TRD Pro Lift

Gonna be leveling my trd pro soon. I have read about 500 posts on westcott, coach builder and ready lift. I believe I will go westcott in the front and considering coach builder +3 shackles in the rear. I watched a video on the install and they didn’t push out the OE bushings. My question is…do you need to? Also, thoughts on the shackle versus the spacer that comes with the westcott kit?

 

According to Dave you have to do it or they will bind up and not work properly. I tried to avoid it too since my bushings were almost brand new. It wasn't that hard to do with a ball joint press but my truck is a 21. Yours is a 19 so it still shouldn't be too bad. I sprayed PB blaster and smacked the bushing eye with a hammer for 3 days before I did the install

 

That was what I was afraid of. I assume you did it in place? I watched a video of a guy punching them out. Not sure if ours are constructed the same way but he used the ball joint press and knocked out the bushing fairly easy and yanked out the rubber. Then commenced to taking out a sleeve that he had to split to get out. I assume we don’t have to do that. Correct? Btw. What setup you go with?

 

I seem to remember using the balljoint press kit with an impact socket in the press as well to push the oe bushing sleeve out

 

$90 ball joint press from Harbor Freight made easy work of my OEM bushings.

 

Just borrow the unit from autozone

 

I used the ball joint press with the leafs in place. I was able to push one bushing out in 1 fell swoop but the other took some doing. I was able to use a large socket that fit perfectly on the outer diameter of the bushing. The first one I pushed put by the inner tube. The rubber gave about half an inch then the whole thing just slid out. If you do your prep with pb blaster it will help alot.

I am currently running CB +3 with 5160s and RAS with durobumps. 2.5 inch total lift in rear. I like the setup but I am going to switch to +2 shackles and crank the ras more to stay a little under 2.5 inch.

Front I'm at 2.25 inch with eibach coilovers and durobumps also.

 

Is there any company that sells the OEM style bushing? Going to any shop asking them to press out the OEM bushing to reinstall is going to be a pain. Most shop kinda cringe when asked.

 

I am going to buy a cheap harbor freight press and then try to sell it on Craigslist or something. Been watching to see if one comes up for sale.

 

Ball joint press works fine its so much more work to take leafs off and you would have to get new u bolts. Not supposed to reuse those

 

I will use ball joint press for the leaf. I was talking shop press for the westcott collar on the strut.