Ford SuperDuty Front Axle Lower Truss

Warning:  This Part Requires  General Mechanical Abilities   If you are not confident in your abilities Please have this product installed at a Local Off-Road Shop .  

Tools Required:

Safety Glasses, Gloves, Wrench set, Socket Set, Torque wrench, , Tie rod separator,   Jack, Jack stands(Tall and short) , Wheel chock,, Cutting tool (sawzall , cutoff wheel,  plasma cutter ect...)  Welder and welding ppe.

Step 1:

Take an inventory of your parts,  If you are missing any parts Please contact Artec Industries Immediately @ (855) 278-3299  M-F 8:30am-5pm MST if it is after those hours please email us pictures of what you received , along with product labels on the box and packing slip at Sales@artecindustries.com

Step 2:

Place Wheel chocks at the rear wheels on the vehicle.  with the vehicle on the ground break the lug nuts on the wheels free (Do not fully loosen or remove them.)  Using a jack raise up the front of the vehicle and place tall jack stands under the frame behind the lower control arm mounts.  and a shorter set under the axle.

Step 3:

Remove wheels from vehicle,  Remove front drive shaft from the axle ,  Remove the brake calipers and rotors (Set the rotors on a flat surface so they do not warp),  Hang the calipers from the body with some bungee cords (Do not let the calipers hang freely from the brake lines this can damage them.) Remove cotter pins on Tie rods,  Then loosen the castle nuts.   (Leave the castle nuts  installed by a few threads ! ) Remove the Steering stabilizer ,  Grab your Tie rod Separator, wedge it between the knuckle and the base of the tie rod  the hit on the end of the Tie rod separator with your Big Freaking Hammer until it pops loose. Repeat this on the other side. Remove the castle nuts and the Drag-link and tie rod should drop off the vehicle.

Step 4:

Remove the coil spring retainers from the axle,  Remove Shocks, sway bar end links, and Track bar. 

Using a jack lower slowly lower the axle to remove the coil springs.  Raise the axle back up and place jack stands under the axle, Remove upper and lower control arms.  Pull the axle out from under the vehicle for more room to work.

Step 5:

Clean the axle tubes of any paint, rust, and debris to prep for welding.

Step 6:

Place part tr6005-5 under the Passenger Side tube between the Lower control arm mount and the C for the knuckle and tack weld into place. 

Step 7:

Place tr6005-1  on the driver side Axle tube between the differential and C for the knuckle. and Tack weld into place

Step 8:

Place  tr6005-2 on the axle tube between the diff housing and control arm bracket on the passenger side

and tack weld into place

Step 9:

Tack weld part Tr6005-4 in the opening on the tr6005-1 and tack weld into place .

Step 10:

Tack weld part Tr6005-3 in the opening on Tr6005-2 and the housing.

Step 11:

Stitch weld all of the Truss Pieces to the axle tubes and housing  Move around from 1 end to the other and work your way around the axle to keep the heat down to minimize the risk of warping the axle . After the truss is welded on the axle  Prime and paint the axle.

Step 12:

Reinstall the axle into the vehicle  and torque all bolts to factory specs .

After 50 miles  Check all bolts for tightness and tighten if needed .