Hi all. Having a hell of s time getting the suspension adjusted properly after a replacement 3 years ago. Turns out the installer didn't do any of it properly. From missing washers on the UCAs, missing tophats etc it's taken me this long to discover it all. Rides like shit.

Recently found the front bilsteins were set to highest setting not the 1.85"so i had them put back down and aligned. Shop that did work didn't check for rub and the tires are scraping the metal frame. I trimmed all the plastic i could.

So i need them re adjusted up another setting or 2. Is this something i can work on, safely, to increase the setting? I would presume that's a Texas sized hell no to lower the setting. I'll pay the shop again just trying not to.

Any thoughts?

If you have moderate mechanical skills doing your own suspension is pretty simple. You can remove the front shocks from the spring assembly using the "no spring compressor" method and then remove (if you have them?) the top hats, or install new top hats, adjust the circlip on the shock body where you want it and reassemble. Just need a floor jack and some jack stands and basic hand tools. Watch a youtube video and do it!

Its theoretically possible, but in no way advised. Youd need a tiny but very strong spring compressor to take the weight of the spring off the bottom perch and then slide that down.

Its relatively straight forward and you should be able to do it or a shop should be able to do it for a few hundred

Yeah I'll bite the bullet, have the shop do. Thanks. Worth trying to save some cash but I'm not a fan of the DIY spring compressor.

Agreed - i think the DIY are fine for like civics, corollas, small cars. But if you have a big truck or a lift, I would not advise at all, from first hand experience. I did all sort of reading/ video watching. Was sold on this one by autozone manager as the best option Powerbuilt STRUT TOOL / STRUT COIL COMPRESSOR KIT91 641429

And the spring would just not sit flush unit as it is helical and the compression parts are flat- the spring flew out and broke a bunch of stuff in my garage and broke the compressor

Eh, I actually think the suspension on these guys isn't that bad. There is plenty of room to work, which is not always the case on smaller cars.

My inability to find a great shop has lead to me learning how to do a lot myself lol.

Thats why the "no spring compressor" method is great, you use a floor jack under your LCA to compress the spring, remove the nut that holds the shock at the top, remove the bolt/nut that holds strut to LCA at bottom, and then lower the jack and the shock and spring will almost fall out for you. Reassemble in reverse order, it's really very simple. Probably need to remove the two bolts on either side of your LBJ that secures your LCA to LBJ, but again, no big deal.

the no spring compressor method works great and used it on my 5100 when i added 2.5” springs so i moved it back to zero lift. toyotas dont have a lot of preload on the spring. after i saw how easy it was did it no problem by myself.

I agree with the “no spring compressor” method. I’ve used it several times to adjust the 5100’s and also to replace them entirely. It’s a little sketchy the first time but once you do it the first time it’s not that bad.

oh i totally mis-understood. doing that i'm totally comfortable with i thought this was the method of "i dont have a real spring compressor, so i'm going to use a home-made one with bolts and metal plates"

this is a great idea and will save me thank you all. i'm on work travel for the next month so if i get a warm day after i get back i'll work on it.

woooo you all are fantastic help once again. mucho thanko.

I'm a big fan of the "no spring compressor" method and it works a treat. It's safe and easy but you do need to watch few YT videos to feel safe. I have two types of spring compressor tools and I still prefer the no compressor method. I bet I can take a spring out in less than half hour now but I'm also very capable and practice safety.