Bilstein 5100 install help

[Merninater]

Im running 5100s with 99 tall springs in the front and I cannot seem to get the lower strut mount to line up so I can get the bolt through. I disconnected the sway bar linkage and that helped a tiny bit but not much.

Considering either taking off the upper ball joint or the tie rod end to help get the clearance. Anybody run into this problem before and have suggestions? I briefly tried speedy's emergency jack trick but I could hear my fender well cracking so I am not going to do that method.

Thanks - Also I am using the 3 notch tacoma 5100s from wheelers offroad

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

Im running 5100s with 99 tall springs in the front and I cannot seem to get the lower strut mount to line up so I can get the bolt through. I disconnected the sway bar linkage and that helped a tiny bit but not much.

Considering either taking off the upper ball joint or the tie rod end to help get the clearance. Anybody run into this problem before and have suggestions? I briefly tried speedy's emergency jack trick but I could hear my fender well cracking so I am not going to do that method.

Thanks - Also I am using the 3 notch tacoma 5100s from wheelers offroad

Don't mess with the UBJ. It's a pITA. When I did my LCA bushings and I separated the LBJ from the LCA, I found it very easy to get the shock bolts in. Just separate the LBJ from the LCA. You'll need to borrow a ball joint removal kit from your local parts store if you dont have one) Do this with a jack underneath the LCA. Might need to disconnect the sway bar link too. Once you have it popped loose, carefully lower your jack and position the mount on the LCA with the eyelet on the bottom of the coilover in place between the 2 flanges. If it's too low (which it should be) jack up the LCA until you can get the bolt in. Make sure the stud on the lower ball joint is in the hole on the LCA while doing this. Once you have the coilover bolt all the way in, put the castle nut on the LBJ stud and jack the LCA up until the spindle starts moving up then just torque down your LBJ nut and your lower coilover nut and your good.
The issue i found with the jack in the wheel well method was it always wanted to pop out and you could barely get the bolt through the hole which ended up marring the threads and made putting the nut on almost impossible. I had to chase the threads with a die after doing it.

 

[Merninater]

Don't mess with the UBJ. It's a pITA. When I did my LCA bushings and I separated the LBJ from the LCA, I found it very easy to get the shock bolts in. Just separate the LBJ from the LCA. You'll need to borrow a ball joint removal kit from your local parts store if you dont have one) Do this with a jack underneath the LCA. Might need to disconnect the sway bar link too. Once you have it popped loose, carefully lower your jack and position the mount on the LCA with the eyelet on the bottom of the coilover in place between the 2 flanges. If it's too low (which it should be) jack up the LCA until you can get the bolt in. Make sure the stud on the lower ball joint is in the hole on the LCA while doing this. Once you have the coilover bolt all the way in, put the castle nut on the LBJ stud and jack the LCA up until the spindle starts moving up then just torque down your LBJ nut and your lower coilover nut and your good.
The issue i found with the jack in the wheel well method was it always wanted to pop out and you could barely get the bolt through the hole which ended up marring the threads and made putting the nut on almost impossible. I had to chase the threads with a die after doing it.

Okay so I have the sway bar link off already and I should be able to pop off the lower ball joint stud nut using my air-gun because I can actually fit it down there with the LCA jacked up. With the lower ball joint stud nut removed can I just tap the LCA downward with a hammer to loosen it? Not sure if I have the ball joint tool you are speaking of.

Also thanks for your speedy response

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

Okay so I have the sway bar link off already and I should be able to pop off the lower ball joint stud nut using my air-gun because I can actually fit it down there with the LCA jacked up. With the lower ball joint stud nut removed can I just tap the LCA downward with a hammer to loosen it? Not sure if I have the ball joint tool you are speaking of.

Also thanks for your speedy response

The ball joint stud is a tapered fit, and is pressed into the LCA. It won't come out with a hammer. The tool you need comes in a kit you can rent/borrow from your local autoparts store. Looks like this. Most kits come with a couple different sizes. You'll need the bigger one:

 

[stir_fry_boy]

Loosen the UCA, that will allow it to swing up/down so you can get the lower shock bolt through. Then torque to spec with vehicle on the ground.

 

[Merninater]

Loosen the UCA, that will allow it to swing up/down so you can get the lower shock bolt through. Then torque to spec with vehicle on the ground.

The UCA method does seem a lot easier to me (no offense to earlier response).. Going to borrow a lower profile impact gun from a neighbor to try this way because I cant get enough pressure on my impact to even budge the lower bolt at the moment

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

The UCA method does seem a lot easier to me (no offense to earlier response).. Going to borrow a lower profile impact gun from a neighbor to try this way because I cant get enough pressure on my impact to even budge the lower bolt at the moment

None taken. I loosened my UCA's too but I was installing Tundra springs and tundra 5100s and I still had a hard time. Just realized your only working with 99 talls so the UCA loosening should give you the extra little bit of room you need.

 

[Merninater]

None taken. I loosened my UCA's too but I was installing Tundra springs and tundra 5100s and I still had a hard time. Just realized your only working with 99 talls so the UCA loosening should give you the extra little bit of room you need.

It is extremely close to fitting with the UCA loose and the sway bar links removed. I may be able to get the bottom mounting bolt through with the help of a friend standing on it as I am about 1-2 mm from getting it.

 

[Merninater]

JOB FINISHED

After undoing the sway bar links and loosening the UCA through bolt on both sides I was able to get the bottom strut mount in securely. It did take two people and a crow bar. It would have made it easy if I were able to detach either the UBJ or the LBJ but I was not having luck getting the ball joint stud nuts off even with my impact.

This method was for the tacoma 3 notch 5100s with 99 tall shocks. So if your shock is longer than the tacoma 5100 I imagine you will be undoing a ball joint to get the clearance to do the install.