Wiggum

I just downloaded the instructions for 2014 F150/Expedition leveling kit installations ... and it says to remove BOTH frame bolts on the LCA. Here's the quote from item 6 in the instructions:

"Now remove the two bolts on the lower control arm that attach the lower control arm to the frame ( NOTE!! Be sure and mark the bolt position with a permanent marker prior to removal so you can re-install in the same exact position)."


Not sure what instruction sheet you are working from, given that the one I downloaded doesn't say what you have indicated that yours says.

WTF150

WTF150

Downloaded from the autospring website. I have a 13 not a 14

Wiggum

You've got the 2009-2013 instructions, and obviously those are different. I thought (mistakenly) that we were talking only about the 2014's.

On the 2009-2013's, the lower strut mount is a crossbolt, not two vertical bolts. Because of this, Kevin MIGHT be saying that if you undo the front LCA bolt, that will allow the LCA to pivot FORWARD a little bit, down out of the way to make it easier to get the lower end of the strut back into the spot on the LCA where it bolts in.

Look at this pic of the underside of one of our trucks ... easy to see that the LCA has two mounting points, and that it's not meant to actually pivot along any other axis than the imaginary straight line between the two mounting points...



Other than that, I don't have any idea why you'd only undo one of the two bolts on the LCA.

Fischer88

The bushings used in the control arms are rubber. They allow enough movement to "pivot" the control towards the rear of the truck to get the strut in. This is how I did it in my 2010. I think the reason for undoing just the front bolt is to keep the amount of work to a minimum.

Neptunescab

On my 09 2wd the install was pretty straight forward however you will need a really long crowbar to wedge the bottom of the strut back in place and i only un did the
upper knuckle bolt
sway bar endlink
Tie rod end nut

WTF150

So you got it back in with just a prybar and nor removing any a arm bolts? Thats sounds promising. Do you have any clunks at full steering lock or full suspension droop like hitting a speed bump?

Neptunescab

When i first installed it did clunk over speed bumps however that stopped as soon as i replaced my sway bar end links a few days later

laddgr

I am having mine done Monday by a Pro. Best $150 I ever spent, the instructions sound easy but. I want some one that has the expertise to do it right.......the first time

InDaRed2

Did you actually do one? There are bushings in the mounts so when you take the front bolt out it let's the LCA pivot on the rear bolt bushing. I did mine on my 2011 and with a prybar i was able to push the arm down low enough to slide the strut in.

First side took 2 hours, second side took 30 minutes...