Front suspension installation failed

[bobdod04]

Hey guys, I finally had some time to install some FJ coils and shocks on my T4R today. My plan was to use the "no spring compressor" method seen on Toyota120:

OME Install - no spring compressor - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum

After reading about a lot of people having success with this method I had a lot of confidence going into the project. I picked this method because the front FJ springs and shocks are not assembled, and this method takes advantage of that. I made it through the first few steps with no problems... lifted the truck, pulled the skids, pulled the front sway bar, but then I got stuck.

I could not for the life of me get the top bolt on the front shocks to free up. I had an adjustable wrench on the very top, kind of flat part to stop the shock from spinning while using a 17mm wrench to try to turn the nut. In the end, the little flat top piece actually broke off and I was not able to free the nut. the FSM says that this nut is only at 18 ft-lbs, so I am not sure why it was on there so tight. The other side was the same and I could not get it loose. Does anyone have any advice on how to loosen that thing up? Or should I just pull the entire coilover and take it to a shop for disassembly?

Here is a picture of where the nut I am talking about is. The picture is from the Toyota120 write-up with the nut already removed.

 

[Nitewulf]

Use a cloth or rubber style strap wrench on the shock housing, it will give you enough bite to hold it in place and not damage the shock.

Silt and road grime work their way into the threads over time turning that 18 into 118.

 

[calikev]

I used a chainlink vice grip wrench and locked it onto the body of the shock. The nut twisted right off with hardly any effort at all while holding that wrench. The wrench was about $6 at Pep Boys.

 

[bobdod04]

I am not quite sure what I would grab onto... what do you mean by "the body"? Are you talking about the dust cover? Should I be grabbing hold of the dust cover (crushing it) and the rod it covers with the strap wrench? I am not sure it would hold it from spinning. I was able to put enough torque on the shock to break off the small flat part above the shock nut and it still didn't loosen.

 

[calikev]

Yes, use a strap or chainlink wrench on the dust cover for the rears. I suggest you remove the entire coilover assembled for the fronts and just take it to a shop with a spring compressor if you need the springs separated for some reason.

I'm unsure why you are trying to remove that center nut anyway. The 3 surrounding nuts are all that needs to be removed to remove the entire coilover for the fronts. You stated you were replacing the front coilovers with complete FJ coilovers. If this is the case, just take the front coilovers out with the 3 surrounding bolts and then put the new FJ coilovers in.

 

[bobdod04]

Yes, use a strap or chainlink wrench on the dust cover for the rears. I suggest you remove the entire coilover assembled for the fronts and just take it to a shop with a spring compressor if you need the springs separated for some reason.

I'm unsure why you are trying to remove that center nut anyway. The 3 surrounding nuts are all that needs to be removed to remove the entire coilover for the fronts. You stated you were replacing the front coilovers with complete FJ coilovers. If this is the case, just take the front coilovers out with the 3 surrounding bolts and then put the new FJ coilovers in.

I am not replacing complete coilovers on the fronts. I have springs and shocks, but no top plate so the stock coilovers need to be separated. The write up I linked to in my first post does the replacement in a way which removes the shock and spring without removing the top plate and without the need for a spring compressor. If I had the complete front coilover, I would not be trying to take apart the stock one.

 

[calikev]

It's a short trip to a shop with the old coilovers and new FJ shocks and springs. You will probably give them $10 and be done in 10 min.

Just trying to help you man. You seem a little offended, so I'll let someone else takeover from here.

Good Luck

 

[bobdod04]

It's a short trip to a shop with the old coilovers and new FJ shocks and springs. You will probably give them $10 and be done in 10 min.

Just trying to help you man. You seem a little offended, so I'll let someone else takeover from here.

Good Luck

Hey, thanks for the advice, not offended at all. Sorry if I came accross otherwise. I guess I am just a bit frustrated with the failure thus far. I'll try the chain vice grip approach for the fronts and rears. I'd rather not have to pull out the whole coilover to take to a shop. Not having a vehicle will make it tough to get there.

 

[kernel.panik]

Just an observation...

I haven't read through this thread or the linked thread thoroughly enough to be sure, but I would imagine that if you have already lifted the truck and the suspension isn't under a load, then there is tension on that nut.

Maybe if you jack up the bottom arm you could relive some tension from the top nut and get it off.

Hope that helps & I understand your frustration, the lift I just put on the front was such a PITA that I don't want to do the rear yet, so I'm living with a fugly rake at the moment...

kp

 

[bobdod04]

Just an observation...

I haven't read through this thread or the linked thread thoroughly enough to be sure, but I would imagine that if you have already lifted the truck and the suspension isn't under a load, then there is tension on that nut.

Maybe if you jack up the bottom arm you could relive some tension from the top nut and get it off.

Hope that helps & I understand your frustration, the lift I just put on the front was such a PITA that I don't want to do the rear yet, so I'm living with a fugly rake at the moment...

kp

I don't think so... The spring is still installed and is under compression no matter if the suspension is or isn't loaded since the coilover's motion limited by the lower control arm and the top plate mount when lifted off the ground.