ITGuy's 2003 Sierra 1500/2500 4x4 RCLB Build Thread
- Thread starter ITGuy
- Start date
We got stuck on ball joints & stopped when struggling with the torsion bar keys.
I need to purchase a few things that fit this truck before we continue.
A good Ball Joint Seperator
Ball Joint Seperator
A good Ball Joint Press
Ball Joint Press
Bought a couple of new lower ball joints and will need to re-install them this week.
Working on a solution for the torsion bars / keys.
I knew they were going to be a bitch. The 2500 frame is in a lot better shape than the ol' 1500,
but it seems the keys are are still stuck on there in good shape, even after soaking them.
No1Limit / Connor was very patient.. I really appreciated his help today.
I need to purchase a few things that fit this truck before we continue.
A good Ball Joint Seperator
Ball Joint Seperator
A good Ball Joint Press
Ball Joint Press
Bought a couple of new lower ball joints and will need to re-install them this week.
Working on a solution for the torsion bars / keys.
I knew they were going to be a bitch. The 2500 frame is in a lot better shape than the ol' 1500,
but it seems the keys are are still stuck on there in good shape, even after soaking them.
No1Limit / Connor was very patient.. I really appreciated his help today.
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Yeah that's what I had to do last time.
I borrowed the torch though, I'll see if I can get my hands on it this week.
I borrowed the torch though, I'll see if I can get my hands on it this week.
I used a torch on my torsion keys and kept spraying the that's so they didn't get hot, hammered those neers out
It's tough to hammer the t-bars forward with them stuck in both the lca and they keys,
so we started hammering them backwards to free them up a little.
Also it is tight quarters on the 2500 with a crossmember just behind the keys.
I might need to remove the exhaust, jack the tbar cross member up and push the whole thing backwards.
Anyway, I'll keep at it this week. No hurry I suppose.
so we started hammering them backwards to free them up a little.
Also it is tight quarters on the 2500 with a crossmember just behind the keys.
I might need to remove the exhaust, jack the tbar cross member up and push the whole thing backwards.
Anyway, I'll keep at it this week. No hurry I suppose.
That was at least a little, I've done keys on 6-7 trucks now and 2 hits with a punch/hammer and they pop out. Plus there's lots of rust up under the truck, that xmember looks terrible.
yeah my undercarriage is actually great.. but that doesn't mean a little salt n corrosion didn't get up in there. We did get the passenger side torsion bar moved inside the lca, if i can get the drivers side moving I'll remove the entire assembly.
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i used a big punch and a mini sledge on mine. 2 hits and they were out.
bolt the TB cross member back in, they may be sagging down fromn the weight of the bars and the members and it is keepimg them cocked in the LCA binding eveything up.
bolt the TB cross member back in, they may be sagging down fromn the weight of the bars and the members and it is keepimg them cocked in the LCA binding eveything up.
Yep doing that tomorrow night. There is a cross member just behind the t-bar cross member on the 2500hd + the fuel cooler is just above it. Tight quarters compared to my 1500. I'm sure I'll figure it out.
Meh. Bought some new tools. Figured I would use them all at some point when I get back to the front end.
Ordered
Lumax Grease Gun
OTC Ball Joint Press 7249
OTC Front End Service Set
Ordered
Lumax Grease Gun
OTC Ball Joint Press 7249
OTC Front End Service Set
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Connor and I picked up the stake on the left. It's just long enough to reach the right t-bar key over the cross member just to the rear of the t-bar cross member.
Digging through the back shed, I just found the longer steel stake.. it fits perfectly through a small gap near the edge of the fuel cooler!
I'll be hitting that next.
Right Key + bar is out. 4lb hammer worked well. It's also been soaking in Kroil for a couple of days.
bump stop is also toast in the pic.
Digging through the back shed, I just found the longer steel stake.. it fits perfectly through a small gap near the edge of the fuel cooler!
I'll be hitting that next.
Right Key + bar is out. 4lb hammer worked well. It's also been soaking in Kroil for a couple of days.
bump stop is also toast in the pic.
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:ejecto:
:thefinger:
Took about 15-20 hits from the 4lb and maybe 7-8 very solid hits with the 16lb sledgehammer. Much better.
More leverage and a floor jack holding everything still really helped.
I remembered that I have a rough country leveling kit on my 1500 frame. Should I pull the keys (they are new) off that and slap them back on the 2500?
Sounds like a plan to me.
:thefinger:
Took about 15-20 hits from the 4lb and maybe 7-8 very solid hits with the 16lb sledgehammer. Much better.
More leverage and a floor jack holding everything still really helped.
I remembered that I have a rough country leveling kit on my 1500 frame. Should I pull the keys (they are new) off that and slap them back on the 2500?
Sounds like a plan to me.
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Nope, can't do that. They'll be too indexed, you'll never get 'em loaded. Stock 1500 keys are the equivalent to lift keys in a 2500.
Thanks. I guess I will just clean up the stock 2500's.
Just finished an inventory of the lift parts, and planning out the next steps.
I'll finish removing the spindles after I get my front end maintenance kit in that I ordered.
Just finished an inventory of the lift parts, and planning out the next steps.
I'll finish removing the spindles after I get my front end maintenance kit in that I ordered.