Front Shocks--A few tips
Just did my front shocks yesterday. I have a 1998 SR5 4WD.
You will need to loosen then remove the three bolts on the top of the spring support piece (mine were 14mm). You will probably need to use a box end wrench on the ones near the wheel well since you won't be able to get a socket on them. Mine were frozen solid and it took considerable effort to get them off, but with patience, some break free spray, and a lot of elbow grease I was able to get them off.
You can then unbolt the bottom of the shock and the whole thing (shock, coil spring, and the spring support piece) will come out.
You will need a spring compressor (or two) to compress the coil spring. Be careful!!! Spring compressors can be dangerous as they can pop off sometimes.
On the top of the shock itself, you will see a rod with a square end that has a nut on the threaded part. With the spring compressed, hold the square rod with vise grips or a bench vise and unscrew the big retaining nut. Mine was a 17mm.
When the nut comes off, the shock will fall out and round spring support piece piece will pop off the top of the coil spring with a screwdriver.
When buying replacment shocks, MAKE SURE YOU GET A MODEL THAT HAS THE LITTLE ROUND PIECE FOR THE BOTTOM OF THE COIL SPRING TO SIT ON! Many shocks are advertised as fitting the front of a 4Runner, but they don't have that piece for the bottom of the coil spring.
FWIW, while you have everything apart, I would also recommend replacing the coil spring support piece. They are not very expensive and you will have a nice new one with new nuts and bolts to hold everything snugly in place. You can find them on-line.
Like the Chiltons and Haynes manuals say: installation is the reverse of removal.
Hope this helps! :cheers:
