I am looking to add the Ball Joint spacers, but I don’t know how to go about removing the studs. Instructions say to “Remove the original ball joint hardware. Knock the studs out of the joint with a small hammer.” Is this how you did it? If NOT then how…

How did you remove the studs out of the ball joint?
Was the ball joints still on the vehicle or where they off?
If you where to do it twice how would you do it?

 

yeah what i did was just take some vice clamps and hold the ball joint and take a hammer to the studs after i had soaked the studs with PB blaster. it was pretty easy, but it might be a lot harder for somebody who lives in the rust belt.

 

One method that works is to use a floor jack to push, or hold the joint against the underside of the UCA where it mounts and tap them out. Basically, the UCA becomes sort of a brace and the floor jack gives you support. I have had it where they almost came out by hand to where I had to tap them a few times good with a hammer, but they are just a light press fit so unless rusted, come out easily.

Frank

 

Well they are in... the BJ spacers where easier to install than the OME Shocks... After you did all the cutting... I soaked them in PB Blaster... and drop a 2Lb hammer on the studs, they came out with ease...

The BJ spacers gave me about 2" of lift... I measured from the ground to the bottom of the body, on that lip.
BEFORE LIFT:
DF: 20" --- PF: 20"
DR: 19.5" --- PR: 19"

AFTER LIFT:
DF: 22.25" --- PF: 22"
DR: 22.25" --- PR: 22"

Did anyone else report 2" of lift? I don't know if the numbers are going to change once I get an alignment done... but IF the front is lower by a tad, it'll be all right b/c the rear hasn't settled yet.

 

So for those of you who have added BJ spacers to the front what have you done to raise up the rear? I know cruiser coils are an option but what else?

I currently have Downey heavy duty coils in the rear which took out the sag from the stock rear springs nicely. Now I want to add the BJ spacers to the front but I'm afraid this will make the truck look like it has a "sagging butt" again.

 

Guess I should have more closely read this before I replied.

Elripster,
Is it normal for the rear of the truck to raise up after adding the BJ spacers as noted by WVUVIV30?

WVUVIV30,
How much do you expect the rear to settle? Hopefully not back down to less than 20" .

 

The back of mine is just slightly lower than the front with bj spacers. Later when I have money for new tires I will go up t0 33's and may add some sort of spacer on top of my Downey HD coils-we will see.

 

Marc,

Thanks for the info. I was afraid the rear would be lower again with the BJ spacers up front.

Nice wheelin' pics ya got. What happened to the pictures of you running the hammers?!?! Man I miss spending time in the Anza Borrego area! Since I left LA, I haven't found even remotely close to it..that is until I saw the rocks at Paragon a few weeks ago. Still, there is nothing quite like the thrill of racing four or five of your freinds in their trucks down a sandy wash at 60+...well maybe it wasn't that fast but it certainly was fun!

Bill

 

I think he also put on OME springs at the same time?

 

Got tired trying to pound 'em out w/ my BFH and so I used a c-clamp and socket to press 'em out . Worked really great and wish I would've done this in the first place.