To be honest, I didn't even do that much work. Granted I'm a little bit of a shadetree mechanic but the only bolts/nuts i fooled with were the two holding the bottom of the struts on either side. I was using 3 different prybars though to get everything lined up since i was working by myself.

 

Thats pretty accurate. Not much to it. You should be fine. Just remember to get it aligned when you are finished.

 

I' read Rough Country's installation guide, and they were talking about unbolting 1/2 the dang truck. This looks too easy, so I was thinking there was a catch. Thanks guys.

 

When I was down in Mississippi on holiday last week I had a 2.5 '' readylift leveling kit installed.total cost - kit,install,alignment,tax = $ 370.00. Which is a heck of a lot less than I was quoted up here.So for me it was worth having the pros do it.Hope it helps you decide.....

 

That video makes me think its gotta be fairly easy, and I dont even like to work on my truck. On the other hand $370 otd seems like a decent price.

 

Seriously Eric, the only tough part is prying the half shaft back in place. If you have a neighbor (or Jon) readily available, it should take less than an hour to do both sides. You don't have to undo the swaybar unless for some odd reason you can't get to the bolt on the shock (if memory serves). That is to say there is a bolt close to the sway bar extension that you have to be able to get to. If you have ratchets with sockets, and ratchet wrenches, it is a breeze. I would consider taking mine apart and doing it over again to take pics that would ease your installation, or drive the truck down to Oklahoma and we'll do it next weekend!

 

That is the exact video I used to install mine and it worked just fine it's quick and yes that easy. The most work goes into taking a pry bar and lining up the bolts. holes.

 

Thanks again, SS Crew members!!
@Vince -- I'll be in IA in 2 weeks, but not all the way down to OK. Wish I was!
@Starspangled6.0 -- if you ever get a break from work and want to tackle this with me, let me know!

 

wow, your quick! haha

 

The only thing I saw with that, is on my Top Gun Custom kit, I had to drop drop the knuckle to get the bolts in from the top down. If I went bottom up like they did, the bolt and nut contacted the axle shaft... My kit was more like a 2.5" block than a 2"... First side took a while, but it took longer to take the tires off and put them back on than it did to do the second side... If you have the tools and gumption, get 'er done!

 

Have any of you guys had a shop refuse to align a vehicle because it has aftermarket suspension parts (I.E. leveling kit)?

Also, for some reason I generally distrust alignment places, I often wonder if they really know what they are doing. That said, should I mention to them the reason I want an alignment is because I put on a leveling kit? The only reason I say this is because I have a feeling they might just throw the truck on the machine and not do much and call it good. However If they know that it has a leveling kit just installed, they might look a little more closely because they would know something needs to be adjusted.

 

bump

 

I TRIED to do it myself....until I twisted a head off a bolt.... then I took it to the shop got it alligned and installed for around $120.00

 

LOL I wish I had those prices around here. Can't get an alignment done for under $89.99 and 90% of the shops charge per the job. so if a book says it should take 1hr per side to do the work then you are getting charged 2hrs labor... yes even if it only takes the tech 1hr to do the entire job. and around here the hourly shop rate is about $89.99

 

I love the FIrestones here for alignments...$169 for life time alignments. I drive a truck until it falls apart and put it back together. Did this when I bought the truck almost 8 years ago, last week was it's 15th alignment. :mrgreen: Every other shop it's 69.99-89.99 per alignment. And Firestones here at least even give you a before/after print out of the tow in/out and caster/chamber.

That install looks easy because it is. Did basically the same thing on a buddy's 2011, just hadn't seen that video and i used a cordless impact.

 

to be honest any time a vehicle has an alignment done the customer is supposed to see a before and after. The shop I worked at had a regular customer and he brought in a spec sheet for his Jeep Wrangler. He had probably 15-20K invested into his Jeep with everything from off-road lighting to suspension lift to body modifications. Any time we done an alignment on it he only cared if we could get it within tolerance of the specs he provided for us... the shop that done all of the work for him gave him the spec sheet for future reference.

 

Have any of you guys had a shop refuse to align a vehicle because it has aftermarket suspension parts (I.E. leveling kit)?

Also, for some reason I generally distrust alignment places, I often wonder if they really know what they are doing. That said, should I mention to them the reason I want an alignment is because I put on a leveling kit? The only reason I say this is because I have a feeling they might just throw the truck on the machine and not do much and call it good. However If they know that it has a leveling kit just installed, they might look a little more closely because they would know something needs to be adjusted.

The shop should not need to know. All they see is that it is out of tolerance, and then they put it back to tolerance.
But, any good shop will see the leveling kit right away, so I really do not think it matters.

 

awesome info! good to know

 

Thanks to some very good friends here on the site, that pooled their resources to buy me a Christmas present, I now have a 2" Rough Country leveling kit!!! YEA ME!!! :lol:

Starspangled6.0 and I will be installing it on Sunday, and then I'll get it aligned on Monday. Stay tuned for pics.

For the record, the guys (and gals) on this site are AWESOME!!!

 

Can't wait tell i get mine in and I also went to firestone to get the lifetime alignment and it was on sale for $180

 

Thanks to some very good friends here on the site, that pooled their resources to buy me a Christmas present, I now have a 2" Rough Country leveling kit!!! YEA ME!!! :lol:

Starspangled6.0 and I will be installing it on Sunday, and then I'll get it aligned on Monday. Stay tuned for pics.

For the record, the guys (and gals) on this site are AWESOME!!!

Awesome! What are you going to do for tires when the time comes?

 

Wayy off topic...but you asked!

Tires...an agonizing decision. Definitely going 285/65/18. I want a tire that looks aggressive, is quiet, and is good in snow. My research has led me to any of the following:
Bridgestone Dueler Revo (owned before -- great tire)
Michelin LTX A/T2 (Excellent reviews)
Cooper A/T3 (like that they are American made, but read mixed reviews. Not sure if they are quiet enough)
Nitto Terra Grapler (good looking tread design)
BF Goodrich Rugged Trail T/A (good looking side wall, recently redesigned, but mixed reviews on traction)

There is also the decision of staying with blackwall, or going with raised white letters. I think the RWL might look good with the white truck. If so, that rules out Michelin. Their RWL tires are ugly. Also rules out Nitto. I don't think they make a RWL.

I do not have to worry about that for about 6-9 months, though. The OEM Bridgestones are wearing pretty well.

 

Can't wait tell i get mine in and I also went to firestone to get the lifetime alignment and it was on sale for $180

I got lifetime alignment for $161.99 at Tires Plus. I have it scheduled for Monday, following the leveling kit install on Sunday.

 

I wish I could be there to help with the install

 

Thanks for the great how-to video. I'll be doing this soon.