FVC SP1102B Sprinter Side Steps 144 Installation Guide
- June 9, 2024
- FVC
Table of Contents
FVC SP1102B Sprinter Side Steps 144
All Flatline Van Co products must be properly assembled and secured before attaching to your vehicle. Improper attachment could result in an automobile accident, and could cause serious bodily injury or death to you or to others involved. You are responsible for assembling and securing Flatline Van Co products to your vehicle, checking the mounting points and attachments prior to use, and regularly inspecting the products for wear and or damage. We always recommend you use a professional to install any aftermarket accessories to your vehicle. If you have no mechanical experience and are not thoroughly familiar with the installation procedures, you must have the product installed by a professional installer or other qualified persons. The responsibility is yours and must be taken seriously for everyone’s safety.
THANK YOU!
ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT YOUR NEW SIDE STEPS? HERE ARE A FEW THINGS TO DO BEFORE BEGINNING THE INSTALLATION PROCESS–
- PLEASE INSPECT THE PRODUCT TO ENSURE THERE WAS NO DAMAGE INCURRED DURING SHIPPING.
- IF THERE IS DAMAGE TO REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
- NEXT, USING THE “PACKAGE CONTENTS” PAGE, CHECK INVENTORY AND FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE PARTS AND HARDWARE.
- GATHER ALL TOOLS REQUIRED FOR INSTALL.
- IMPACT DRIVER
- 3/8 DRIVER BIT
- POWER DRILL
- 3/16 DRILL BIT
- 17/32 DRILL BIT
- 7/32 ALLEN KEY
- 5/32 ALLEN KEY
- RIVET NUT TOOL WITH 3/8-16 MANDREL
- 9/16 SOCKET
- RATCHET
- BLUE LOCTITE
ESTIMATED INSTALL TIME- 2 HRS
ADDITIONAL HELP IS SUGGESTED FOR A FEW OF THE INSTALL STEPS.
TOOLS
PACKAGE CONTENTS
HARDWARE
LET’S GET STARTED
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THE FIRST STEP IS TO ASSEMBLE THE SIDE STEPS. START WITH ONE SIDE, GRABBING BOTH RESPECTIVE WELDMENTS AND SLIDE A BAYONET INTO THE REAR WELDMENT. APPLY BLUE LOCTITE AND LOOSELY THREAD IN TWO 1/4-20 X 0.75 BUTTON HEAD HEX DRIVE SCREWS TO HOLD THE BAYONET IN PLACE, THEN SLIDE THE WELDMENT TOGETHER AS SHOWN IN THE DIAGRAM. THREAD THE OTHER TWO SCREWS INTO THE BAYONET, THEN ATTACH THE JOINING BRACKET WITH TWO 3/8-16 X 1 SERRATED FLANGED HEX HEAD SCREWS; THESE SHOULD HAVE BLUE LOCTITE APPLIED AS WELL. TIGHTEN ALL HARDWARE AND REPEAT FOR THE OTHER SIDE. NOTE- THE JOINING BRACKET IS USED TO HELP WITH ALIGNMENT OF THE TWO WELDMENTS AND CAN BE CLAMPED IN PLACE WHILE TIGHTENING TO ENSURE ALIGNMENT.
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NEXT, WE NEED INSTALL THE 3/8-16 X 0.75 BUTTON HEAD HEX DRIVE SCREWS AND 3/8 SCREW BONDED SEALING WASHERS IN THE THREADHOLES ON THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE STEPS TO SEAL THEM FROM WATER AND THE ELEMENTS. THESE SCREWS SHOULD HAVE BLUE LOCTITE APPLIED ON THEM. SEE THE DIAGRAM AND FIGURE 1 FOR DETAIL
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NOW WE MOVE ON TO MOUNTING THE HANGAR BRACKETS. FIRST, WE NEED TO MARK THE LOCATIONS TO MOUNT THEM. USING THE FRONT JACK POINT AS OUR REFERENCE, LAYOUT THE BRACKET LOCATIONS USING THE DIAGRAM ON THE RIGHT. NOTE THAT THESE DIMENSIONS ARE CENTERLINE DIMENSIONS. PLEASE NOTE THE LABELS NEXT TO THE BRACKETS IN THE DIAGRAM; THE SHORT BRACKETS ARE LABELED S AND THE TALL ARE LABELED T. THE TWO TALL BRACKETS GO TO THE REAR OF THE VAN ON THE DRIVER SIDE AS SHOWN.
NOTE – ENSURE YOUR MARKS ARE ACCURATE. THERE IS A SMALL AMOUNT OF ADJUSTMENT BUILT INTO THE BRACKET MOUNT HOLES FOR TOLERANCE. LABELING YOUR MARKS FOR THE BRACKET TYPE AS YOU GO IS A GOOD WAY TO AVOID PLACING THE WRONG BRACKET IN THE WRONG LOCATION.
