A little help with suspension install

[ElDuderino]

I'm upgrading to Eibach Coilover 2.0's. I'm mechanically inclined, I work on pinsetters for a living, but I'm inexperienced with auto mechanic work. The lowest quote I got for install is $1200 from 4 different local shops, so I decided to just do it myself.

I got the passenger side rear coilover on with no issue. Working on the driver side rear now. I was expecting to just be plug and play, but the bottom of the shock is twisted far away from the mount itself. The top hat is attached but not fully tightened.

How do I get this lined up? I don't have a tool to compress the spring but I guess I could go pick one up if needed.

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[contented]

I'm upgrading to Eibach Coilover 2.0's. I'm mechanically inclined, I work on pinsetters for a living, but I'm inexperienced with auto mechanic work. The lowest quote I got for install is $1200 from 4 different local shops, so I decided to just do it myself.

I got the passenger side rear coilover on with no issue. Working on the driver side rear now. I was expecting to just be plug and play, but the bottom of the shock is twisted far away from the mount itself. The top hat is attached but not fully tightened.

How do I get this lined up? I don't have a tool to compress the spring but I guess I could go pick one up if needed.

You don’t have the top hat correctly aligned with the shock body. Remove shock from car, compress the spring a bit, realign, then reinstall on truck.

 

[Squatch]

You sure the tophat and upper part are oriented correctly?

You shouldn't need any compression but lift the Bronco up high and let the droop guide you, then jack the axle carefully into place.

Hang on, someone else replied... maybe smarter...

 

[Squatch]

You sure the tophat and upper part are oriented correctly?

You shouldn't need any compression but lift the Bronco up high and let the droop guide you, then jack the axle carefully into place.

Hang on, someone else replied... maybe smarter...

Okay, yeah the tophat orientation is the issue, I agree.

I don't agree on compressing the coilover. I got much more benefit by raising the Bronco up high on jack stands and having room to wiggle stuff. Some people, not saying either of you, jack up an off-road vehicle by the axle or pumpkin and never get it high enough to properly chamge the suspension to something that will add lift. Another common issue is using 2 ton jack stands instead of 6 tons with more height available.

Let us know what happens and don't forget to check the sway bar to see if that geometry is messing you up when you go to connect the, properly aligned, coilover lower eyelet.

 

[Squatch]

This is the passenger side when I installed my Icon Stage 4, but you can see I had it in the air like it was twerking with a 6 ton on each side, backup 3 tons forward under the frame for some peace of mind, and the jack under the pumpkin because I also installed a rear track bar relocator.

 

[ElDuderino]

You don’t have the top hat correctly aligned with the shock body. Remove shock from car, compress the spring a bit, realign, then reinstall on truck.

You sure the tophat and upper part are oriented correctly?

You shouldn't need any compression but lift the Bronco up high and let the droop guide you, then jack the axle carefully into place.

Hang on, someone else replied... maybe smarter...

I was able to grab by the spring and rotate that entire shock until the bottom was lined up. Am I supposed to be able to do that? When I got it lined up, I was not able to rotate it any further. The top hat was bolted in when I did this.

I have everything tightened and on the ground while I'm putting in a trac bar relocation kit. I'm supposed to torque everything to spec with the vehicle on the ground..correct?

Everything came pre-assembled from Panda Motorworks. They installed the HD springs for me before shipping.

 

[Squatch]

I think the only thing you really need on the ground when you torque to spec is the lug nuts, usually, but the test is... if you go to torque to spec and it starts moving the whole Bronco, stop and put it on the ground.

I had it in the air when I put the track bar relocation bracket on and think I had to use the jack at a couple different points on the axle to line it up. I may have set everything back down to earth when I did the final torque, but check after 100-200 miles after an alignment by a good 4x4 shop.

 

[Ducati1098]

I was able to grab by the spring and rotate that entire shock until the bottom was lined up. Am I supposed to be able to do that? When I got it lined up, I was not able to rotate it any further. The top hat was bolted in when I did this.

I have everything tightened and on the ground while I'm putting in a trac bar relocation kit. I'm supposed to torque everything to spec with the vehicle on the ground..correct?

Everything came pre-assembled from Panda Motorworks. They installed the HD springs for me before shipping.

Being able to turn it by hand is normal.
Everything with suspension should be torqued at normal ride height.

 

[87-Z28]

Everything with suspension should be torqued at normal ride height

this.

Static vehicle weight on suspension components. So take the weight off of the jack.

 

[Squatch]

Being able to turn it by hand is normal.
Everything with suspension should be torqued at normal ride height.

Yeah, my bad... memory, lol. Always do what @Ducati1098 says.

 

[87-Z28]

Yeah, my bad... memory, lol. Always do what @Ducati1098 says.

I am sure he has done a few.

 

[ElDuderino]

Now I'm onto the fronts. UCA ball joint is being a pain in the ass. Have been smacking the knuckle with a sledge for a good 30 minutes. Will try to apply heat tomorrow.

 

[indio22]

Now I'm onto the fronts. UCA ball joint is being a pain in the ass. Have been smacking the knuckle with a sledge for a good 30 minutes. Will try to apply heat tomorrow.

Not sure if it will work for your setup, but some people have better luck unbolting the lower control arm. There are some YouTube videos showing that approach.

 

[Langwilliams]

Not sure if it will work for your setup, but some people have better luck unbolting the lower control arm. There are some YouTube videos showing that approach.

THIS. I've watched several videos and this method is what I'm going to try. The only thing I dread is reinstalling the sway bar solo.

 

[ElDuderino]

Every video I've seen, a few taps on the knuckle and the UCA pops. I'm slamming it with a sledge and it won't budge. I'd prefer not to take off the lower control arms.

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