Before I get the Lift installed...

[HARDTRAILZ]

Tools....and just do it. Really not that difficult. I did my first lift at 15. Directions and buddy and a Saturday was all it took. I had no internet nor half the information you do.

[DirtyBacon04]

Where to start?....same place we all did. I asked the same questions you did right off the hop and remember getting chewed out by everyone (roadie)--lol. But I finally figured out how the search bar works and now I'm sitting up high with the rest of these guys.

Git back down, you crazy Canadian! Don' cha know?

[Mudwheelin]

Where to start?....same place we all did. I asked the same questions you did right off the hop and remember getting chewed out by everyone (roadie)--lol. But I finally figured out how the search bar works and now I'm sitting up high with the rest of these guys.

Git back down, you crazy Canadian! Don' cha know?

lol, once you go up, ya cant go back down. eh?

[DirtyBacon04]

that defies the law of gravity... and morality.
I see canada as the loft apartment thats right over a really big party...

[hobbstisdaman]

Being your 18, your money would better be spent getting out of mommy and daddys basement so you can be your own man. Harsh but the truth. its becoming the general thought in this thread your not ready for this kind off ordeal yet. I know im coming off as a dick,but someone has to.

Caleb you'll learn. I know how to work any angle on a jeep from 1998 and built one from the ground up with my dad and i'm 20. The tb is a different experience for me just because everything we do to it is hand-me-down red headed stepchild. These guys have taught me a lot just by reading their threads and asking questions, some of which are still very beginner questions. The army has taught me to get all the facts before you do shit. So at least you're doing that.

[hobbstisdaman]

Find local offroaders and cultivate a mentor. Offer to help THEM wrench on their vehicles and you learn by osmosis.

The Mentor I would have selected is some washed up, bum shoulder guy. So he's about useless... Chris.

[DirtyBacon04]

My mentor was the "bow down to" guy of the TB community... And we say his name with homage.

The Roadie

[plaen]

Tools....and just do it. Really not that difficult. I did my first lift at 15. Directions and buddy and a Saturday was all it took. I had no internet nor half the information you do.

That's really about it, go grab some sockets, a ratchet handle, and go to town, the only thing you may need to invest in is a good spring compressor, but those can be rented. My tb is the first one I've ever lifted and I've learned quite a bit from it, just take your time, and follow directions and it'll be lifted in a Saturday afternoon. And then your dad and you can take a step back and say, Damn that looks good, and take pride in what you've done, and saved a few hundred in labor, and take 20 bucks of that an offer a 6 pack of beer, if your dad enjoys a few, doesn't hurt to bribe him a little also, lol.

If you haven't done things like oil changes, or regular maintenance on the truck, you could start there. My 2 cents is, your parents seem to have the ideal that cars are this mysterious object that takes a special kind of knowledge to understand them, they really aren't, heck, half of the tb can be stripped down with a 10, 15, and 18 mm sockets. The only time you'd need anything special is when you get into clearances and tolerances in an engine/trans/diff builds. It'll be a very good learning opportunity to lift it, start with the rear and see how comfortable you and your dad are with wrenching, since its probably the easiest, if you aren't, stop and take it to the mechanic.

[The Roadie]

My mentor was the "bow down to" guy of the TB community..

Nah, you were bashing about with incredible abandon for a couple of years before you found me living in your backyard.

. And we say his name with homage.

Aw, shucks.




Something's getting deep......

[Cable810]

Caleb, have you ever seen the movie Gran Torino? (if you haven't, do so!) I hate to make comparisons, but you're a lot like Toad. I'm sure you're a bright guy, but you need some direction. You need to get your hands dirty. You need to get in trouble, then learn from it. Learn how stuff works. Take apart your mother's hairdryer and put it back together.

Does your dad not own tools? One piece of advice I was given a long time ago. If there's a tool you need... buy it. You will probably need it again. A basic tool set is an ESSENTIAL part of any man's possessions.

