** PING ** Scrambler013

[Chainstretcher]

As soon as my stuff arrives (7 to 10 working days) I'll be adding a Trailmaster suspension lift to my TJ. Since you are fresh from the battle (and had to do it mostly by yourself) how about a blow by blow of how you did it. Any problems encountered would really help. I'm in the process of making a spring compressor at work so hopefully that part will be easy.

Thanks,
gregg

[LeadFoot]

Are you doing the Trailmaster 2" BB or the 4" kit with longer coils?

[Chainstretcher]

The 2" lift kit. Mostly used for commuting, except when riding the Busa, so I figured 2" ought to be enough.

[scrambler013]

Very easy. The spring compresser will help but not needed.
Raise the front end. It is the harder one to do so I did it first. Set the frame on Jack stands as high as you can. TJ's have a lot of axle droop. Remove the tires. Lower the axle but keep it up a little to take stress off of the shocks. Remove the swaybar links. Just the Torx bolt, it is T55. Then remove the shocks. The top nut can be hard to take off so be prepared to torch it off. I didn't have a torch so I spent about 45 min trying to get them off, with success and vise grips to hold the top. There is also a clip on the driver side that has to come off. It is near the shock bolts. Let the axle hang, be carefull not to stretch the brake hoses. The springs should come out easy. Just pry on the bottom with a prybar and they will come out. Just be carefull if they go flying, mine didn't but just a point of caution. Once they are both out, put the jack under one side of the axle. raise it up a little, this will drop the other side. Put the spring in smallest diameter to the top. Push down and it will help geting the spring in. Do this on both sides. Then lift the axle and install the shocks, retainer clip and sway bar links. put the tires back on and set it down.
The back is really easy. Follow the first few steps, raise, remove tires, then remove the sway bar links, just the lower bolt. Then lift the axle to take stress off of the shocks, remove them. The upper mounts are kinda tough, you need an extension I think they are 13mm, the nuts are attached to the frame. Lower the axle and pry the springs out. Then put the new ones in. Lifting on the opposite side from where you are will help get them in. Once they are in put the new shocks in. Here is a hint: The new shocks need a special mount on the top, to get in in take the rubber bushing out then put the mount in, it should be in with the lift mine was. Then coat the bushing with WD40 or something like it, use a socket that fits over the mount and sits on the bushing a whack it in with a hammer. That is how I did it. Then re-install the sway bar links, put the tires on and lower it. There you just installed a 2" suspension lift. It sounds complicated, but it isn't. Air tools will make it a little easier, but the only thing I used air for was pulling the tires. It took me about 5 hours to complete. I hope that helps. Any other questions, feel free to ask.

[Chainstretcher]

Excellent description my friend! Thanks. I think I'll start spraying WD40 on some of the bolts that you said were tough whilst waiting for my stuff to get here.

Thanks again,
gregg

[atwrangler]

Sounds like quite a project. Hope you like the Trail Master kit. I have one on my YJ.

[LeadFoot]

Are you always the dullest tool in the shed? The thread is over two years old. I would hope that would be long enough to put a simple lift on. :poke1:

[RollinBigFoSho]

he probably had the lift on, taken off, and the jeep sold by now...and is driving a honda. :slap: