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Purchased a Dexter EZ Flex kit from Nick's Truck Parts, part number K71-653-00. http://www.dexteraxle.com/inc/sdetail/18100 The following is how I installed this kit as an experiment only, not intended as installation instructions. I'm confident there are safer methods used by RV/Trailer professionals. Installed one side of the kit this morning and plan to install the other side of the kit tomorrow. Connected the Ollie to the Tacoma and placed weight on the front jack: Chocked both wheels with four chocks on the opposite side and put weight on that jack also: Lifted the wheels off the ground on side for kit installation with on board Ollie jack. Also placed jack stand under Ollie frame in case of trailer jack failure: Used a Craftsman ATV jack and with two 10' long 2X4s cut in half and screwed together to support both axles at the same time. Cut notches in the 2X4 beam to hold the axles in place, decided not use to the notches (axles did not fit perfectly), flipped the beam over and used the smooth side & worked OK. Using the 5' long jack/beam with ATV jack to support both axles during project: Removed shoulder shackle bolt and plastic bushing : Replacing plastic bushing with bronze bushing in spring with bolt & nut pulling bushing into spring: Bronze Bushing Installed: Shackle bolt, bushing, and spring assembled with bolt grease outlet hole axis parallel to Ollie frame: Removed shackle bolts and center pivot bolt for EZ Flex Equalizer installation: All of the original Dexter bolts and plastic bushings were in good condition except for the center pivot plastic bushing, it was starting to wear through and fail. Our Ollie has about 9000 miles since new.

Regarding the ride, after installing our kit and a two week trip to Glacier earlier in July we both definitely noticed a different ride, smoother and more compliant is how I would describe it. We also noticed far less, as in almost no, shuffling of gear in the upper cupboards over the kitchen upon arrival too. And the Oliver is quiet as a church mouse now too. Hope this helps.

Don, There's two EZ flex 45 degree fittings per side: EZ flex fittings not visible from this view, but four shackle fittings are visible: Two spring shackle pins per side, too: Hope this helps! :)

Buzzy mentioned 16 grease zirks. I have only found 12. The EZ Flex has 4 on each side and I found two on each side for the leaf springs. Where are the four that I missed? Also, you may all know this but if you jack the trailer so the tires are off the ground, it relieves the pressure on the leaf springs and EZ Flex. Makes it a lot easier to grease them! I'm not the most mechanically gifted person, but owning this Oliver is prompting me to develop patience and problem-solving skills. Don

It's a nice looking kit and I love the bronze bushings and greasable joints. Much better than the plastic bushings. I watched the Dexter video on this and could not see that it made the ride any better. The urethane bumpers seems to be doing nothing in that case, but it might have been loaded too lightly to make a difference. Please let us know if you notice any difference in the quality of the ride. But either way, the quality of the fittings is much better.

Rotated Buzzy's picture

Check under the overhead cabinet in the bathroom on the street side.