Eibach Install Complete

Gangly · December 14, 2020

I posted troubles with my Eibach install around 7 or 8 months back and shelved the suspension components until I felt like fooling with them again. Well, here we are 8 months later (approximately 20K miles) and my stock ranchos were done and starting to clunk over bumps. I put aside some hours this past weekend, dove back into the install, and completed the front spring/shock install as well as the rear shock/block install. The front took about 6+ hours total since I took my time and double/triple checked everything as I was doing it. The rear took about 2 hours and would have taken significantly less if I wasn't so ****** about everything. All said and done, it was about an 8-9 hour job, but could be done in 4-5 if you were motivated to do so and had done it before.

As far as on-road ride characteristics, the Eibachs feel MUCH more planted than the stockers ever did, absolutely no comparison. Overall stability feels better on pavement with zero bounce, significantly less compression when braking, and marginal lean or rebound when turning. Washboard sections of the roadway are no longer a concern and the back end, though never really an issue for me as much as others on this site, stays planted without any skipping or skating. The front end absorbs most roadway imperfections without any cab vibrations. The truck feels much more comparable to my F250 Superduty as far as stability is concerned, just without the harshness and teeth rattling.

As for off-road characteristics, I haven't taken the truck off road since the install, but I have to fill my deer feeder later today and will have a better idea of their minor "off road" capabilities at that point.

The following is a pic of my truck I took yesterday after finishing up. Eibachs are on the second to bottom setting with Eibach springs installed as well.

Wilderydude83 · December 14, 2020

Looks great. I’m thinking of doing the eibach lift as well.

tomthetrex · December 15, 2020

9 hours ago, Gangly said:

I posted troubles with my Eibach install around 7 or 8 months back and shelved the suspension components until I felt like fooling with them again. Well, here we are 8 months later (approximately 20K miles) and my stock ranchos were done and starting to clunk over bumps. I put aside some hours this past weekend, dove back into the install, and completed the front spring/shock install as well as the rear shock/block install. The front took about 6+ hours total since I took my time and double/triple checked everything as I was doing it. The rear took about 2 hours and would have taken significantly less if I wasn't so ****** about everything. All said and done, it was about an 8-9 hour job, but could be done in 4-5 if you were motivated to do so and had done it before.

As far as on-road ride characteristics, the Eibachs feel MUCH more planted than the stockers ever did, absolutely no comparison. Overall stability feels better on pavement with zero bounce, significantly less compression when braking, and marginal lean or rebound when turning. Washboard sections of the roadway are no longer a concern and the back end, though never really an issue for me as much as others on this site, stays planted without any skipping or skating. The front end absorbs most roadway imperfections without any cab vibrations. The truck feels much more comparable to my F250 Superduty as far as stability is concerned, just without the harshness and teeth rattling.

As for off-road characteristics, I haven't taken the truck off road since the install, but I have to fill my deer feeder later today and will have a better idea of their minor "off road" capabilities at that point.

The following is a pic of my truck I took yesterday after finishing up. Eibachs are on the second to bottom setting with Eibach springs installed as well.

Do I know how high it lifted you?

Duramax3oh · December 15, 2020

2 hours ago, tomthetrex said:

Do I know how high it lifted you?

Ok I’ll bite. Do you??!!

tomthetrex · December 15, 2020

Haha my damn phone changed it to I. Do you know how high it lifted you?

Gangly · December 16, 2020

Total lift is a about 2.2 up front and exactly 2.0 inches rear. I have approximately 1/4 inch of rake right now (the front is lower than the rear) but I assume that will increase to 1/2 inch as the front suspension settles in.

After doing a little bit of off road riding on some truck only paths, the suspension feels planted but it is too firm for my liking. However, that might be because I was used to the plushness/blown-out-ness of the Ranchos. The Eibach setup is definitely geared more for on-road driving which is where 95% of my driving is so I feel it was a good investment and wouldn't hesitate to purchase it again.

Good luck to anybody doing the install, if you ever have a question feel free to ask.

PS, I'm thinking I might drop down from 20" wheels to 18" wheels and see if some of that softness returns.

Edited December 16, 2020 by Gangly

vonrokker · December 17, 2020

How did you compress the springs to remove the perch from the old struts and how was it to compress the new springs?

Gangly · December 17, 2020

I purchased a spring compressor tool from amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/OEMTOOLS-25553-McPherson-Spring-Compressor/dp/B07S966BNT/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=spring+compressor&qid=1608217481&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExQzIwWjMyQzhJTUczJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUExMDI1NDI5RlRTSlRIUURMWDBUJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA2NjAwNzExUzc2TEcwNUlJMFRQJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

I have a Milwaukee Impact wrench (2767-20) that makes using the spring compressors easy-peasy. Using a hand wrench to turn the spring compressors isn't impossible and its the way most DIY'rs probably do it, but it's laborious when compared to squeezing a trigger on an impact wrench

If you plan on doing this for multiple vehicles, say your wife's and kid's cars as their shocks wear out, you might consider a spring press:

https://www.vevor.com/products/mechanical-pneumatic-3-ton-auto-strut-coil-spring-compressor-hydraulic-tool?gclid=CjwKCAiAoOz-BRBdEiwAyuvA6-xySxXQcJeLx7fPKpsLkk4PilYQ6KQPPWR0BLNBIe6VlRI13KcQPBoC4jQQAvD_BwE

vonrokker · December 18, 2020

On 12/17/2020 at 9:16 AM, Gangly said:

I purchased a spring compressor tool from amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/OEMTOOLS-25553-McPherson-Spring-Compressor/dp/B07S966BNT/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=spring+compressor&qid=1608217481&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExQzIwWjMyQzhJTUczJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUExMDI1NDI5RlRTSlRIUURMWDBUJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA2NjAwNzExUzc2TEcwNUlJMFRQJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

I have a Milwaukee Impact wrench (2767-20) that makes using the spring compressors easy-peasy. Using a hand wrench to turn the spring compressors isn't impossible and its the way most DIY'rs probably do it, but it's laborious when compared to squeezing a trigger on an impact wrench

If you plan on doing this for multiple vehicles, say your wife's and kid's cars as their shocks wear out, you might consider a spring press:

https://www.vevor.com/products/mechanical-pneumatic-3-ton-auto-strut-coil-spring-compressor-hydraulic-tool?gclid=CjwKCAiAoOz-BRBdEiwAyuvA6-xySxXQcJeLx7fPKpsLkk4PilYQ6KQPPWR0BLNBIe6VlRI13KcQPBoC4jQQAvD_BwE

awesome thanks, Did you have any trouble compressing the eibach springs using the spring compressor?

Gangly · December 18, 2020

None at all. The springs compressed nicely, just make sure the two spring compressing mechanisms are 180 degrees apart from each other along the circumference of the spring so that they compress the spring evenly.

AJMBLAZER · December 18, 2020

I want to say one of the autoparts chains now rents a better compressor like the second. Mounts to a vice.

vonrokker · December 20, 2020

On 12/18/2020 at 5:34 PM, AJMBLAZER said:

I want to say one of the autoparts chains now rents a better compressor like the second. Mounts to a vice.

any idea who?

AJMBLAZER · December 20, 2020

Yeah...now I'm looking for it and can't find it.

I'll keep looking for it.

Edited December 20, 2020 by AJMBLAZER

Gangly · December 21, 2020

If your worried about it, you can remove both of the combined spring and shock units from the truck and take them to a suspension shop and they will compress/remove/install the components for you for a small fee. It literally takes them 2 or 3 minutes per side to do it.