07Burb’s 2013 LTZ Burb Thread

[randeez]

yep, channel locks/vice grips on each and just turn em... if youre using 1/8 all thread to replace the rod it will still fit snug,
if you break them i will send you mine cause theyre useless atm

 

[Rocket Man]

First thing I’m tackling is these autoride rods because if this isn’t successful then it’s a show stopper as I was to retain autoride on the rear. I’ve got the rod off but these plastic ends are corroded on. I’ve got some PB Plaster soaking on them to see if they loosen up. I’m afraid to go too hulk on them with vice grip or something because I don’t want to destroy these plastic ends.

Any tips and tricks from the peanut gallery?

My 07 wasn’t autoride so it was a cake walk. This seems to be a bit more delicate lol

View attachment 363868

They will pull apart. Just takes a little effort.

yep, channel locks/vice grips on each and just turn em... if youre using 1/8 all thread to replace the rod it will still fit snug,
if you break them i will send you mine cause theyre useless atm

Yep just force them. Some are molded, some are threaded and will unscrew easily but regardless you can thread something in afterwards. I bought threaded stainless steel screws and cut the heads off with my Dremel because I couldn’t find SS allthread. I had to experiment with different lengths in order to get it to air up just until it started to lift the truck. If they’re too long it will be too high, too short and there will be no air or not enough air to help hold the weight and you’ll feel like the shocks are blown. Every time you change them, pull an air line then start the truck and observe. You want it to just barely lift the rear. If I watch mine from no air to ride height, the fender raises maybe 1/8”.

 

[91RS]

The easy way to adjust them if you have a Tech 2 is to see what voltage the sensors read before you start and adjust them until they read the same after you change the rods and lower it.

 

[07Burb]

Ordered a couple new dorman links that’ll be here Thursday. I’ll modify those and leave the old, corroded OEM links alone since it’s obvious to me that they’re not going to survive being pulled apart.

To be continued…

 

[Rocket Man]

Ordered a couple new dorman links that’ll be here Thursday. I’ll modify those and leave the old, corroded OEM links alone since it’s obvious to me that they’re not going to survive being pulled apart.

To be continued…

You’ll figure it out. I have faith!

 

[07Burb]

You’ll figure it out. I have faith!

Me too

 

[iamdub]

First thing I’m tackling is these autoride rods because if this isn’t successful then it’s a show stopper as I was to retain autoride on the rear. I’ve got the rod off but these plastic ends are corroded on. I’ve got some PB Plaster soaking on them to see if they loosen up. I’m afraid to go too hulk on them with vice grip or something because I don’t want to destroy these plastic ends.

Any tips and tricks from the peanut gallery?

Mine ('08) were splined. I C-clamped a crescent wrench to my work bench and opened it just wide enough to fit the steel rod. I let the link hang in the crescent wrench's jaws by the socket end. I bit the rod firmly with some Vice Grips and smacked them with a hammer to yank the rod out of the end. Repeated three more times.

Before you lower it, put the link bars back on (or hold them against the ball studs) and mark the sensors. After lowering, rotate the sensor so that the marks align and make your links that length. I used a silver Sharpie to make a bold line then scratched a single gouge in the silver line wiht a utility knife to have literally razor-sharp accuracy.

 

[07Burb]

Ordered a couple new dorman links that’ll be here Thursday. I’ll modify those and leave the old, corroded OEM links alone since it’s obvious to me that they’re not going to survive being pulled apart.

To be continued…

Autoride links arrived today. I’m going to work on tearing them apart tomorrow and seeing if I can’t get them set up. Fingers crossed that all is successful

 

[07Burb]

Mine ('08) were splined. I C-clamped a crescent wrench to my work bench and opened it just wide enough to fit the steel rod. I let the link hang in the crescent wrench's jaws by the socket end. I bit the rod firmly with some Vice Grips and smacked them with a hammer to yank the rod out of the end. Repeated three more times.

Before you lower it, put the link bars back on (or hold them against the ball studs) and mark the sensors. After lowering, rotate the sensor so that the marks align and make your links that length. I used a silver Sharpie to make a bold line then scratched a single gouge in the silver line wiht a utility knife to have literally razor-sharp accuracy.

Tried this. Didn't work for me for some reason. On my next break (I'm working from home today), I'm going to cut the rod from the ends, drill into the end and see what happens then. Should work and all I've done so far is chew up the plastic ends with no noticeable progress so might as well go for the cutting and drilling technique LOL

 

[iamdub]

Tried this. Didn't work for me for some reason. On my next break (I'm working from home today), I'm going to cut the rod from the ends, drill into the end and see what happens then. Should work and all I've done so far is chew up the plastic ends with no noticeable progress so might as well go for the cutting and drilling technique LOL

Maybe yours are threaded. The rod might be glued into it. You could try heating the rod long enough to for the heat to travel into the plastic end but not melt it, then try twisting it out.



My shíz-

Stainless 10-24 threaded rod from Home Depot or Lowe's: