Installation of 1" rear coil spring spacers

[toolndie]

I recently ordered the bilstein 5100 front levelling kit for my ram, got a 1/2 price deal on installation at 4 wheel parts so total with tax, alignment, and installation is $500 canadian. I wanted a 1" rear spacer but they did not carry one so I ordered the TGC 1" spacer for $44.95 on sale. I called 4 wheel parts to get the spacers installed while i get the front done and they want $160! I could not find installation instructions on TGC's website, but I think $160 is a bit steep. anyone know where else I could get it done, or is it simple enough to do myself?

 

[Rock$tar]

Disconnect the track bar (just one end) and shocks (just bottom) and jack the truck up untill springs fall out, put the spacer on the springs, reinstall, lower truck back onto springs, hook back up the track bar and shocks.

Thats all there is too it. shop with a lift and air tools would take about an hour to install. Home in your garage, budget for 2 or 3 hours.

Typical shop rates, 160 seems reasonable for that job. They probley budgeted 1.5 hours for it and lots of shops charge 100-120$ an hour now for labor too.

 

[toolndie]

I guess it wouldn't hurt to shop around other shops too, seems like a simple install, not much to go wrong?

 

[Cruizer]

I swear I saw a write up on installing rear spacers somewhere but can't find it now. It didn't look to difficult if you have basic mechanical skills.

 

[toolndie]

I've got the skills, (Millwright by Trade) just don't have much space to do it, I just moved to Calgary and only have the street to work on it, no garage and just basic hand tools. not even a proper jack

 

[Mitchhigh]

It's basically what rockstar wrote up. A metric socket and wrench set with a jack is all you need. The back was the easiest thing I did with my leveling project. I add 1in spacers and airbags in about 3 hours. It would have been quicker if I hadnt replaced the shocks with bilsteins.

 

[Bigredexpress]

I'm going to be installing my .75 coil spacers this weekend I will take pictures and the wrenches u will need for the job

 

[toolndie]

awesome, thanks Bigredexpress

 

[Bigredexpress]

awesome, thanks Bigredexpress

Sorry for the ****y pictures from my camera phone

This is all the tools u need
23mm socket for lug nuts 21mm socket 18mm socket
19mm wrench 21mm wrench
2 jack stands
One jack


Jack up the rear end till your wheels are off the ground and u can put jack stands under for saftey




Remove the wheels


Start to unbolt the sway bar links with a 18mm socket and 19mm wrench on both side of the truck



Then the bottom bolts to the shocks with a 21mm socket and 21mm wrench



Next the top bolt of the track bar with 21mm socket and 21mm wrench



Now drop the jack all the way down
Might need to watch your brake lines and abs lines



Pull out both springs
Might need to put your foot on the axle to push down a little


Now put your spacer in
Depending on what ones u get they can go under the spring or on top



Now put the spring back in



Now jack the rear end up some to reinstalled bolts on the sway bar links and the shocks and the tech bar

Put the wheels back on

And that's it. Took me about 20-30mins

 

[Cruizer]

Thanks for the write up Bigredexpress! Always good to see what you're getting into before you get started. Didn't figure it was difficult but nice to see what it takes to complete.

 

[toolndie]

I think i'll take a shot at it, good to see the write up and the quick easy install

 

[Thor09]

Good write up, especially the pictures. That will be a huge help to the guys that haven't done it before.

 

[rwalk]

Great write up! When I get my rear spacer I think I'll try the install myself now

 

[toolndie]

A friend of mine has a bottle jack i can borrow, do you think this would drop low enough to remove the springs?

 

[Bigredexpress]

A friend of mine has a bottle jack i can borrow, do you think this would drop low enough to remove the springs?

I wouldn't recommend a bottle jack for this job

 

[toolndie]

thanks again for the writeup, install went perfectly in 45 minutes without an impact gun. I did not however have to unbolt the track bar at all