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FJ Cruiser stuff |
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Photos and Information, all pictures are "clickable" for larger image.
Well I finally got around to installing the Rough Country 3" inch lift I bought several weeks ago. This weekend (Memorial Day 2009) was nice so I started on Saturday morning around ten expecting to be finished in 5 or 6 hours WRONG! I worked until 10:30PM to get the front finished then back at it on Sunday for 5 more hours to do the rear spring and shocks.
I had to tack weld the studs because the directions provided in the kit did not work for most of the studs. The directions said to place a nut on the exposed threads and torque them to 35/45 ft lbs to seat the head into the spacer. Three out of the six wouldn't seat so I cranked up the Mig welder and tacked them in place. Then I sprayed them black satin and coated them with Pelucid clear coat by POR-15.
The hardest part on the front was trying to fit the front strut back into position after adding a 2" inch spacer to the top! I had to run to the parts store for a spring compressor to squeeze the damn thing enough to get it back into place to get the bottom bolt back in.
The rear spring went a bit better and I still used the spring compressor to squeeze them don to where they would fit also. After I torqued everything and made sure all the cotter pins were in place I ran it around the neighborhood for a while to test it out. No weird handling or such but I'm still taking it to the dealer for a proper alignment.
I didn't have presence of mind to take any "in progress" photos, I was too intent on getting it all back together without injuring my back again. I'd waited three weeks while undergoing physical therapy to feel well enough to try this. My back held up but my legs, arms shoulders and knees are sore from all the wrenching and crawling around on the concrete garage floor.
Oh well, I always wanted a spring compressor anyway!
More Info
Well after trying the new springs and shocks with a loaded hitch carrier on two trips I find the rear of the FJ sags a bit and waddles like a duck. So I got a set of Air Lift Bags to help boost the coil springs on the rear. The kit is for standard rear springs and my Rough Country's are a couple inches taller. I had to modify the installation procedure but I got them to work.
I put the air filler valve on the left panel near the rear door and ran the hose through one of the many cap plugs in the FJ bodywork.
About 10 psi works for normal driving, 20 psi is good for a loaded carrier and a full cargo area. I'll have to play with it later on for different loads. I keep my boost starter/compressor in the back charged all the time so it's easy to check the pressure and adjust it.
PICTURE NEEDED HERE