installing a 2" leveling kit
There are so many questions about this I'm surprised we don't have a thread.
The pics I'm posting are not mine but they are very clear and straightforward. This is a pretty simple task, it took me about 90minutes to install the spacers and get the rig back on the road. I would say out of this is a 4/10 on the hardness scale and can be done with all hand tools.
First start by jacking up one side and securing it on a jack stand and then move the jack back to the frame as a safety precaution. You could jack up the whole front end but if you are using hand tools you are going to use quite a bit of force. Once the rig is up in the air start by removing the tierod.

Next disconnect the upper A-arm from the knuckle

Next disconnect the shock mount from the lower A-arm. This is where you need some big sockets. 1-1/16 and 1-3/16 will work.

Disconnect the sway bar

And finally remove the 3 nuts on top of the shock tower and the assembly should drop out, if not wiggle it a little bit.

Install the spacer. If you have a 2 piece daystar kit there is a little more work involved using spring compressors.

Put the shock assembly back up and tighten up the bolts on top.

Then start connecting things in the order they came off. Sway bar, lower A-arm, and the upper A-arm is a bit of a trick and this is how I did it. You can jack the lower A-arm up a little but not too much as to lift the rig and then pry the upper A-arm(balljoint) down into the knuckle, If your crafty enough you could use a ratchet strap to help you out if you can't tighten the nut.

Hook up the tierrod and double check everything for tightness than replace the tire and do the other side. You'll notice the other side will go much faster.
The pics I'm posting are not mine but they are very clear and straightforward. This is a pretty simple task, it took me about 90minutes to install the spacers and get the rig back on the road. I would say out of this is a 4/10 on the hardness scale and can be done with all hand tools.
First start by jacking up one side and securing it on a jack stand and then move the jack back to the frame as a safety precaution. You could jack up the whole front end but if you are using hand tools you are going to use quite a bit of force. Once the rig is up in the air start by removing the tierod.

Next disconnect the upper A-arm from the knuckle

Next disconnect the shock mount from the lower A-arm. This is where you need some big sockets. 1-1/16 and 1-3/16 will work.

Disconnect the sway bar

And finally remove the 3 nuts on top of the shock tower and the assembly should drop out, if not wiggle it a little bit.

Install the spacer. If you have a 2 piece daystar kit there is a little more work involved using spring compressors.

Put the shock assembly back up and tighten up the bolts on top.

Then start connecting things in the order they came off. Sway bar, lower A-arm, and the upper A-arm is a bit of a trick and this is how I did it. You can jack the lower A-arm up a little but not too much as to lift the rig and then pry the upper A-arm(balljoint) down into the knuckle, If your crafty enough you could use a ratchet strap to help you out if you can't tighten the nut.

Hook up the tierrod and double check everything for tightness than replace the tire and do the other side. You'll notice the other side will go much faster.
The directions for mine say you only have to disconnect the outer tie rod end, and then the 3 nuts on top of the strut and the lower bolt on the strut. will the strut not come out if i don't disconnect the ball joints?
It will, you just have to fanagle it out of that spot then. Disconnecting the Upper A-arm is just to drop all the "junk" out of your way.
Thanks for all the help. I put it on today and looks good. If you don't disconnect the upper ball joint from the a-arm i don't think you would be able to get the strut assembly back in. now i got to get the truck aligned, steering wheel is off a little to the right, but happy i did it.


