So I've slowly been acquiring all the parts to do a level with Bilsteins. Last week I installed the rear Bilsteins and a TGC 1.5" rear spacer. Everything went smoothly, knocked out both sides in about an hour and a half. I moved on and removed the front struts and UCA's but I couldn't install the new ones because I was waiting for my Mevotech UCA's to come in.
Fast forward to today, I have everything I need, or so I think. I go to remove the strut top nut on the right strut, it starts coming off using an impact gun and then it siezes and gets stuck. I soaked the damn thing in PB blaster prior and used heat, no luck. So I'm trying to hold the nut with a wrench and turning the strut shaft with a socket, ain't working, just stripping the nut. So I decided to do this, which ended up working no problem, the inner diameter is just large enough to get a socket thru to hold the shaft.
So I had a solid hour just messing with that strut. I can't believe how crappy the hardware is on this truck. My truck is 2 years old with 9k miles and most of the hardware is totally rusted to **** already. My frustration level is a 3....
Now I move to the other side, I'm cautious because of what I just had happen on the other side. This side is ****** too, the hex head on the shaft decided to snap off while I was turning it out by hand. So I welded this socket cap screw on, that snapped in half, I welded a 3/8 grade 8 bolt on, also snapped in half. So then I hit frustration level 7 and broke out the Sawzall.
So I finish up and put it all back together and I decide to grab my wheels and put them on.
They are Mamba M16's 18x9 +19, tires are Mickey Thompson ATZ's 305/70R18, they measure out at 34.7" X 12.4". I put one wheel on and notice the tire is hitting the UCA.
No problem, I bought a set of 1" BORA spacers in preparation if that happened.
I grab my spacers and try to put them on. These MOFOs at Motorsports Tech dropped the ball. I specifically ordered the lugs to hold the spacers to my truck for 1" spacers in 14 X 1.5" they sent me the ones for 2" spacers which are wayyy too long. Frustration level 150! I haven't had such a difficult time working on a vehicle in my entire life. I'm very disappointed in Motorsports Tech. I had a hard time getting someone on the phone when I first called to order. Then the guy told me they were busy that he'd email me an invoice and I can PayPal them. Two days passed, no email. I called, sorry we forgot, ok no problem. I pay on a Wednesday. Monday comes, still no tracking #. I call back, ohh yeah we are busy it hasn't shipped yet. Dude I ordered 20 lug nuts, how hard is it to ship it? Then they send the wrong ones..... Anyway, this is what the wheel looks like resting next to the truck.....LOL
Fast forward to today, I have everything I need, or so I think. I go to remove the strut top nut on the right strut, it starts coming off using an impact gun and then it siezes and gets stuck. I soaked the damn thing in PB blaster prior and used heat, no luck. So I'm trying to hold the nut with a wrench and turning the strut shaft with a socket, ain't working, just stripping the nut. So I decided to do this, which ended up working no problem, the inner diameter is just large enough to get a socket thru to hold the shaft.
So I had a solid hour just messing with that strut. I can't believe how crappy the hardware is on this truck. My truck is 2 years old with 9k miles and most of the hardware is totally rusted to **** already. My frustration level is a 3....
Now I move to the other side, I'm cautious because of what I just had happen on the other side. This side is ****** too, the hex head on the shaft decided to snap off while I was turning it out by hand. So I welded this socket cap screw on, that snapped in half, I welded a 3/8 grade 8 bolt on, also snapped in half. So then I hit frustration level 7 and broke out the Sawzall.
So I finish up and put it all back together and I decide to grab my wheels and put them on.
They are Mamba M16's 18x9 +19, tires are Mickey Thompson ATZ's 305/70R18, they measure out at 34.7" X 12.4". I put one wheel on and notice the tire is hitting the UCA.
No problem, I bought a set of 1" BORA spacers in preparation if that happened.
I grab my spacers and try to put them on. These MOFOs at Motorsports Tech dropped the ball. I specifically ordered the lugs to hold the spacers to my truck for 1" spacers in 14 X 1.5" they sent me the ones for 2" spacers which are wayyy too long. Frustration level 150! I haven't had such a difficult time working on a vehicle in my entire life. I'm very disappointed in Motorsports Tech. I had a hard time getting someone on the phone when I first called to order. Then the guy told me they were busy that he'd email me an invoice and I can PayPal them. Two days passed, no email. I called, sorry we forgot, ok no problem. I pay on a Wednesday. Monday comes, still no tracking #. I call back, ohh yeah we are busy it hasn't shipped yet. Dude I ordered 20 lug nuts, how hard is it to ship it? Then they send the wrong ones..... Anyway, this is what the wheel looks like resting next to the truck.....LOL