3" lift/strut install issue

[Khoranic]

So im finally getting to installing my new bilstein struts/shocks as well as MarksMC's 3" lift. Im running into a problem with the struts not being long enough? it seems like the struts out of the box are compressed but can't seem to get them to uncompress. When i put the compressed spring on i dont have enough shaft left to start the center nut on top of the 3" lift spacer. Has anyone ran into this problem? any ideas? thanks!

[maricard]

Which shock part number did you get?

[Khoranic]

the part number is 24-103336 (F4-BE5-A333-H0), it was the one that was on backorder forever at beginning of the year. ordered from shockwarehouse

[Khoranic]

I was thinking maybe im going to have to use two sets of spring compressors to get the spring compressed more? right now im using a hydraulic wall mounted shop spring compressor

[Eredin]

You have to do some major compression on the springs to get that nut threaded, although I figured your wall mount would be plenty. Doing the hand compressors gets scary at the compression you end up having to go. Just make sure they're a good set.

[Khoranic]

Hmm okay, it was late lastnight when i was starting so i may not have grabbed high enough on the spring maybe. ill give the wall mount another go and see if i can get it. i figured id check here to see if there was a trick to it or not. Thanks for the info.

[HeavyChevy4200]

You really have to compress the spring a ton to get the lift on.

[Khoranic]

Got it done last night. So the biggest issue was, surprisingly the hydraulic shop spring compressor couldn't compress it enough. I used my set of manual compressors and it did the job. Granted the spring compressors were starting to bow out at the point i needed, got a little sketchy haha. thanks for the help!

[HARDTRAILZ]

It is pretty nerve racking honestly. Lots of energy ready to blow.

[Khoranic]

So the lift is fully on the truck, and should be putting my wheels/tires on tonight. The driver side front and rear is approx 13/16" higher then the passenger side front and rear. I didn't take any pre-lift measurements so I'm not sure if this is how it was prior. Is this normal to be between sides? Any idea on why this would be if not?

[HARDTRAILZ]

See how it settles

[v7guy]

Kyle is right, it'll settle some over the time you drive it, both pass and driver. If you're using your stock 85 springs it's not bad at all to compress em. The 89s are really scary to compress lol

Having the drivers side a lil higher isn't necessarily bad either as it'll compress some from the driver in the seat... in fact a lot of guys toss in a couple hundred lbs of weight in the drivers seat when they level out a car. Nearly an inch sounds pretty extreme, but it'll change a good bit as they settle.

With that said, I haven't seen any vehicle that was totally square and level without coilovers.


If you didn't add washers to the shock to give yourself a little more length I would encourage it. Especially if you are going to be taking them out. You'll still top out but it'll mitigate it a bit.

[Khoranic]

I think I have stock springs, not real sure if they've ever been changed. They were a pain to compress though. One more question I can't seem to find anywhere. Put my adapters and wheels/tires on and the passenger rear sticks out past truck more then the driver side. Seems as if the axle isnt centered on the truck. Is this normal? Would I fix it by using an adjustable Panhard bar?

[v7guy]

It is normal, and yes, an adjustable panhard rod will center it.