BAD AIM 2003 Z71 Suburban
- Thread starter Lykos
- Start date
Lykos
Super Trucker
For the front I jacked up the driver side and supported it under the lower control arm. I removed the wheel and several clips from the inner fender to gain access to the top of the shock.
I started at the top using a pair of vice grips at the very top of the post and a ratcheting box wrench to loosen the nut. In my case there was a SAE nut on one side and a metric on the other. ******? The vise grips keep the post from moving while you loosen the nut.
21mm nut and bolt on the bottom of the shock are easy work and the shock is out.
I installed the new shock bottom first. This means you'll have to muscle the shock to compress it to get the stem through the mounting hole up top. If the shock is a little too long you'll need to put a jack stand under the frame and then lower the control arm to get it up in there.
Tighten everything up and reinstall the clips and wheel. Woo hoo! Easy? Yeah! The other side? Not so much.
The other side was pretty. similar except the stem nut was seized. That required an angle grinder. I don't have an angle grinder. So what's a guy to do?
He calls in a one legged neighbor.
This here is Lonnie and he's the best neighbor I've ever had. He rolled over with an angle grinder and many jokes. We discussed lowering the truck on his pants leg for a great ****** pic on this post but decided that might be too much. He insisted I post at least one stump pic. You're welcome. And, in his words, "don't ******* around with your blood sugar."
Yes that is my garage. I'm not proud of the mess. ?
I started at the top using a pair of vice grips at the very top of the post and a ratcheting box wrench to loosen the nut. In my case there was a SAE nut on one side and a metric on the other. ******? The vise grips keep the post from moving while you loosen the nut.
21mm nut and bolt on the bottom of the shock are easy work and the shock is out.
I installed the new shock bottom first. This means you'll have to muscle the shock to compress it to get the stem through the mounting hole up top. If the shock is a little too long you'll need to put a jack stand under the frame and then lower the control arm to get it up in there.
Tighten everything up and reinstall the clips and wheel. Woo hoo! Easy? Yeah! The other side? Not so much.
The other side was pretty. similar except the stem nut was seized. That required an angle grinder. I don't have an angle grinder. So what's a guy to do?
He calls in a one legged neighbor.
This here is Lonnie and he's the best neighbor I've ever had. He rolled over with an angle grinder and many jokes. We discussed lowering the truck on his pants leg for a great ****** pic on this post but decided that might be too much. He insisted I post at least one stump pic. You're welcome. And, in his words, "don't ******* around with your blood sugar."
Yes that is my garage. I'm not proud of the mess. ?
Lykos
Super Trucker
The install took about five hours. Ride improved pretty significantly. There's much less oversteer and nose dive and the bumps aren't nearly as jarring. The rear coils gave me about an inch lift over the old worn stockers and body roll is also greatly reduced.
I highly recommend these upgrades.
✌️? and ? grease ya'll!
I highly recommend these upgrades.
✌️? and ? grease ya'll!
Lykos
Super Trucker
My old coils were just that, old. Body roll was excessive as was the sagging in the rear with any amount of weight.
Here's a screenshot from Amazon if you're interested.
For the price it's almost a no brainer.
Lykos
Super Trucker
Thanks for the info
Anytime! BTW were you on the old 4wd.com forums years ago?
stomperxj
Explorer
Back on Jeeps unlimited yes but I had a different username. Probably racer32.
Lykos
Super Trucker
Festival season is fast approaching. I've got to get the rest of the big mods done before Mountain Music fest the end of May.
Waiting in the wings is $200 + worth of wire, a Blue Seas fuse block and 200 watts of Renogy solar. I'm working with a fabricator in NC on some tricky interior mods that I'm really excited about.
Stay tuned over the next few weeks for new installations!
Waiting in the wings is $200 + worth of wire, a Blue Seas fuse block and 200 watts of Renogy solar. I'm working with a fabricator in NC on some tricky interior mods that I'm really excited about.
Stay tuned over the next few weeks for new installations!
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Lykos
Super Trucker
God I hope so. LoL
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Lykos
Super Trucker
So I've been busy with other projects this summer and haven't messed with the burb as of much lately.
I picked up this 1986, 61,000 miles 1986 survivor car and absolutely love it! It's my second Gbody and I've got grand plans. I've already picked up a 6.0 lq4 for an ls swap! Problem is I can't stop driving it enough to work on it. LOL
I transferred the Burbs BAD AIM tags to the SS and picked up some DONT TREAD ON ME tags. Given the current political situation here in VA they may be more than a decoration. ?
I picked up this 1986, 61,000 miles 1986 survivor car and absolutely love it! It's my second Gbody and I've got grand plans. I've already picked up a 6.0 lq4 for an ls swap! Problem is I can't stop driving it enough to work on it. LOL
I transferred the Burbs BAD AIM tags to the SS and picked up some DONT TREAD ON ME tags. Given the current political situation here in VA they may be more than a decoration. ?
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Lykos
Super Trucker
Back in May I went by Blue Ridge Overland Gear to pick up a couple things. They had this neat looking steel MOLLE panel for a fourth gen 4 runner that I really liked the looks of. I told Adam that there's no way that item existed for a Suburban. Adam told me to call Darrell at Orange Boxx Fabrication and he most likely work with me. So I dialed the number for Orange Boxx and a seven month adventure ensued. LoL
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Lykos
Super Trucker
I told Darrel that I've got a 2003 burb and I want steel MOLLE Personal Storage Panels for my build. He told me if I was willing to do some work and drive to Greensboro NC a couple times that he could make it happen.
I drove to his shop at his house in NC and he and his crew got to work.
They measured the rear side windows, made templates and talked to me about mounting options and my expectations.
Fast forward through scheduling conflicts and life in general, mostly my fault, to Dec 22 where we spent a solid seven hours on a cold NC Sunday for final install.
I drove to his shop at his house in NC and he and his crew got to work.
They measured the rear side windows, made templates and talked to me about mounting options and my expectations.
Fast forward through scheduling conflicts and life in general, mostly my fault, to Dec 22 where we spent a solid seven hours on a cold NC Sunday for final install.
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Lykos
Super Trucker
First and foremost I want to say that Orange Boxx Fab puts customer service first and their work ethic is second to none. Having said that I'd reccomend if you want custom work done you're better off leaving your vehicle with them. They did a great job but even Darrell told me that trying to do this much fab with only a couple days with the vehicle makes it really tough. Very doable, but tough.
Here is the finished product. Please excuse my nasty, but safe, wiring.
I have a passenger side panel as well and the mounting is identical.
Here is the finished product. Please excuse my nasty, but safe, wiring.
I have a passenger side panel as well and the mounting is identical.
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