My SAW's are on, and I re-newed my love for the Titan

DRTYAZN · 03-02-2008, 12:00 PM

… after reading the numerous other happy TT members posting their SAW posts... I had to see what all the talk was about, so I pulled the trigger and ordered the front and rear SAW's, along with deaver pack, PRG's upper A arm, and a set of traction bars...

Phase one, changed out the front end... very little problems, it is pretty much cut and dry. The only delay was manually breaking the rear bolts of the A arm, due to the steering shaft and break lines being in the way on the driver's side. Other than that, the A arms and Coilovers are a smooth drop and swap. (spent 2 hrs. on the front end, which I think isn't bad for not having ever done suspension work before)

Phase two, change out the rear and added deaver pack... wow, now this took the patience and all my focus. There were several times I had to walk away and actually cool down... The shocks swap is fairly simple, except I found that the uniball sleeves had to be switched from the top and bottom mounts to fit without opening the truck's mount brackets (the upper mount is tighter than the lower). Now the deaver pack add-on, that's another story... It is a pain in the @$$.... Of course after numerous tries to allign everything and keep the springs compressed to tighten it down, my buddy and I managed to get it done with only a few scratches and maybe one broken finger on his hand (scraped, blue, and not looking good...) Overall drop and swap ate up almost 5 hrs. but wow did it ever look good when it was set back down.

The rear actually appeared to not just have gotten an additional 2 inches of lift, it appeared more like a total of 3"s were added. The front end really leaned forward (huge rake), so I started cranking on the SAW Coilovers to raise the front end. I started with two complete rotations with the spanner wrench and set the front back down (approx. ½ = 1“ lift). Looked good, but still too much forward rake for me... so I made another complete turn and that did the job (prob 1 ½“ lift). There is still a slight forward rake, but pretty level appearance as well, less than the OEM rake though. When all was done, I had to step away and admire the new stance for a little bit before test-driving it. The test drive was a world of difference, and I can say... PRG and SAW’s are the way to go... Thanks PRG!

Phase three... PRG Traction Bars… yet to come and to be installed... now I am just waiting on my traction bars (from PRG) because this axle wrap is really getting on my nerves, and my lead foot doesn't help it any either...

DRTYAZN · 03-02-2008, 12:02 PM

and a couple of more pics... did I mention, I love my Titan???

**Kronos1965** · 03-02-2008, 12:15 PM

Congratulations on the upgrade-with your lift, it was a smart choice.

Thanks for the pictures.

I recommend that you consider putting some write up and instructions and get this into the How To section...

**roy365** · 03-02-2008, 12:19 PM

Looks good. All that frustrating stuff kinda goes away after the install and you see/feel the difference!!!!!

MuskyHunter · 03-02-2008, 12:44 PM

Question, when installing the Deaver spring kit, isn't the flat overload spring supposed to be removed? Is this part of the reason your rear lift is higher than expected?

Kooshtaka · 03-02-2008, 01:04 PM

those are some really nice pics... great looking truck... noticed you went with the fastest color-SILVER!!... haha

BECHLYF · 03-02-2008, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuskyHunter

Question, when installing the Deaver spring kit, isn't the flat overload spring supposed to be removed? Is this part of the reason your rear lift is higher than expected?

Yup, there supposed to come out. Sorry man, and when Greg put my set in he use C-clamps and as he tightened the center bolt then he tightened the C-clamps. one on each side.

MFresh · 03-02-2008, 03:41 PM

Here's mine w/ overload removed and used a 1 1/2" block to level truck.

DRTYAZN · 03-02-2008, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BECHLYF

Yup, there supposed to come out. Sorry man, and when Greg put my set in he use C-clamps and as he tightened the center bolt then he tightened the C-clamps. one on each side.

hahahahaaa... well now I suppose I should've left them out... that could explain the heck-of-a-time getting them to seat properly... oh well, I enjoy the extra lift anyhow... in fact, I pulled up next to my buddy's 7" CST lifted ride and I have him by an 1 1/2"... call it pe(\)is envy or whatever... but I love it!

54warrior · 03-02-2008, 05:29 PM

Did you remove your swaybar?

And how much preload did you put on the SAW's? I am gonna be putting mine on soon. Greg recommended 3/4" which is what I have them set at, just wondering if that's what you're running and how it feels.

DRTYAZN · 03-02-2008, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 54warrior

Did you remove your swaybar?

And how much preload did you put on the SAW's? I am gonna be putting mine on soon. Greg recommended 3/4" which is what I have them set at, just wondering if that's what you're running and how it feels.

I removed the sway bar end links for the install and test drive, but after I completed everything, I re-attached the sway bar and still run with it. I called Greg when I was in the middle of the project and he told me the same for preload... Since then, I have adjusted the coilovers to level the front out. Runs smooth and can't wait to do some trails... tested the ride earlier in an off-limit construction area and it handled very well through the 1' ruts and grooves left from the earthmovers... best off all, no clunking like the Ranchos and spacer...

BECHLYF · 03-02-2008, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRTYAZN

hahahahaaa... well now I suppose I should've left them out... that could explain the heck-of-a-time getting them to seat properly... oh well, I enjoy the extra lift anyhow... in fact, I pulled up next to my buddy's 7" CST lifted ride and I have him by an 1 1/2"... call it pe(\)is envy or whatever... but I love it!

Leaving the overloads on defeat the purpose, if you take them out your ride QUALITY will GREATLY INCREASE. If you think its fine now? it gets even B-E-T-T-E-R.

But you gotta yank em OUT!

motorvisions · 03-02-2008, 08:55 PM

anybody mount their rear SAW with the resevoir on the drivers side facing the back & the passenger side mounted with the resevoir facing the front. im asking because i did thinking there was better clearance from the bed floor.

hooligan · 03-02-2008, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motorvisions

anybody mount their rear SAW with the resevoir on the drivers side facing the back & the passenger side mounted with the resevoir facing the front. im asking because i did thinking there was better clearance from the bed floor.

from what greg has said it doesn't matter which way the reservoir faces. and w/o reading everyone elses posts, why the hell is the overload bar still installed???

**Blackbeauty** · 03-03-2008, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motorvisions

anybody mount their rear SAW with the resevoir on the drivers side facing the back & the passenger side mounted with the resevoir facing the front. im asking because i did thinking there was better clearance from the bed floor.

That's how I did mine, and yes, that's how Greg recommended it... Better clearance!

Nice job DRTYAZN! I'm loving mine, too!