Need help quick - lower shock bolts

[jsalbre]

Trying to get my Fox shocks installed, and no matter what I do I can’t get the lower bushing to line up with the mount enough to get the bolt through!

I’ve tried no weight on the suspension, some weight, most of the weight, and even turning the caster adjusters to try to change the angle of the axle a bit, all to no relief.

I’ve also tried tapping the bolt through with a rubber mallet (since the bolt has a slight taper/point at the end) but it’s not close enough for that to work.

What am I doing wrong here?

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Connect the bottom first then you have mechanical leverage to get the top lined up

 

[Brutal_HO]

Yea, I don't think I've ever not put the lower on first.

 

[jsalbre]

Ok, that seems to be working. Both Fox’s and Thuren’s instructions said top first. The studs on these are really long, so getting the clearance to swing them in place is difficult, but I think I can manage.

Thanks y’all.

 

[Crusty old shellback]

I've always used a ratchet strap to compress shocks to get them in.

 

[jsalbre]

I got them. What a PITA.

 

[Brutal_HO]

There's a reason most of them come pre-strapped. Best to have have one end attached and the other ready to line up when you cut er loose.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

There's a reason most of them come pre-strapped. Best to have have one end attached and the other ready to line up when you cut er loose.

This is the way get the bottom in and cut the strap and guide it into position

 

[jsalbre]

No straps on the Fox 2.5s. Would have been nice though.

One last thing I’m running into trouble with. How the hell do you get a torque wrench on the upper rear track bar bolt??

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

No straps on the Fox 2.5s. Would have been nice though.

One last thing I’m running into trouble with. How the hell do you get a torque wrench on the upper rear track bar bolt??

You don’t just tight and be done with it or use a few extensions.

 

[jsalbre]

You don’t just tight and be done with it or use a few extensions.

Won’t that end up making noise? It’s supposed to be something north of 200ft-lbs. I can barely get anything more than a wrench on there.

 

[Forceofwill]

Last time I did bilsteins on my 2500 I cut the bands off and the shocks extended. I immediately regretted that decision. Me and a buddy basically man handled them compressed to get them in.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Won’t that end up making noise? It’s supposed to be something north of 200ft-lbs. I can barely get anything more than a wrench on there.

If you can hook a second wrench to it for more leverage then thats the way to go. If you let the axle droop can you get at it better?

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

Won’t that end up making noise? It’s supposed to be something north of 200ft-lbs. I can barely get anything more than a wrench on there.

Crowsfoot? Make sure it’s at 90° to the handle for the proper torque reading. Tool test Chanel does a good video on this

 

[jsalbre]

If you can hook a second wrench to it for more leverage then thats the way to go. If you let the axle droop can you get at it better?

Crowsfoot? Make sure it’s at 90° to the handle for the proper torque reading. Tool test Chanel does a good video on this

I managed to get it. I took the wheel off and put a ratchet strap on the tail pipe and pulled the resonator to the side enough that I could get a torque wrench on it.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

I managed to get it. I took the wheel off and put a ratchet strap on the tail pipe and pulled the resonator to the side enough that I could get a torque wrench on it.

Ah thats why I was confused the cummins is pretty easy to get at no resonator lol

 

[jsalbre]

Ah thats why I was confused the cummins is pretty easy to get at no resonator lol

I really want that damn thing gone. I need to go get a new tailpipe section made without it. I tried just pulling the whole rear section off (at the joint behind the muffler) for a while, but the exhaust melted my parking brake cable. Oops.