James Duff Stage one 3" lift install

Click pictures to see large version
First things first:

Tools you will need (these are just the bare necessities here)

>> A 1 & 1/8th inch box end wrench

>> A BFH (This is a Hammer in case you didn't catch that)

>> A Punch

>> A Hand Held Grinder

>> A Crescent Hammer (also know as a Crescent Wrench)

>> A Drill and 1/2 inch bit

>> 2 Jack Stands

>> A socket set and a 1 & 1/8" Deep Socket

The install

Park vehicle on a flat level surface.  Measure the height of the front 2 corners from the ground to the top of you fender wells.  Put a piece of tape on the side that is lower then the other (yes one side will most likely be lower then the other)  You will put the spring spacer provided in your kit on the lower side to correct it and level your vehicle later.  Block the rear wheels.  Jack up the front end of your rig as high as you can get it safely.  Support the vehicle with 2 Jack Stands, place them under the frame rails.  Remove the your wheels and tires.  Disconnect your Brake Calipers by driving the knock pins out then bungee them up and out of the way.  Disconnect your front sway bar and bungee out of the way.  Use a grinder, drill, punch, etc to remove all the rivets attaching your existing bracketry. (This part sucks drink em if you got them.)  I ended up using a torch wrench on 3 of the left front pivot bracket rivets.  I'm not recommending this but I couldn't get the F'ers out.  The heat from the torch could weaken your cross member because it is heat treated hardened steel like the rest of the frame.

Get all the F'n rivets out yet?  Okay good this is the easy part bolt in all the new bracketry see Duff instructions for the torque spec.  Unbolt and remove the springs and shocks.  Remember the low side we measured.  Place the spacer on the side you put tape on. You did put tape on that side right?  Screw in the Duff springs into the spring buckets.  You will want to use a piece of scrap metal here to use as a spring keeper because they have been know to fall out of the bucket when wheeling or jumping.  Could also use a small but strong strap I guess.  See picture A to see what I did.  Replace your old crappy stock shocks with the Duff ones. (You will like these 70/30 shocks I assure you)  I feel no need to explain how to reassemble everything you removed because I'm sure since you just took it off you know how to put it all back on.  Tighten everything to torque spec's and retorque everything in a couple of months.  Remove vehicle from Jack stands after you put the wheels back on of course.

Okay the rear lift is so simple you don't really need instruction but I'll briefly explain it anyways.  Block the front tires.  Lift the rear of your vehicle and support with Jack Stands on the frame rails.  Remove the rear wheels.  Disconnect rear sway bar and bungee out of the way.  Cut off or unscrew the U-bolts.  You can cut them off if you wish Duff should have supplied you with new ones.  Remove the centering bolts and the bottom leaf.  Place the Add a Leaf provided in your kit between the bottom leaf and the rest of the leafs.  If your existing leafs are real saggy you will also need to either replace them or add a 1 to 2 inch lift block too.  I had to use a 2 inch lift block too get it level again. Yes my springs are that bad.  No worries I am going to replace them with 4 inch lifted SkyJacker springs eventually.  Now your almost done.  Bolt it all back together and Drink a beer and admire your work.  Your excited aren't ya? :D  Go get that thing aligned now and go wheeling!

Special note here:  After doing any lift install it will most likely be necessary to either relocate your front brake lines or get extended ones.  I use extended ones but thanks to Tline I have included some pictures of  how and where to relocate your brake lines to.  

Author:  Brian M. Rhoades (NightKrawler)  

Pictures Provided by:  Radiator, NightKrawler, and Tline (Thanks for the pictures Rich and Chris)

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Right front Radius Arm Bracket Drop

Left front Radius Arm Bracket Drop

Left front Axle Pivot Bracket Drop

Right front Axle Pivot Bracket Drop

 

All Brackets installed

Axle installed on brackets and springs

Spring and shocks installed

Picture "A" Spring keeper
Before relocating brake lines
After relocating brake lines
After relocating brake lines

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