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THE HANGER BRACKETS ARE DESIGNED TO STRADDLE THE PINCH SEAM OF THE VAN. INSERT THEM IN PLACE ACCORDING TO THE PLACEMENT DIAGRAM ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE, AND THEN DRIVE IN FOUR 1/4 X 0.75 HEX HEAD DRILLING SCREWS IN THE LOCATIONS SHOWN. WE RECOMMEND DRILLING PILOT HOLES FOR THE SCREWS THAT GO THROUGH THE PINCH SEAM.
NOTE – THE FOUR MOUNTING HOLES USED IN THIS STEP ARE SLOTTED TO ALLOW FOR A SMALL AMOUNT OF LATERAL ADJUSTMENT IF NECESSARY. -
NOW YOU WILL ATTACH THE SIDE STEP ASSEMBLIES TO THE HANGER BRACKETS (PASSENGER SIDE SHOWN). YOU WILL NEED TO SANDWICH A BRACKET SPACER (DOUBLE) BETWEEN EACH HANGER BRACKET AND THE SIDE STEP AS SHOWN BELOW. THESE HELP INCREASE STIFFNESS OF THE STEP DURING USE. APPLY BLUE LOCTITE TO ALL OF THE 3/8-16 X 1 SERRATED FLANGED HEX HEAD SCREWS AND TIGHTEN THEM DOWN. REPEAT FOR OTHER SIDE.
NOTE – IT IS VERY HELPFUL TO EITHER HAVE A SECOND PERSON HELP YOU HOLD THE STEP IN PLACE, OR USE A FLOOR JACK. THE SIDE STEPS ARE HEAVY AND CAN BE DIFFICULT TO HOLD STEADY BY YOURSELF.
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STARTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, INSTALL 3/8-16 RIVET NUTS INTO THE BODY NEXT. THE LOCATIONS ARE CIRCLED IN THE IMAGE TO THE RIGHT. IT IS ALWAY A GOOD IDEA TO DOUBLE CHECK YOUR RIVET NUTS ONCE INSTALLED TO ENSURE THEY DO NOT FALL OUT OR SPIN.
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ONCE YOU’VE INSTALLED THE RIVET NUTS, YOU CAN ATTACH THE PASSENGER SIDE BRACES. THERE ARE TWO STYLES; P1 & P2. REFER TO THE DIAGRAM BELOW FOR LOCATIONS. SANDWICH THE BRACKET SPACER (SINGLE) BETWEEN EACH BRACE AND THE SIDE STEP AND ATTACH WITH 3/8-16 X 1 SERRATED FLANGED HEX HEAD SCREWS, AGAIN APPLYING BLUE LOCTITE.
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THE DRIVER SIDE REQUIRES YOU TO DRILL HOLES TO INSTALL THE RIVET NUTS. BOLT UP YOUR BRACES AS SHOWN IN THE DIAGRAM AND MARK YOUR HOLE LOCATIONS ON THE BODY STRUCTURE BEAMS CIRCLED IN THE IMAGES. MAKE SURE YOUR BRACES ARE FITTED CORRECTLY AND SIT AS FLAT AS POSSIBLE, THEN MARK YOUR HOLE IN THE CENTER OF THE MOUNTING SLOT. REMOVE THE BRACES AND DRILL A PILOT HOLE IN EACH WITH THE 3/16” BIT, THEN DRILL OUT WITH THE 17/32” BIT. CLEAN HOLES (RUST PREVENTATIVE PAINT IS RECOMMENDED) AND INSTALL YOUR RIVET NUTS.
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ONCE YOU’VE INSTALLED THE RIVET NUTS, YOU CAN ATTACH THE DRIVER SIDE BRACES. THERE ARE TWO STYLES; D1 & D2. REFER TO THE DIAGRAM BELOW FOR LOCATIONS. SANDWICH THE BRACKET SPACER (SINGLE) BETWEEN EACH BRACE AND THE SIDE STEP AND ATTACH WITH 3/8-16 X 1 SERRATED FLANGED HEX HEAD SCREWS, AGAIN APPLYING BLUE LOCTITE.
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INSERT THE REMAINING 1/4 X 0.75 HEX HEAD DRILLING SCREWS INTO THE UPPER PORTION OF THE HANGER BRACKETS. WE RECOMMEND AT LEAST TWO. THERE ARE 6 HOLES TO ACCOMMODATE THE UNEVEN SURFACE OF THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VAN. ENSURE YOU ARE SCREWING INTO A FLAT FACE FOR THE MOST SECURE ATTACHMENT. ONCE FINISHED, DOUBLE CHECK ALL FASTENERS ON THE STEPS AND BRACKETS ARE TIGHT AND SECURE.
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CUSTOMER SUPPORT
If you are having any issues with your product, please reach out, and we will
make it right. FVC is a company of van and outdoor enthusiasts that design and
use our own products, so we want you to be as stoked on your new parts as we
are!
FLATLINE VAN CO • SUPPORT@FLATLINEVANCO.COM • 888-667-5576
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