Would u suggest a coil compressor?

 

For 3" no, not even for 4.5. I have the Rubicon Express 3.5 Super Ride coils/leafs which i have read nets around 4-4.5. i was able to squeeze my new coils in there.

my procedure for getting the coil spring was.

1. Remove brake caliper to get it out of the way so you dont extend the brake
line.
2. Remove shock
3. Remove lower control arm. (if you arent replacing these, then take out
front bolt at axle and loosen rear to drop arm down)
4. Remove sway bar links from both sides
5. Jack up axle side you are not trying to get the new coil in, this will angle
other side way down.
6. pushed down the side that the coil is going in with my foot to get the extra
clearance i needed to put the new coil in.

Also make sure you have a jack under the axle to support the side you have all disconnected, then you can lower it and raise it to where you need.

I dont think i missed anything here and this was what worked for me.

 

Do I actually have to remove the sway bar for the front? Or can the lift be installed leaving it alone?

 

no you dont need to remove the sway bar. you just want to take that top nut off, like 18mm. Id soak it in PB though, as well as everything else... several times. But anyway, get that bolt out, and either replace the bushing while you are there, or get longer sway bar links. I cant remember every thing in this thread or what kit you are going with or how you are doing things, but i think you can get away without longer sway links or the sway bar drop brackets.

you will want to loosen the lower bolt too on the sway bar link so you can spin it out of the way as you are jacking up/lowering axle sides.

 

For a 3 inch you should be able to leave the axel connected to the sway bar, but if you have to, you can disconnect the sway bar link so the axel is no longer connected to the sway bar.

 

when i say top nut, of i mean of the sway bar link.

 

My kit didn't come with anything to deal with the sway bar...so you say just drop it from the unibody?

 

Edit: never mind

 

ok, in this pic is the stock sway bar link, the top connects to the sway bar, and the bottom to the axle/hub.

at #1 there is a nut, 18mm I believe. you will want to just remove that nut, make sure the axle weight is supported.

at #2 there is a nut, loosen that one.

then you can lower the axle, get that upper sway link off the sway bar, and then you can rotate the link out of the way so you can then jack the axle up higher without the sway bar pushing back on it.

 

Thanks man, from what I'm hearing we are supposed to get a huge part of tropical storm lee...7-10 inches of rain in 36 hours...lift may have to wait till tuesday

 

Ok...I'm wanting to get some work done today...can I install the new shocks without putting in the new coils?

 

That will make it very hard to install the coils

 

What if I use a compressor for the coils?

 

Just rent a coil spring compressor. It makes 3" coils a breeze.. Some say they are dangerous but with a 3" you don't have to compress alot and there isn't THAT much pressure.

1. Unbolt your sway bar and ziptie it out of the way for now.
2. Take your old shocks out
3. Unbolt coil spring retainer (holds spring down)
4. Compress stock coil springs and remove
5. Compress new coil springs and install
6. Put in new shocks
7. Bolt sway bar back on

Do this to both sides at the same time so the axle can sit as low as possible, but with this method you dont have to unbolt LCA, brakes, ect.
You can rent them at autozone for $50 and they give it back when you bring them back. The whole process took less than 2 hours for the entire front suspension.

 

I will get the compressor after work today, do I have to mess with the sway bar or can I get away with leaving it in?