Tacoma Front Spring/Shock Install??

[Boston Mangler]

Hey Guys

I am helping a friend install an OME lift in his 99 Taco

Are there any special tools needed to mate the front springs and shocks?

Spring compressors?

Easiest way to do it?

Recommended U-Bolts? The OME kit didnt come with any!

[detailbarn]

Hey Guys

I am helping a friend install an OME lift in his 99 Taco

Are there any special tools needed to mate the front springs and shocks?

Spring compressors?

Easiest way to do it?

Recommended U-Bolts? The OME kit didnt come with any!


no special tools needed just install the spring onto the shock bolt the top three bolts in. Now for the tricky part using a floor jack raise the lower control arm to meet the bolt eye on the shock. It is much easier with the sway bar disconnected however if you loosen them plan on getting new sway bar links as they tend to seize. Hope all goes well , your friend will love the ride improvment.

[Box Rocket]

mangler, any updates? how did the install go? I may be helping a friend with his soon.

[Boston Mangler]

mangler, any updates? how did the install go? I may be helping a friend with his soon.

Yeah, i am going to toss out the BS flag on Detailbarn Bogus Info!

When installing lift springs you MUST use spring compressor and assemble the unit before hand!

Was very easy with the compressors, a very straight forward install, but DetailBarns info was wrong plain and simple! Luckily we had a Kragen right near us that had the compressors on the shelf!

I am have installed MANY lifts of MANY different types of rigs and there is NO WAY that this can be done in the method you mention! Sorry!

Rides much better!

[Box Rocket]

Good to know. Thanks. If you've got any how-to steps you'd like to share, I'm sure it would be helpful for when I need to try to tackle this.

[Bighead]

Boston: It looks like he spent most of the post, other than the first sentence, describing how to install the assembled coil-over onto the truck. Maybe a bit of confusion on his part on the original question.

Box Rocket: Save yourself some time and find a place that has a wall-mounted spring compressor and use that to have your coil-over assembled. I have the Craftsman spring compressor but found the ends were too thick to fit between the wraps of my Tundra coils. A couple of guys have used the Harbor Freight ones because they have narrower ends but I didn't like the fact there was no safety lock like the Craftsman has.

Once you get the old one out it is pretty straight forward. Line up the studs with the holes and use a floor jack to lift up on the lower control arm to line up the lower shock mount. If for some reason the hole on the bottom of the shock does not line up with the lower control arm mount, insert a ratchet extension into the bushing and rotate the shock shaft to line it up. Make sure you torque everything to spec (47 ft-lbf for the 3 x stud bolts and 101 ft-lbf for the lower shock bolt according to my '01 4Runner FSM).

[p1michaud]

Gents,
If you have access to a welder and press there is another option:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/p1michaud/Tacoma/DSC02084.jpg

See the Now THAT'S a spring compressor . . . (http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=643) thread for other options.

Cheers :beer:,
P

[cruiseroutfit]

I've actually installed them the detailedbarn way... numerous times before I had the setup in the press. I promise it works :D
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=643&highlight=coil

I had a couple different compressors that we were trying to use, in the end the "jack method" was easier and much quicker.

As of late I just pre-assemble them, sometimes days before I have the truck in my hands. I built some jigs similar to the pictures seen for my shop press... it is super slick and quick. I picked up an extra set of the "donor parts" (the strut mount and washer) so I don't even have to dissassemble the old strut setups (until I need those parts for the next rig).

Long and short... if I didn't have the press setup, I would still be using the "jack method"... the spring compressors stay in the drawer :D

[Boston Mangler]

I've actually installed them the detailedbarn way... numerous times before I had the setup in the press. I promise it works :D
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=643&highlight=coil

I had a couple different compressors that we were trying to use, in the end the "jack method" was easier and much quicker.

As of late I just pre-assemble them, sometimes days before I have the truck in my hands. I built some jigs similar to the pictures seen for my shop press... it is super slick and quick. I picked up an extra set of the "donor parts" (the strut mount and washer) so I don't even have to dissassemble the old strut setups (until I need those parts for the next rig).

Long and short... if I didn't have the press setup, I would still be using the "jack method"... the spring compressors stay in the drawer :D

I stand corrected and apologize to DETAILBARN!

I will go sit in the corner now!

:D

[Box Rocket]

Kurt, I'm gonna have to have you show me real quick if I come out there to pick up parts for my buddy.

Thanks for the help though.

Adam

[cruiseroutfit]

Kurt, I'm gonna have to have you show me real quick if I come out there to pick up parts for my buddy.

Thanks for the help though.

Adam

Or we can pre-assemble them here in a couple of minutes... Either you purchase the needed parts (~$90) or borrow my spares and bring me your assemblies back afterwards. I'm actually waiting on my cores to come back right now... I better make a call :D

[Box Rocket]

Sweet I'll let you know.