Never done this, but try jacking up on the axle sway bar mount maybe? If not then I guess just try to drop the axle all the way down idk.

 

first off, take of the driveshaft before you wreck it.

next, take off your trackbar. this should be one of the last things you put on. to help rotate the axle into position, place the jack on one of the axle swaybar mounts.

it might be wise to take off the steering too. the least amount of things connected, the easier it is to move the axle.

 

Ok I got the majority of the hard part done. I hope there was no damage to the shaft. I dropped the axle all the way down and it squared away. Managed to get the other coil in. Now just the arms!!! what's the best way to get the axle forward enough to bolt up these lcas?

 

Will a Come-a-Long or a Ratcheting Strap work ?

 

That's a good question, idk Haha. Hoping someone thats done it before will chime in. I just need to know how to get the new lcas bolted up. What side should bolt up first?? How should I get the axle far enough forward?

 

Well having installed a few axles myself alone I have used a ratcheting strap to get things aligned, be it trackbar, control arm, or what have you.

Not being there I am not exactly sure what you have attached and not to give a for certain answer.

 

What do you attach the strap to?

 

Do one side a time and just wrap it around the axle then attach it to a tree or another car or something. Or at least that's how I put in my lcas.

 

I still havent gotten the lower arms in. The pumpkin is tilted forward again. and the axle is not parallel with the rear axle. I have a small ratchet strap but nothing to ratchet it to, the jeep is in my garage, im afraid if i try to attach it to another vehicle and pull the axle forward ill pull the jeep off the jack stands. Ive gotta get this thing back on the road. Ive tried everything I know to get the axle pushed forward enough to get the arms in with zero luck. Im hoping I havent messed anything else up in the process of trying like my steering. This really sucks.

 

I set my jack just left of the pumpkin so it lifted evenly. Got to a close enough point of where my LCA's where about lined up then used a pry bar to persuade each side in. Here's a picture of when I was taking the lift off my old XJ for my new one. Hope it helps.

 

Hook it to anything on the jeep that will not bend, a bumper, a hole in the frame, there is always something to hook it too..... I do agree not to hook it to something off the jeep as it may pull it off the stands (I thought that when I read the previous comment) you might have to use multiple straps, beg a few friends to come by and use a 2x4 as a pry bar, or the jack handle, Use the Jack to push the pinion up..... Maybe take the springs out and put the control arms on.... then work the springs in (maybe releasing control arm one bolt at a time).... try different methods if one is not working for you.

Guys who do it all the time have more and better tools suited for the task (multiple jacks, jack stands, big pry bars, etc), guys who don't wing it.....these things come down to being a learning experience.... most of us just figure it out as we go.... we have all been there !!!!!!

Honestly while putting my last front axle in alone, I remember a strap being in one location, one leg jacking up on the jack handle, one leg pushing one direction, a big pry bar in one hand, and all while trying to feed a bolt in with the other hand.... and a big feeling of relief when I got that first bolt in and the next bolt only require 3 of my 4 limbs and my body not twisted up with a pretzel.

McGuyver IT !!!! Most of us won't have the answer because we all winged it as we went and not there to see the options you have.

 

Ive tried to use the bumper and part of the frame as a point of anchor to pull the axle but I dont have the strength to pull the axle forward with with the ratchet strap. I think if I hook it up to my car and slowly pull it forward get out and check stuff ill be alright. Im pretty careful about these things. My axle isnt dropped to the ground right now is that ok? Im thinking putting the floor jack in the middle of the axle, hooking a strap through the sway bar mount hooking it to the chasis of my car and slowly backing the car away from the jeep...pulling the axle back with it till I can line up the holes in the arms.

 

I think pulling it with your car is a REAL BAD IDEA !!!!!!

Maybe using a prybar to get more torque on the rachet strap handle or something different like using a big 2x4 to pry is a better plan.

I did a front axle on a 95 Cherokee last week (a 2 wheel to 4 wheel conversion) and we were able to stuff 4" springs in and I thought we had both the control arms on (everything else unattached), We jacked one side up and used a big pry bar to pull the other side down, put the top of the spring in, made sure the spring retaining clip was out at the bottom, and slipped the bottom in, the put the clip in. It was hard but possible.

Just my 2 cents

Bryan

 

I dont think its possible to pull that axle forward without some type of motorized contraption...man strength isn't enough

 

What? I used a ratchet strap to my bumper, it was easy. Try a little harder and don't get so worked up. Just relax and think about mechanical advantage...