User Manual Q&AAnswer
Jan 20, 2025 - 12:59 AM
1. Before starting the installation, make sure to read the entire installation guide thoroughly. Ensure that you have all the necessary components listed in the guide.
2. Disconnect the negative terminal on the battery and jack up the front end of the truck. Support the frame rails with jack stands.
3. Remove the front tires and the factory skid plate. Discard the skid plate and hardware.
4. Remove the factory mud flaps from the front of the vehicle and discard them.
5. Disconnect the sway bar link ends from the lower control arm.
6. Starting on the driver's side, disconnect the tie rod end from the steering knuckle by striking the knuckle to dislodge the tie rod end. Be careful not to damage the ball joints.
7. Remove the brake hose bracket from the top of the steering knuckle. Remove the caliper from the rotor and place it above the upper control arm during the installation. Remove the brake rotor from the steering knuckle. Unbolt the wheel speed sensor connection from the hub and control arm.
8. Remove the axle nut, washer, and the 4 hub bolts on the backside of the knuckle. Remove the bearing hub assembly from the knuckle. Retain the parts and hardware for reinstallation.
9. Remove the upper ball joint nuts. Disconnect the upper ball joints from the steering knuckle by striking the knuckle with a large hammer next to the ball joint on the knuckle to dislodge the ball joints. Be careful not to hit the ball joints when removing. Retain the nuts.
10. Loosen the castle nut on the lower ball joint and strike the lower ball joint boss assembly with a large hammer next to the ball joint to dislodge it. Remove the two bolts on each side connecting the lower ball joint assembly to the knuckle and remove the knuckle. Remove the castle nut from the lower ball joint and remove the boss from the ball joint. Save the castle nut and discard the knuckle.
11. Remove the factory coil over shock and discard it.
12. Support the front differential with a transmission or floor jack. Remove the front passenger and driver diff bolts.
13. Install two front diff spacers (FT70171) under the factory mounts using two 1/2" -13 x 6" bolts, nuts, and washers. Torque to 90 ft-lbs.
14. Remove the four factory compression bump stops and save them. Use a die grinder to remove 1/4" of thread from the threaded portion of the bump stop.
15. Install four bump stop spacers (FT70174) into the factory bump stop mounts. Thread the cut bump stop into the new spacer. Torque to 17 ft-lbs.
16. Remove the upper control arm. Retain the factory hardware.
17. Install the Fabtech driver's side control arm (FT70180BK) with two bushings (FT1037), two bushings (FT1038), four washers (FT57-1), two grease zerks (FT84), and two sleeves (FT196). Install all these components in the control arm barrels. Use the factory hardware and place the new washers on the inside and outside of the bushings. Make sure the barrel gussets are facing up. Torque to 200 ft-lbs.
18. Insert the uniball adapter pin (FT20583) into the factory knuckle upper ball joint taper. Install the 9/16"-18 lock nut with thread lock compound and flat washer onto the bottom side of the pin. This will lock the pin into the knuckle. Torque to 129 ft-lbs.
19. Swing the control arm down and slide the pin into the uniball on the control arm, seating the lower uniball misalignment spacer (FT147) in the control arm. Install the upper uniball misalignment spacer onto the pin. Install the 3/4"-16 lock nut on the top side of the pin with thread lock compound and torque to 250 ft-lbs.
20. Install the FTS26037 Dirt Logic front coilover shock according to the instructions provided with the shocks.
21. Install the new Fabtech steering knuckles (FTS70168D or FT70225D) by positioning them onto the lower ball joint and CV Axle (4wd only) at the same time. Install the lower ball joint nut and leave it loose. Then attach the top of the knuckle to the upper ball joint with the nut. Torque the upper ball joint nut to 81 ft-lbs and the lower ball joint nut to 123 ft-lbs.
22. Install the factory hubs, backing plates, and dust covers with the factory hardware and supplied threadlocking compound. Torque the hub bolts to 73 ft-lbs and the CV Axle nut to 249 ft-lbs. Install the axle nut retainer with the new supplied cotter pin.
23. Reinstall the lower sway bar link to the lower control arm. Torque to 100 ft-lbs.
24. Install the brake rotors and calipers with the factory hardware and thread locking compound. Torque the caliper bolts to 73 ft-lbs. Mount the factory brake hose to the new bracket (FT70111) with the supplied hardware.
25. Attach the wheel speed sensor to the tab on the upper control arm with the clamp and hardware. Torque to 10 ft-lbs.
26. Repeat steps 4-25 on the passenger side.
27. Locate the factory body mount in the back of the wheel well and mark and cut it as shown in the photos. Weld the FT70196 gusset as shown. Sand and paint
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