Red Armageddon
02-23-2003, 01:28 PM
Here's a few pointers for the rest of you that might want to do these yourself:
Side Steps:
1. Fairly smooth installation. The hard part is actually holding the steps in place while you are trying to bolt them on. I did a few leg-balancing tricks on the first step, and it took me ~30 min to finally get it on & tighten the bolts. The second step was much easier. I placed myself on my back under the E and balanced the step on my chest while I bolted the thing on. This was _much_ easier than the first balancing act I went through.
2. I haven't seen it metioned, but I'm pretty sure that the steps are made of aluminum with plastic end caps. This makes the torque values very important when you are bolting the thing on (but the bolts and built-in nuts are steel, thank-God). Unofrtunately, without a lift you will be SOL when trying to use a torque wrench because of clearance issues. Just remember that you need to get the bolts snug w/o over-tightening them to prevent "bad things" with the unit body and the aluminum steps. Don't overdo it.
3. The steps stick out about three-four inches from the bottom of the E, but they come nearly flush to the furthest protrusions of the door, so don't expect them to handle any door-dings in the parking lot.
Mud Flaps:
1. Very easy install, just drill out the two dimples in the rear panel first & you won't have any problem with the "self-tapping" screws and tire clearance.
2. The rear ones really seem to keep the mud off, but the front ones don't (because you need to turn the front wheels from time to time). So don't expect the flaps to save the sides of your E from mud puddles.
Other things installed that I had absolutely NO problems with:
Bug shield
Rear bumper trim
Chrome exhaust thingy
New speakers
Convex mirror stickers
Remote entry
If you are the least bit capable of following directions and turning a screw driver, you won't have any problems with these, either.
Side Steps:
1. Fairly smooth installation. The hard part is actually holding the steps in place while you are trying to bolt them on. I did a few leg-balancing tricks on the first step, and it took me ~30 min to finally get it on & tighten the bolts. The second step was much easier. I placed myself on my back under the E and balanced the step on my chest while I bolted the thing on. This was _much_ easier than the first balancing act I went through.
2. I haven't seen it metioned, but I'm pretty sure that the steps are made of aluminum with plastic end caps. This makes the torque values very important when you are bolting the thing on (but the bolts and built-in nuts are steel, thank-God). Unofrtunately, without a lift you will be SOL when trying to use a torque wrench because of clearance issues. Just remember that you need to get the bolts snug w/o over-tightening them to prevent "bad things" with the unit body and the aluminum steps. Don't overdo it.
3. The steps stick out about three-four inches from the bottom of the E, but they come nearly flush to the furthest protrusions of the door, so don't expect them to handle any door-dings in the parking lot.
Mud Flaps:
1. Very easy install, just drill out the two dimples in the rear panel first & you won't have any problem with the "self-tapping" screws and tire clearance.
2. The rear ones really seem to keep the mud off, but the front ones don't (because you need to turn the front wheels from time to time). So don't expect the flaps to save the sides of your E from mud puddles.
Other things installed that I had absolutely NO problems with:
Bug shield
Rear bumper trim
Chrome exhaust thingy
New speakers
Convex mirror stickers
Remote entry
If you are the least bit capable of following directions and turning a screw driver, you won't have any problems with these, either.