If I were your dad, I'd take this upon myself to create a good father son bonding exercise from this. Buy a few tools, buy the lift, read over the install manual, read over some threads here online, then go start taking stuff apart. Maybe you both will learn something. If you get stuck, it's a $60 tow down to the local mechanic's shop - at least you tried.

Havn't seen it but deffinitly will! Compare me to whovere right now I don't really care all I want to do is learn, and If I leard through a comparison I will. I have taken apart countless toys, along with some other stuff and put together tons of stuff. The toys there were no directions on how to take it apart or put it back together.

My father owns tools, a 49Peice Craftsmen Mechanic set, <30 screwdrivers, a few pliers, few hammers, a rubber mallet and a Drill with the bits and such. Thats it. Thats what my uncle allways got on me about tools you cam never have enough. Tools like guns are a Mans Pride and Joy(my opinion).

I wish you were my dad is that aera. He would rather pay the local shop to do everything. I CAN'T afford it, I have colleage to think about!!! I have the lift, i've read the directions through and through and I think I understand it. Its just I ain't gunna mess with a spring compressor. My mom could care less what I do, she is like if you mess something up you have to pay. My dad would rather have me take it in though.

That's really about it, go grab some sockets, a ratchet handle, and go to town, the only thing you may need to invest in is a good spring compressor, but those can be rented. My tb is the first one I've ever lifted and I've learned quite a bit from it, just take your time, and follow directions and it'll be lifted in a Saturday afternoon. And then your dad and you can take a step back and say, Damn that looks good, and take pride in what you've done, and saved a few hundred in labor, and take 20 bucks of that an offer a 6 pack of beer, if your dad enjoys a few, doesn't hurt to bribe him a little also, lol.

If you haven't done things like oil changes, or regular maintenance on the truck, you could start there. My 2 cents is, your parents seem to have the ideal that cars are this mysterious object that takes a special kind of knowledge to understand them, they really aren't, heck, half of the tb can be stripped down with a 10, 15, and 18 mm sockets. The only time you'd need anything special is when you get into clearances and tolerances in an engine/trans/diff builds. It'll be a very good learning opportunity to lift it, start with the rear and see how comfortable you and your dad are with wrenching, since its probably the easiest, if you aren't, stop and take it to the mechanic.

I agree wholeheartedly. My dad wont help. He has a bad back and he if lying on the ground he might mess his back up. I think thats his worry but He thinks we will need a Impact Wrench and more tools like it. Maybe he is disguising his back issue with the tools issue. Some penatrating lube, and Man Power will get the job done. If not just go and rent the tool.

Never have done an oil change. Local shop wants 20 a oil change my dad says just pay the 20 its not like your breaking the bank, I agree just during the winter months. I have taken off the inner wheel wells, front bumper, and made a CAI, I LOVED doing that stuff.


Yesterday when I got home from work sat down to eat dinner. My dad asked me if I was going to take the TB into the shop today. I said no I'm going to wait. As all good parents do he asked why. So I said with going up its more stress and BJ, TR, Wheel bearings, and End Links and if they hav't been replaced in the vehicles lifetime they need to before I lift. Oh ok did you ask and see how much they want to do it??? I said no. He brought up the one shop for the TR. I can't remember after that.

He dons't see how buying tools and still buying the parts off the internet is getting me ahead. Umm I'm learning.. I said I can get tools, jack stands, he interupts Well you need a vehicle lift, Thats how far he went. I don't think he knows where the parts(BJ, TR, Wheel bearings, and End Links)are located. Jack Stands will be plenty high enough to replace those parts. He said something to me and I responded Or if I LEARN how to do it. I proceeded to explain that the End links are just a matter of unbolting the old and bolting in with the new.



I was doing somethinking last night about what he said and such.
What if something goes wrong? I can't get this back in, I can't this or that? I don't have anyone that can show me.

[HARDTRAILZ]

I don't use impacts. They are not needed.

Show him the price of shop vs price of parts and tools. When he sees couple hundred savings he may reconsider.

