Was watching the Atlantic British video on replacing the OEM suspension with the Terra Firma 2" lift. (First, wish I had a lift but will be using 6-ton jack stands, floor jack and bottle jack).

Everything looked straight forward EXCEPT when he got to the back, he needed a spring compressor and long pry bar. Pry bar to get springs out, compressor to put new spring in.

I read about putting the bottle jack on top the axle to push it down some to get the spring in. Just wondering if that eliminates any need for a spring compressor?

Those who have gone the 2" lift with TerraFirma, what did you find to be the trickiest part and what tips would you pass on?

I'm also using this video from Rovers North as a comparison

 

Follow this video from lucky8, it literally took me less than two hours to do my lift, no spring compressors were needed

 

I found getting the back high enough was tricky. Most definitely just my combination of stands, Jack, ramps etc. managed it but was more of a head scratcher than the front. Having said that getting the shock tower bolts off the front was a pain.

Listen to the advice in the lucky 8 vid and get yourself the correct size clicky spanner.

And the labeling on the parts is pretty straightforward. Left right, back front etc.

I'd say it took me 3-4 hours, with lots of tea and looking at it.

 

I've got D2 lifts down to an hour from start to finish. You DO NOT need a spring compressor. I loosen the ABS brackets for the rear axle so they don't bind, and I actually use the LR bottle jack between the axle and frame and pump it just enough to slide the new ones into place. Spring Compressors are a PITA and sometimes they're down right dangerous.

 

Thanks guys. I was surprised to see them use a spring compressor. Glad to hear it's not required. I will look into new ratchets. Anything to make a job smoother.

 

Spring clamps are a pain, true, but I found them to be necessary. I probably could have forced them out/in with a pry bar, but I'd rather avoid any unnecessary stress and bending around the suspension system. I didn't use the bottle jack on the axle, though, so maybe that's how you can avoid them.

 

Yup. Bottle jack = no need for spring compressors.

 

Say it with me, Justin. c a l i P e r

 

Bottle Jack makes it quick and painless with just a few pumps vs cranking down a spring then trying to install it only to find out the coil spring compressor tools are in the way of the frame or coil spring mount.......

On the front you let let the axle drop as far as it'll go, then stick the bottle jack between the frame/axle and pump it just a few times until the new spring slides into place (I can normally remove the OEM springs once the axle is at full drop). For the rear I do unclip the ABS lines and disconnect the one brake line/frame mount so I don't stress the brake line/ABS line. Then I use the bottle jack just like with the front axle and place it between the frame and axle.

I timed myself on the last 2inch TF Medium kit I installed on my 02 Kalahari and it was 30min for the front and 30min for the rear. I did it with just a pair of jack stands, two LR Bottle Jacks, and hand tools.

My latest D2 I just picked up on 4-9-16 has SLS and ACE so not sure if I'm going to lift it right now. I got the settlement $$$$ finally (took almost a month!!!!!) for being rear ended in my 98 D1 and I just couldn't see spending $3500.00 at a Body Shop. I'm going to do all the repairs myself to the 98 D1 (kept the title clean vs salvage), and with the left over $$$$ I was able to pickup my newly acquired 99 D2 for $1500.00.

 

Great tips!
Good to hear about your repairs and 2nd truck.