[grokglock]

Picture update - 8.25/8.75 wraps are in along with LC KYB gasajust shocks. It's nice to have a working suspension again. The LC provided BIG lift. Right now the rake is ridiculous but I won't have another chance to install the front until Wednesday. However It's got me realizing I am not going to mind a bit of a rake. I need to read up on how to do the diff drop. Onward.

[grokglock]

These suckers are heavy and thick. I hope they hold up I've seen mixed reviews but generally positive.

[grokglock]

Gather round for a tale of horror, sadness, and pain. I started breaking down the front suspension on Tuesday night. Everything was going easy until I got to the 3 top nuts on the struts. I applied PB blaster and got them moving but something wasn't right.

As I applied torque the nuts would budge and spin but after a while I noticed they weren't traveling upwards at all. The nuts were so seized they sheered the knurling that holds them on to the strut mount. They nut was bound up and the bolt was just free spinning in the mount, they weren't coming off. I ended up having to spend the next few hours carefully cutting the nuts/bolts off finally got them with a dremel carbide bit as the space was too cramped for my grinder to reach the innermost nut.

I got everything off on wednesday morning and began assembling the 5100s and springs. I ordered new top hats from autozone and put everything together, I thought I was in the clear but it became evident immediately something else was wrong. The duralast mount was built just about 2mm wrong, every bolt refused to line up with the holes on the truck.

At this point I knew I had to disassemble the strut return the duralast mounts and order them from toyota.

Of course however... now that the entire strut was assembled my spring compressor refused to go back in somehow.. I had to take the strut to a shop to have it broken down.

Dealership banged me out for $97 a piece but I was boned so I had to do it. I would have gotten some from a junkyard but at this point I was not about to play around anymore.

So here I am waiting for my new mounts to arrive so I can zip her back up. I really hate not being able to finish such a simple job in 1 day and having to wait for the new mounts. I'm trying to remind myself she is going to be much better off in the end though. /rant

[grokglock]

She's finally done! Bilstein 5100s and moog 81088 up front, LC 8.5 wraps and LC KYB shocks out back, Wheeler's diff drop, new OEM front strut mounts.

I need to find 2 more center caps, missing 2 is bothering the heck out of me. Up next is the transfer case input shaft seal, then going to put some hid lamps on the bumper, then going to change every fluid in her 1 weekend at a time.

[grokglock]

Originally Posted by ryanok123

Hey what 5100 did you use and what setting ?


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Bilstein BE5-D558-TO
Wheeler's lists them as for the 4runner but I believe these are the same as the Tacoma. The tundras are a different part number. I have them on the highest perch. Ride is firm but pleasant.

[Venka93]

How’s the ride with the kyb LC shocks?


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[grokglock]

Originally Posted by grokglock

Bilstein BE5-D558-TO
Wheeler's lists them as for the 4runner but I believe these are the same as the Tacoma. The tundras are a different part number. I have them on the highest perch. Ride is firm but pleasant.

The rear ride I would describe as "plush" much softer than the front. Very nice feeling actually. My entire suspension was in very bad shape though so my opinion is based on a 4runner with bad suspension.

[Venka93]

Originally Posted by grokglock

The rear ride I would describe as "plush" much softer than the front. Very nice feeling actually. My entire suspension was in very bad shape though so my opinion is based on a 4runner with bad suspension.

Oh sorry I thought you were describing the billies in that post. Thanks


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[grokglock]

[grokglock]

Originally Posted by ryanok123

Did the lc shocks bolt right up ? Or did you have to change the bushings ?


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Direct bolt on.

[grokglock]

Originally Posted by ryanok123

Well I have the same issue my top nuts are toasted and just plane seized to the strut mount appears someone has tried to get them off before but they just rounded the nuts off any ideas dremel , grinder , sawzal I have all 3 but not sure what blades I need ? I’m was hoping this would be a relatively quick deal but of course not I’m starting to hate my current t4r


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Dremel MultiMax with the crazy expensive carbide bits was the only thing that worked for me. Grinder was too big.

[grokglock]

285 gang