WTF150

I just got a 2.5" autospring leveling kit, and now after doing some more reading, ive seen some guys say it is a royal PITA getting the strut assembly back in with the 2.5" spacer. Now I am having second thoughts, as I will be doing this in my driveway with basic hand tools. Now I'm kinda scared about disassembling everything and then not being able to get it back in.

Some of you guys that have installed them, any tips or pointers from experience?

alpinestar1123

Okay first of all its going to be a pain in the butt. Did you loosen or remove the sway bar link and did you persuaded with a pry bar. I've seen a couple videos were guys remove the rotors to give him a little bit more extra play so you don't damage the brake line. Is it a four wheel drive as well if so loosen up the nut for the CV axle to allow a little bit more play. Go on YouTube and look up rough country leveling kit install on a Ford f-150

alpinestar1123

WTF150

No, I haven't actually started yet. Just bought it and then started reading up on install tips and instructions, and got nervous when I read some experiences of guys having a hell of a time reinstalling the strut assembly with the spacer on top.

I am 2wd and was going to do everything the instructions say including removing the sway bar end link.

Fischer88

When I put in my 2.5 AS spacer I just followed the instructions. My truck is a 2010, Idk if that makes a difference. I undid the sway bar, tie rod ends, and upper ball joint to remove the strut. When reinstalling it the instructions say to remove the front lower control arm bolt to allow the control arm and steering knuckle to pivot just enough to get the strut and spacer in. Before I undid the bolt I marked with a sharpie the bolt's position so I could get it back to where it needed to be. When I got an alignment the guy said the only thing out was the toe.

Z7What

The 2.5" kits I've installed in 4X4s require me to unbolt the lower control arm from the frame to get the strut back in.

Wayne

DerekL

This, do not unbolt the axle, you can risk damaging the IWE system then your budget boost gets expensive, but this doesn't matter if you're a 2wd.

Wiggum

This has been beaten basically to death, and I recall being one of the first to post up about the installation of spacer leveling kits on the 2014 models. The "issue" is the two vertical mounting bolts on the bottom of the strut that connect to the LCA. These make the strut effectively about 2.5" longer from the start ... and after adding a 2" or 2.5" spacer on top of the strut, you've got a LONG strut to put back into the truck.

While I have heard of some instances where people have been able to use a pry bar to get the LCA pivoted down enough to put the spacer back in, I would NOT recommend it unless you undid the front axle from the hub ... but I would also not recommend doing that either ...

Because, if I have to disconnect something other than the strut, it's going to be the LCA ... just two bolts, drop it from the frame, put the strut back in, then bolt it back up. No risk of damaging other more "fragile" components on the truck ... and getting the LCA bolted back in effectively the exact same place it was prior to removal is NOT hard at all. And if you get one of those "camber bolt" kits that are made for our truck to help with alignment and keeping the LCA in place within it's slotted connection, it becomes that much easier to keep things right where they should be.

Long story short, just unbolt the LCA from the frame to remove and re-install the struts ... you'll be happy you did, for many reasons.

WTF150

Thw autospring instructions say to unbolt just the front bolt on the LCA and that should provide enough clearance. Does that make sense?

Wiggum

no, that does not make sense, not to me. The LCA (and UCA for that matter) both are "A" shaped, and have two points of connection to the frame. If you only unbolt one of the two bolts that hold the LCA to the frame, then I don't see how you can pivot the LCA down away from the frame.

Just an FYI, Kevin (autospring) didn't have updated 2014 installation instructions when I did my kit ... As far as he knows, I was the first 2014 he sold a kit for. That said, i modified the instructions and sent them back to him so he could use on his site. I never went back and looked at what the final "edit" of the instructions was, so I have no clue if it says to only undo one of the two frame-mount bolts on the LCA. I believe you if you say that's what it says, but again it doesn't make any sense to me to only do one.