[Trail X]

Well, maybe not your dad, but any friend that's willing to get a little dirty can be a lot of assistance. Granted, I've done all of my work by myself (except I needed the wife to help me remove the fuel tank... she controlled the jack while I watched it drop from under the vehicle... but that's beside the point!) so a friend isn't NEEDED, but they are helpful. Heck, I remember how much fun me and my high school friend had taking apart and cleaning the intake plenum and runners on my old SHO (not a standard type intake)... and we had no idea what we were doing. Ended up having to make a night of it because it took us so long. But that's how you learn.

You don't need a vehicle lift, nor do you need impact tools (but they do help). You do need a pickle fork or Pittman arm puller and a spring compressor... but those can be had for cheap or even rented.

You do not NEED to replace all of those items before you lift the truck. Just be ready to replace them if they go bad. Do regular checks of the suspension after you lift it, and stay on top of the maintenance.

[NC_IslandRunner]

Never have done an oil change. Local shop wants 20 a oil change.

I'd never change my own oil if I could get it done for $20, that's less than the oil and filter for our trucks!

[djthumper]

Most places don't use synthetic oil either...

[HARDTRAILZ]

I don't use synthetic...

[v7guy]

Caleb, if you take it apart and can't get something back together we're here to help. The majority of parts only go on one way. The same with any electrical connections on the truck. One plug won't fit into another nearby plug. In a lot of respects the designers made this truck fairly idiot proof.
The spring compressor isn't a big deal. It takes a lot of time cranking each side down. I would encourage a 1/2" breaker bar with a long handle to make it easier. If you keep each side somewhat close in length it'll be fine.

The craftsman tool set is a step in the right direction. See if it has the sockets mentioned in the install threads. Rent a torque wrench and a spring compressor, buy a tie rod end puller and that's about it. You don't need any fancy tools or lifts.

Your father sounds like he has no understanding of a vehicles parts and how it works,and that's fine. Not everyone is interested. If you're interested he should support you. I imagine he's reluctant because he doesn't understand what is being done. It's probably hard to convince him because even if you tell him what you need to do he still doesn't understand what you're telling him and he doesn't know enough to know if you're right.

You don't have to replace all those parts when you do the lift. Some guys get another few years out of them, and others get a few months. But you should be ready for it when it happens. Just searching for balljoint, tierod, and wheel bearings/hub will give you tons of info.

Although I don't recommend it, I probably would have taken it to a friends house and done the work. I vote for keep pushing to do it at home. Stay calm and be confident when you talk about it and keep asking for your parents support in learning new stuff like this.

[rjpoog1989]

My parents are the same way. Of course now I've given up on asking weather or not I can do things, they just come home to find the whole damn thing ripped apart. There's a lot of good info on here, just follow the directions and don't panic. I do recommend having access to a functional vehicle while doing it, that way if you need a tool or part you can run to the store and get it.

[hobbstisdaman]

The dad could be one of those "bone stock or bust" guys...

[JCrayton99]

Caleb, I just replaced Upper, Lower control arms, sway bar bushings and end links, installed the lift and shocks, have done a dozen or so oil changes, changed tires, built intakes, done plugs and wires, cleaned TB, changed my thermostat, and who knows what else, and have never had anything more than a parking space in a lot and hand tools. Get a floor jack and jack stands, sockets, ratchet, breaker bar, wrenches, a big crescent wrench and a hammer. Rent any specialty tools (spring compressor, ball joint kit, etc) and pick a weekend with nice weather and start working. If you hit a snag, there isnt a single person here that wont help you if you need it. Too many people now a days dont know how to/too intimadated to turn a wrench and its a shame.

[Cable810]

The dad could be one of those "bone stock or bust" guys...

He had a 70 something camaro and he did do some stuff to it. I remember he saying that he put headers on it.

Too many people now a days dont know how to/too intimadated to turn a wrench and its a shame.

Yea I agree I DO NOT want to be one of them.

Here is where I'm stuck. Lets say this: I have 500 bucks, I decide to spend 200 on tools, pocket the rest. On the other hand I buy the BJs and TRs have the shop install the BJ, TR for a total of 400. I dont see how I'm getting ahead.

Thats where its hard for me to decide. Its hard for me to try and explain this way vs have a conversation.