragen, only to find them for $65 on Amazon with free shipping a week later.
As you can see, they are about 1" taller than the stock spring. They are variable rate, as opposed to constant rate like the stock spring. Variable rate meaning they require more force to compress as they shorten. They start at 622# rate, which is the same as Overland's 1.5" HD coils, and as far as I can tell they are the same. Cannot comment on their feel yet as I have yet to move the van an inch with no brakes! You MUST rent an INSIDE coil spring compressor to install these springs. They will lift the van off your jackstands if you try to compress them under the vehicle weight alone. No need for any pneumatic tools though. They don't need to compress too much to get things aligned.
(Note: springs are upside down in this photo)
Bolting up the new components:
Don't be a jackass and install the spring compressor incorrectly like I did!
There were no instructions with the tool, and having never used one before I certainly wasn't expecting this:
I was able to get it out eventually, but save yourself some trouble and put the bottom cup in so you can pull it out afterwards!
Right away I was concerned with the angle of the upper ball joint in relation to the spindle. Dan had recommended using his ball joint spacers, which he kindly provided at no charge. They are VERY beefy:
I couldn't use them because they require the use of a 5/16" bolt, and my ball joints would only accept a 1/4" bolt. And no, you can't just drill out super hardened steel like I thought. Dan did tell me which BJ to purchase, but they were the cheap $10 kind. I thought I'd go HD, but as it turns out the cheapos have an 11/32" hole which nicely accepts a 5/16" bolt. I thought I was saving myself a headache, when in reality I should have listened to Dan and bought what he specified. So, the result is a nasty angle, which will eventually lead me to purchasing the cheap BJ's and redoing the upper control arm.
Now for the new rotors. Wish I had bought drilled and slotted, but this lift was already growing way too expensive. I will upgrade at a later more financially secure date:
Painted my calipers red, 'cause I'm cool like that and they will look bitchin' through the holes in my wheels! The 1500 series calipers and shoes are pretty nice. The shoes just snap on:
I had to zip tie the ABS sensor cable to the spindle for a lack of better fastener. I will buy some large steel hose clamps for this eventually. I totally lucked out in that the 1500 series ABS sensors I got used had the same connector as the original, and it just snapped right into the wiring harness! That never happens!
And FINALLY what you have all been waiting for:
Tada! Looks AWESOME, and right after you get the tires on you discover all the unforseen problems of your new spindles!
MAJOR bad TOE-IN! But it's adjusted rather easily so you can then drive it to the shop for an alignment. I freaked out at first though. I was wondering why Dan had sent me tie rod couplings.
The wheels should be pointed straight!
More pix to come once I get the brake problem solved and I can get it out of the garage. I did also install Overland's 4" HD leaf springs in back but I purposely left that out because it seems old hat in this forum and I didn't want to bore anybody. The end result is my fender lips are about 36" above ground running 235/75 tires. I do have new BFG 31x10.5" Mud Terrains waiting to go on so it might get an inch or so taller. I also left out pix with shocks becuase I am doing something a bit unique and it's TOP SECRET for now. Hope you enjoy the pix!
JackP.S. The spindles provide 4" lift. I already had Overland's 2" lift (body spacers and shackles) installed. I also installed 4" HD leaf springs. So the end result is a 6" lift.
