AAL install instructions

[rrdstarr]

ChuckH and I have done quite a few of these over the past few months and here is our procedure.

1. Lift the truck by the frame, just forward of where the spring connects to the frame, so the tire clears the ground and remove the tire. the spring eyebolt is where you want to place the jackstand. Let the truck down onto the jackstand.
2. Now disconnect the the shock at the spring plate, 17mm socket. Then undo the 4 nuts for the U-bolts, 17mm socket. Remove the U-bolts and spring plate.
3. Now lift the axle off the spring pack with the floor jack. You should see the centerbolt and be able to grab it with the vise-grips. Clamp the leafs together with two C-clamps, excluding the load leaf. 14mm socket on the centerbolt. Remove the load leaf.
4. Grease up the AAL(s). Install new longer center bolt if neccesary. Install AAL(s) and use more C-clamps to squeeze the pack together so you can tighten down the center bolt. Make sure you have the longer ends of the leafs to the front. Tighten center bolt! Remove the C-clamps.
5. Now you can lower the axle onto the spring pack. This is the fun part! The axle will move fore and aft and the spring pack will move left and right. Usually it takes two strong and patient people!!! Line it up so the center bolt falls into the hole in the axle. Release the pressure of the floor jack so the axle sits on the springs. But keep the jack there.
6. Now that axle is resting on the spring, on the center bolt, place the U-bolts back in position and the spring perch and tighten all 4 nuts equally, 72 - 80 ft lbs. Reattch the shock!
7. Try to reinstall the tire. If it's to low raise the axle with the floor jack. Lower the axle and tire. Remove the jack entirely.
8. Now you have to remove the jackstand the is sitting on the spring eyebolt. Torque your lug nuts to 85 -105 ft lbs.
9. Done.........Now do the other side!