Frank Powers
Member
I've seen the videos of people installing the McGauphy's and Maxtrac 2" drop shackles on youtube and pulling the tires and using jack stands and all that. This morning I decided to put a set on my truck, an 04 QC, and decided to try a short cut. Below is the step by step procedure as I did mine.
I chocked the front tires, removed the nut from the bottom bolt, loosened the top nut so when free the shackle wasn't in a bind, then had my brother jack up the rear with a floor jack under the hitch, very slowly till I could remove the bottom bolt by hand, then removed the top bolt, then the stock shackle. I then installed the new shackle with the top bolt, leaving it loose, then slowly lowered the jack until I could slip in the bottom bolt by hand, then installed the nut on it, also leaving it loose. I then went to the other side and did the same process and the whole time I left the tires on. No need for jack stands with the tires on right? I then lowered it to the ground and removed the floor jack, and tightened all 4 bolts.
This whole process took maybe 40 minutes.
I used a T55 torx wrench, a 13/16 combination wrench, and a 13/16 ratchet. (A breaker bar may be necessary for some but I didn't need it for mine.) This is much easier than all the business with jack stands and removing tires. etc,,,
Hope it helps some of you guys,,,,,,,,,,,
I chocked the front tires, removed the nut from the bottom bolt, loosened the top nut so when free the shackle wasn't in a bind, then had my brother jack up the rear with a floor jack under the hitch, very slowly till I could remove the bottom bolt by hand, then removed the top bolt, then the stock shackle. I then installed the new shackle with the top bolt, leaving it loose, then slowly lowered the jack until I could slip in the bottom bolt by hand, then installed the nut on it, also leaving it loose. I then went to the other side and did the same process and the whole time I left the tires on. No need for jack stands with the tires on right? I then lowered it to the ground and removed the floor jack, and tightened all 4 bolts.
This whole process took maybe 40 minutes.
I used a T55 torx wrench, a 13/16 combination wrench, and a 13/16 ratchet. (A breaker bar may be necessary for some but I didn't need it for mine.) This is much easier than all the business with jack stands and removing tires. etc,,,
Hope it helps some of you guys,,,,,,,,,,,
