The body lift from hell

[derian06]

I started at around 7PM its 5:43 in the morning and I've run into so many problems! I have one side done, but even with a vice and a big hammer I can't seem to make the danm bolts move. Then I have one bolt that I rounded the top of when using an impact to get it off of the body. Such a stressful night/morning, any advice for the bolts that I cant break away and get out? I wish I had my phone to show pictures of what i'm dealing with, but I lost it and I cant find that either. There is something that looks like a metal cover that goes over top of the bolt, half of the time it stays on the car when unscrewing the bolts and the other times it is stuck on the bolt. The bolts which have this metal cover over them I cannot budge for the life of me. I need some help on this one.

 

[amrg]

When we did the body lift, we ended up having to heat the sleeve (metal cover) and eventually we were able to get the bolt to unscrew! Try that!

 

[derian06]

How would I go about heating them

 

[RamRod]

When I did a BL on my Xterra, I rounded the 10th and last bolt. The only way to get the bolt off was to buy one of these socket sets, and PB blast everything for about a week

Best of luck to ya

 

[jphh20]

I'm sure everyone's rig has different challenges when it comes to corrosion and body bolts getting stuck. Mine was pretty straight forward, I used the impact gun to remove the bolts and inverted the bolt/bushing into a oversized socket. Grabbed a 5lb sledge and two hits it came clear out. I learned quickly that the average hammer just bounced. Heat would've been my next step if I needed to go that direction. Good luck with the body lift




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[4speedfunk]

Just curious. What's the fascination with body lifts?

 

[derian06]

I wanted one so I could run my 1.75" spacers, my upper control arm slightly hits the tire.

 

[Best4x4]

More tire clearance without messing up your suspension specs. I don't mind 1inch BL's but anything past that is ugly and honestly not safe.

 

[amrg]

Allows to put less backspaced wheels with the same size tires resulting in more stability!

 

[derian06]

Just got back from lowes and got a better vice (I ghetto rigged mine), an 8lbs sledge, and a bolt removing set. Hopefully it won't be as bad now. plus I have more tools to add to the collection.

 

[derian06]

still no luck even with a vice and an 8lbs sledge. is the next option propane torch? The vice cant hold the bolt tight enough for me to whack it with the sledge hammer.

 

[jphh20]

Have you tried the over sized socket on your cement floor? The 8lb sledge should pound it cleanly through.


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[jphh20]

Something like this..


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[derian06]

Heat was the key, I went out and got a torch and heated until redhot. after a couple of smacks with the 8lb sledge they finally broke loose. everything seems good, the front gap is pretty bad, but thankfully the brush guard covers it. I'll have pictures as soon as I can either find my phone or buy a new one. My ghetto rigged bolt method was basically the method you showed above.

 

[Hans3T]

I'm sure you're relieved to see the job done. Nothing like being halfway through the job and being stuck like that.

 

[amrg]

. everything seems good, the front gap is pretty bad, but thankfully the brush guard covers it.

It will grow on you! 6 months later, what Gap?

 

[digglesworth]

a thorparts bumper is the perfect solution to that front gap... just sayin...

 

[4speedfunk]

Yep...the THORparts is very gap friendly because the bumper is separate from the grille. The grille moves up or down with the body...and the bumper stays on the frame. So you don't have alignment problems like u do with one-piece bumpers.

 

[cbetts]

a thorparts bumper is the perfect solution to that front gap... just sayin...

Yep, I think that will be my solution for the gap.

I was reading earlier that there is question of why a body lift. Well, I ended up damaging both my front inner fenders from being fully flexed with the wheels turned. It was just enough for my KM2's lugs to grap hold and break a chunk of the fender off. The body lift provided just enough space to prevent that from happening again.

 

[derian06]

I'm very glad the job is done, the body lift and the spacers give it the perfect amount of stance for me and the ride actually feels smoother.

 

[cbetts]

Make sure you goop the bolts with Loctite. Mine kept coming loose.

 

[digglesworth]

I have an a recess in my rear fender liner that is clearancing for the corner of the tire while flexing out the rear. With my body lift on, that recess sits 1" higher so the corner of the tire rubs the fender liner when really stuffing a tire up in the fenderwell. If I had spacers, it probably wouldn't happen.

 

[amrg]

Even with the body lift, my tires (34.4") still rub the top of the fenders on hard landings (60 mph desert runs). Offcourse Im running +10 offset wheels and that contributes to more travel!

 

[derian06]

i'll be saving up, the only problem I see with the thor parts bumper is that I'll feel the need to buy a predator brush guard. That combination looks great.

 

[amrg]

I'm very glad the job is done, the body lift and the spacers give it the perfect amount of stance for me and the ride actually feels smoother.

Pics?!