So I finally got around to installing my 4" Rancho lift today, and honestly, it's an easy job...supposed to take "4 hours", and honestly, I can see that happening...but not if it's the first lift you've ever done, haha. In about 4 hours I got most of the front end done, and I planned on making it a whole weekend deal, but, I can see it turning into an all week thing, really fast...It was going pretty well...until I tried separating the drag link ball joint from the pittman arm. Tried a pickle fork, bent the prongs...tried another pickle fork...bent the prongs...so, I decided to take the pittman arm off first, used the puller and it came off no problem, which was awesome. So I figure, "Damn, this puller works pretty good...". I decided to use the pittman arm puller on the other end to try to separate the pittman arm and the drag link...put it on, started cranking, and was surprised how easy it was going. I figured it was gonna pop off any second so I keep turning, only to look down to see the stud on the ball joint warped to SHIT, haha. So, now I'm looking for a new upper portion of the drag link. The rest of the day went smooth, but holy shit that drag link connection's a beast...I gotta say though, doing it for the first time by myself is a good learning experience.

 

I made the EXACT SAME MISTAKE last week. Stripped out the bolt - you can not buy a 14-1.5 die anywhere in southern Louisiana, so instead spent an hour with a hand file working the threads.

 

Yeap...luckily I just found a replacement drag link end on QT for 39.99, not that bad...I'll try to pick one up at a dealership if it's around the same price. It's probably for the better though, seeing as those pickle forks tore the rubber boots to shit. I just hate that feeling of, "Aww shit..." when you do something like that, knowing you just dug deeper into your wallet when you're right in the middle of a project, haha.

 

My drag link wore out right at the ball joint, and the only place I could find to replace it was the dealership for $60.