THIS KIT INVOLVES EXTENSIVE WELDING AND GENERAL FABRICATION SKILLS. ONLY COMPETENT WELDERS SHOULD ATTEMPT TO INSTALL THIS KIT.
Tools Required :
Safety Glasses, Gloves, , Socket Set, Wrenches, Wheel chocks, Jack, Jack stand. Cutting Tool of your choice (Sawzall, Grinder, plasma, cutting torch) Welder.
Step 1:
Inventory that you have all of the parts for your order
Step 2:
Place wheel chocks at the rear wheels of the vehicle. Break free lug nuts on front wheels (Do not fully loosen or remove lug nuts yet.)
Step 3:
Jack up the front of the vehicle and set the axle on Jack stands, Remove the front wheels from the vehicle, With the wheels removed Jack the vehicle up again. Securely place tall jack stands under the frame behind the LCA or Leaf spring mounts at the previously measurement of ride height. Place a 2nd sent of jack stands under the front axle.
Step 4:
Prep axle To weld the Ram mount into place. Once the axle is prepped.
Step 5:
You will want to mock fitment of the ram mount against the axle ,Mount your steering ram to the mounting blocks centering the ram as much as possible on the ram mount. (You may only be able to run 2 or 3 of the mounts to center the ram.) With the ram at full lock and knuckle in full lock you will want to Tack weld the Ram Mount and Ram mounting blocks into position so the Ram's shaft and tie rod are inline (If they are not inline it could cause stress to the shaft and damage the ram You will also want to protect the ram’s shaft from weld splatter this could damage the ram ) With the ram mount tacked into place ,Pull the axle from under the vehicle to allow more space for welding. Once the axle is pulled from under the vehicle. Remove the Ram from the ram mount. Heat the axle to about 400 degrees Start to weld the gussets to the axle and ram mount .When welding, Start on one side of the axle, Weld a small amount, Then move on to the opposite side of the axle to allow each side to cool. This will help prevent warping .Stitch welding is preferred and welding every inch of every seam is not necessary. Grind and clean the rosette welds on the axle. (Optional) Stitch weld the axle tubes to the ends of the casting for added axle strength and to prevent the axle tubes from twisting. Once all of the welding is complete you will wrap the axle in a welding blanket to slowly cool overnight.
Step 6:
Clean the Ram mount and axle of any machining oils and Prep for paint or powder coat.
Step 7:
Install the axle back under the vehicle, and place on jack stands. And install your ram Install the wheels on the vehicle and tighten the lug nuts (Do not torque them down yet.) Lift the vehicle and remove all of the jack stands and set the vehicle on the ground. with the vehicle on the ground check all of the bolts and lug nuts are torqued to proper specs. we recommend drawing a line on the nut and bolt heads and where they are mounted for quick reference when checking for tightness after 50 miles .
