Thought maybe we could make this a sticky for all to see. This is a good guide for how to lower your colorado/Canyon Z85 or ZQ8.
easiest way is have a shop do it, but if you are looking to save money and you have the tools then its not to bad.
no pics but i can throw out a step by step
Disclamer: use these step to lower the front end and rear end, I am in no way responsible for the outcome(but this is how i did it)
1. lift the truck high ehough to put jack stands under the frame.
2. put jack stands under the frame, just in front of the tranny xmember.making sure the front tires are off the ground. might need to loosen the lugs a little first unless you have an impact tool.
3. remove wheels
4. start on drivers side, remove the sway bar link
5. remove the lower bolt in the strut
6. remove the upper 3 nuts for the strut, easiest when dont with a ratchet wrench(at this point I have heard of people being able to remove the strut) but in my case I had to
7. unbolt and seperate the lower ball joint from the spindle
8a.either use a spring compressor to compress the spring and loosen the top nut on the stud(using a ratchet wrench and an allen wrench) careful not to strip it.
8b. take it to a automotive shop and have them do the swap(they have all the right tools for this job)
*make sure you see the alignment of the top studs to the bottom
eyelet(have to keep it lined up or you cant get it back in)
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9. you these steps in reverse to go back together
*make sure to tighten everything back or you will have real problems
10. lower the truck off the jacks stands and tada.
11. once finished do the same thing for the passenger side
12. get it aligned A.S.A.P.
Here are some general pics of my 05 coly in process will add better step by step pics later, but this will work for now
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for the rear
1. jack the rear up enough to place on jack stands
2. put jack stands under the frame just in front of the shackles(as tomake sure no weight is on the wheels)
3.loosen and remove the bolts for the shocks
the pick a side and loosen the 4 nuts holding the u-bolts on that side
4.remove u-bolts
5. using the floor jack lift that side of the axle up enough to put the blocks in
6. install the blocks(I had to put it in and then because of the angle of the axle hit the tire with a hammer to get it to pop into the pin.
7. once its all in,both pins in there respective holes, put the new u-bolts on and tighten the poop out of them(want to do this with an impact wrench, not a hand wrench) because you will never get it tight enough with a hand wrench and the blocks may break
8. put the shock back in and tighten the bolt up
9. same thing for the other side.
10. once all finished and everything is tight, jack the rear back up and remove the jack stands
11. drop her down and viola(sorry if i mispelled, as I am not french)
Also as added by L53500SLE: It is a good idea to check all fasteners after 100 miles or so for torque.
there you have the steps I used to drop the truck the first time. The most rescent time I went and had my shop do it( was only like $150 for alignment and all for me).
Hope this helps, and oh yeah dont forget the disclaimer
Pics will be added soon.
Good luck and lets see pics
easiest way is have a shop do it, but if you are looking to save money and you have the tools then its not to bad.
no pics but i can throw out a step by step
Disclamer: use these step to lower the front end and rear end, I am in no way responsible for the outcome(but this is how i did it)
1. lift the truck high ehough to put jack stands under the frame.
2. put jack stands under the frame, just in front of the tranny xmember.making sure the front tires are off the ground. might need to loosen the lugs a little first unless you have an impact tool.
3. remove wheels
4. start on drivers side, remove the sway bar link
5. remove the lower bolt in the strut
6. remove the upper 3 nuts for the strut, easiest when dont with a ratchet wrench(at this point I have heard of people being able to remove the strut) but in my case I had to
7. unbolt and seperate the lower ball joint from the spindle
8a.either use a spring compressor to compress the spring and loosen the top nut on the stud(using a ratchet wrench and an allen wrench) careful not to strip it.
8b. take it to a automotive shop and have them do the swap(they have all the right tools for this job)
*make sure you see the alignment of the top studs to the bottom
eyelet(have to keep it lined up or you cant get it back in)
9. you these steps in reverse to go back together
*make sure to tighten everything back or you will have real problems
10. lower the truck off the jacks stands and tada.
11. once finished do the same thing for the passenger side
12. get it aligned A.S.A.P.
Here are some general pics of my 05 coly in process will add better step by step pics later, but this will work for now
for the rear
1. jack the rear up enough to place on jack stands
2. put jack stands under the frame just in front of the shackles(as tomake sure no weight is on the wheels)
3.loosen and remove the bolts for the shocks
the pick a side and loosen the 4 nuts holding the u-bolts on that side
4.remove u-bolts
5. using the floor jack lift that side of the axle up enough to put the blocks in
6. install the blocks(I had to put it in and then because of the angle of the axle hit the tire with a hammer to get it to pop into the pin.
7. once its all in,both pins in there respective holes, put the new u-bolts on and tighten the poop out of them(want to do this with an impact wrench, not a hand wrench) because you will never get it tight enough with a hand wrench and the blocks may break
8. put the shock back in and tighten the bolt up
9. same thing for the other side.
10. once all finished and everything is tight, jack the rear back up and remove the jack stands
11. drop her down and viola(sorry if i mispelled, as I am not french)
Also as added by L53500SLE: It is a good idea to check all fasteners after 100 miles or so for torque.
there you have the steps I used to drop the truck the first time. The most rescent time I went and had my shop do it( was only like $150 for alignment and all for me).
Hope this helps, and oh yeah dont forget the disclaimer
Pics will be added soon.
Good luck and lets see pics
