The drop! After wheels and tires, my favorite part of any build is the drop. I'd never lowered any AWD or 4x4 before, but I felt pretty confident after reading the instructions and watching a few YouTube videos.
I did new hubs and axles while I was in there and I ended up destroying a ball joint to pop the old spindle off on one side. Replacing that ball joint is one of the more frustrating things I've ever attempted with a parts store loaner ball joint kit that didn't seem to have everything in it. I bought a new ball joint tool kit from Harbor Freight and had the new ball joint in 20 minutes after I got home. I bought new inner and outer tie rods and took them to the same shop that mounted my wheels to get them installed and an alignment. They recommended a new pitman arm and idler arm, so I got those installed there too. I wasn't happy with the alignment after the first try, so I brought it back the next day. It's drivable now but it's a little twitchy and looks toed out to me. I'm currently looking for a new alignment shop.
I must've lost the autoride links for the rear so I went shopping at Lowe's for something that would put me at a 3" link (according to the instructions). I'm not 100% happy with how the rear rides now. I didn't put the spacer in, so I might try that. I didn't do the free travel mod, but I did use the smaller bumpstop that came with the kit. It also doesn't feel like there's any air in the shocks, so I'm not sure the links are right.
It still needs some tweaking, but it's getting there. I've never lowered anything that was perfectly right the first time.
Here it is off the jack stands for the first time: