Rough Country 2.5" Leveling Kit

[Mustang2Ranger]

I know some of this has been discussed but I’m gonna ask this as maybe there have been others that have done the install themselves recently that can offer information.
I’m installing the RC kit this weekend. I’m going to remove the axle nut.
- help me understand after removing the axle nut what to do. Does the axle just slide back through the hub?
- after the strut install, do you just slide the axle back through
Might be a basic question but I like to know ahead of time what I’m getting into.
Thanks.

Would not recommend removing axle nut. Installation can be done without and removing only opens up chance for more problems

I left the studs in the shock and between the weight of myself and friend we were able to move the LCA down far enough to reinstall. Slight deviation from instructions supplied and saved time

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[apotocki]

Would not recommend removing axle nut. Installation can be done without and removing only opens up chance for more problems

I left the studs in the shock and between the weight of myself and friend we were able to move the LCA down far enough to reinstall. Slight deviation from instructions supplied and saved time

Ugh. Remove the nut, don’t remove the nut. I’m confused!!! And the more I read and think about this the more paranoid I get.
What are the issues in removing the axle nut?

 

[mursegeorge]

Ugh. Remove the nut, don’t remove the nut. I’m confused!!! And the more I read and think about this the more paranoid I get.
What are the issues in removing the axle nut?

Don't remove the axle nut , it just adds more work. What you need is a good vise. You need a good vise to hold the horizontal bar the bottonm strut studs are pressed in. Read and follow the rough country instructions. The saids put it in a vise and knock the std out. I read this and stopped everything went to home depot and bought a vise. I installed it on my work bench and used it to securely hold the bar (lower portion of the strut the studs are pressed in). When you have it held securely in a vise those big ass studs are easy to know out. Remember to thread the nut on and hit that so you don't damage the threads.

Now another bit of controversy is the use loc-tite or to buy new nylon/ nuts. Personally I used loc-tite but I may still end up ordering the nylon/nuts. Its a safety thing that keeps worrying me. I don't want to get hurt or wreck my new baby.

 

[apotocki]

Ok. Another vote to not removing the axle nut - I have the socket and impact gun so it shouldn’t be an issue.....
Why should I not remove it??? Not arguing just trying to understand why removing it will cause issues
It was my understanding that removing it is a good safeguard against having CV issues.
Thanks!

 

[Mustang2Ranger]

Ok. Another vote to not removing the axle nut - I have the socket and impact gun so it shouldn’t be an issue.....
Why should I not remove it??? Not arguing just trying to understand why removing it will cause issues
It was my understanding that removing it is a good safeguard against having CV issues.
Thanks!

It is the other way around, removing the nut will be more chance of CV issue

Also would recommend purchasing two new Nylok nuts for the steering arm. Part # is listed earlier in the thread I believe. Cheap insurance

 

[Onlyone]

Ok. Another vote to not removing the axle nut - I have the socket and impact gun so it shouldn’t be an issue.....
Why should I not remove it??? Not arguing just trying to understand why removing it will cause issues
It was my understanding that removing it is a good safeguard against having CV issues.
Thanks!

If you have an air chisel, remove the nut. It‘s definitely safer than trying to pry down on the control arm. If you don’t, go by way of the vise. You don’t want to try and beat on the axle. You want a chisel end that fits inside of the axle hole. You’ll fight it without the air tools if you remove the axle nut.

 

[apotocki]

If you have an air chisel, remove the nut. It‘s definitely safer than trying to pry down on the control arm. If you don’t, go by way of the vise. You don’t want to try and beat on the axle. You want a chisel end that fits inside of the axle hole. You’ll fight it without the air tools if you remove the axle nut.

Ok. So it sounds like the axle isnt going to release easily once the axle nut is removed....I was thinking/hoping it would. I don’t have an air chisel/hammer so wondering if I left the old nut screwed on a bit and used a big hammer - would be an option.(?)
I think the bottom line is I’ll just have take things apart on one side and see what I’m up against.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Ok. So it sounds like the axle isnt going to release easily once the axle nut is removed....I was thinking/hoping it would. I don’t have an air chisel/hammer so wondering if I left the old nut screwed on a bit and used a big hammer - would be an option.(?)
I think the bottom line is I’ll just have take things apart on one side and see what I’m up against.

Hi Alan,

If you use a BFH....put a block of hardwood between the hammer and the nut. Never good to use a BFH on another piece of metal that you wish to reuse or is threaded onto something you do not wish to damage the threads.

A bit of a back story, Here I am a bright new Ford Graduate Trainee on my first day on the job at Light Truck Engineering back in January 2 1973. My first assignment. I have a desk and chair and an empty 4 drawer file cabinet. My boss directs me to go to Vehicle Control...no idea where that was and get a pool truck and drive to the Experimental Garage and go to the DM crib and get my tools. ???? Well....ask where Vehicle Control is and told in the basement at the other end of the building. Okay...got the keys to a pool truck ...Where is this truck...learn that there is a row of trucks in the parking lot dedicated to the Pool fleet. I have a T number which is on the windshield middle top...Okay...all the trucks are snow covered...WTF...finally determine the keys have a license tag number so after combing the lot I located the Pool vehicle...unlocked and cleaned off the snow with the brush a fellow deskmate loaned me. Now to head to the X Garage....where is the entrance?...finally found this and inside the test track, I parked in a slot that I found and entered this giant garage. I asked a mechanic working on a Crown Vic where the DM crib was...He asked me if I was a Trucker...I said yep...He told me to go to the other aisle and to the other end of the building to the Light Truck area. So following directions I ended up at the DM crib. I approached the window and explained I was a new hire and needed a tool kit. The guy asked me if I drove a truck over to the garage...I said yep he told me to bring the truck into the garage...after stopping at the shower to wash the snow off the truck. No idea where or how but asked and realized that the other end of the building way down there was a shower for the trucks...so once that was done...arrived at the DM crib and this fork lift was sitting there with this huge box on its forks....I dropped the tailgate and this guy loaded this huge box into the bed. WTF???? So I left the DM crib completely puzzled by this box which was quite heavy. Back to my desk, I asked my boss what do do with the box. He said to open it up and start hauling the contents up to the file cabinet...OMG! About a dozen trips I had enough tools to dismantle a Class 8 Semi Tractor. This was exactly what was the intent of this tool kit. Sheesh...puzzled but now the file cabinet was fully loaded with these tools...Sockets to about 2½". Box wrenches to the same size, Several BFHs and LFHs...and so on... Disposed of this box in a dumpster and returned the keys to Vehicle Control. Time for lunch.... After figuring out where lunch was, I asked my boss what to do with this mess of tools....He told me to take the big stuff home a bit at a time and store them. I was in an appartment with zilch storage so I stuffed the big tools under my bed. So I kept the small stuff up to 1" in the provided tool bag...thinned this down to ¾" and kept them for 30 years of my Ford career. When I retired, I went to return these tools to the DM crib...the guy just laughed... "We wrote these tools off years ago...just keep them, and to this day I still have them. Since I have a Diesel Pusher Rv, the bigger stuff is handy on rare occasion, but every time I grab a huge wrench or such I am reminded of my first day on the job, scared shitless greenhorn!



Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[Onlyone]

Ok. So it sounds like the axle isnt going to release easily once the axle nut is removed....I was thinking/hoping it would. I don’t have an air chisel/hammer so wondering if I left the old nut screwed on a bit and used a big hammer - would be an option.(?)
I think the bottom line is I’ll just have take things apart on one side and see what I’m up against.

If you have the new nut, you can do as @P. A. Schilke says. Loosen the nut past the axle surface and use some hardwood and try to tap it out.

 

[apotocki]

Thank you all for the advice/information. I’ll let you know how it goes.
And as an aside - Phil - not sure how you remember all these back stories! They are great! Thank you.

 

[apotocki]

Ok. Success. RC 2.5 is installed....not without a bit of CV drama though. Even with removing the axle nut and freeing up the axle it still came out on the drivers side for both removal and reinstall......both times took 15-20 minutes to finally pop it back in....I was actually a bit worried during the reinstall.
This is a tough job for one person and I would recommend having a buddy help out if you are doing it.
I changed from a ReadyLift 2 inch kit - which I did by removing the LCA’s - that only gave me 1.5 inches. This RC gave me a true 2.5 inches and I am within 1/4 of level. Much happier with it. Still gotta get and alignment in the next week or so.

 

[Glocker]

So I've been really considering the RC 2.5 spacer but the whole thing with the front axles has me a little nervous.

 

[AzScorpion]

So I've been really considering the RC 2.5 spacer but the whole thing with the front axles has me a little nervous.

I had my local Brakes Plus do the install and it was $176.00 which included the alignment. I was lucky because one of my supply managers has had a lot of work done there on his Jeep and there's also a couple off road guys who work there. As I've got older some things just aren't as fun anymore and this was one of them. It wasn't worth my time or aggravation for that price.

 

[Glocker]

I had my local Brakes Plus do the install and it was $176.00 which included the alignment. I was lucky because one of my supply managers has had a lot of work done there on his Jeep and there's also a couple off road guys who work there. As I've got older some things just aren't as fun anymore and this was one of them. It wasn't worth my time or aggravation for that price.

Not going to be an option for me. ?
I'm on a shoestring budget for mods. LOL

 

[Bluebeastsrt]

I just installed the 2.5 kit. And yep the CV came apart while dropping the a-arm to get the shock out of place. My advice pay someone.

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