Dean's '11 Crew Cab Budget Build

Quick update:
The upper strut spacers are going on tomorrow, which should eliminate some rub issues I'm having with the wheel spacers. The wheel spacers are going to come off tomorrow as well, but they will go back on after it gets aligned on Friday. Getting an exhaust code checked out as well, but once it gets cleared up I'll at least be dumping it over the axle to get rid of the ugly tailpipe.
 
That's what I did too. I can deal with the ever so slight probably not even noticeable difference in alignment


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Well I called and they said they could do it with them, just couldn't guarantee it, so I may just leave them on so I don't have to fool with them any more than I have to.
 
Well, strut spacer install last night didn't go very well considering they are still sitting in my garage, lol. I mounted the top spacer to the strut but couldn't get the lower spacer back in. The UCA was on the droop stop and couldn't break the upper ball joint loose, so I couldn't get enough room to get the spacer back in. After fooling with it for about 2 hours, I just put it back to the way it was.

I do actually like how the truck sits for the most part, so it wasn't a huge deal that I couldn't get the spacers in. If anything, i may try to track down a set of stock rear blocks to bring it back down to match the front. When I get off work I'm going to see if I can massage some of the metal back to get rid of the rub.
 
Get that bj broken loose with a rubber mallet, drop the spindle and shit enough to give you all the room you need
 
Maybe the rubber mallet is the key to it then. I loosened the ball joint nut and was hitting the spindle around it to get it to break free. Am i missing something? Only had a household hammer though. We have some big dead blow hammers at work, so I may try again tonight if I can get the time to. If not, I'll reschedule the alignment and try for this weekend.
 
Maybe the rubber mallet is the key to it then. I loosened the ball joint nut and was hitting the spindle around it to get it to break free. Am i missing something? Only had a household hammer though. We have some big dead blow hammers at work, so I may try again tonight if I can get the time to. If not, I'll reschedule the alignment and try for this weekend.

Lift the spindle assembly enough with a jack to have the bj almost be parallel with the top of the spindle, then hit it with the mallet as you slowly drop it off the jack.
 
Well, decided to go on and get it aligned without the upper spacer in. Apparently it was out pretty bad (poss. from attempted install) and needed one anyways. I don't notice the rub as much, so either the alignment reduced it or the tires have bent the fender back some on their own. If they keep rubbing, I'll do the small norcal fender mod.

On another note, been thinking really hard on doing another billet grille insert again, but not sure if it would look good. Here's two trucks that have me on the fence.

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