Front suspension...what is the best order to install?

[montana_jeepn]

I am going to be sprucing up the front end soon with the following:
2 - new factory LCA's
2 - new Light Racing UCA's (w/ ball joints)
2 - new lower ball joints (factory)
2 - new 5100/881 struts
1 - complete set of Inner and outer tie rods

Once I pull everything off, what is the best(easiest) order in which to begin re-installing the components? UCA, LCA, strut? Thanks!

 

[02_SE_Runner]

UCA,LCA BALL JOINTs,TIE RODS, STRUTS
It might even be easier to install the ball joints first then install the arms.

 

[shootmymime]

I am going to be sprucing up the front end soon with the following:

2 - new factory LCA's

2 - new Light Racing UCA's (w/ ball joints)

2 - new lower ball joints (factory)

2 - new 5100/881 struts

1 - complete set of Inner and outer tie rods



Once I pull everything off, what is the best(easiest) order in which to begin re-installing the components? UCA, LCA, strut? Thanks!

1 attach the new ball joints to the new LCA while it's not on the truck. Just gives you some room to work instead of being upside down.
2. Inner tie rods then loosely screw on outers into the inner. Adjustment later
3.LCA/BJ install
3.struts on LCA
4. Uca
5. then the spindle to attach everything together. Then attach the TRE to the LBJ

It might be easier to install the uca first so you have room to get the bushing and large bolt in.

Just my thoughts....

 

[txbonds]

I am going to be sprucing up the front end soon with the following:
2 - new factory LCA's
2 - new Light Racing UCA's (w/ ball joints)
2 - new lower ball joints (factory)
2 - new 5100/881 struts
1 - complete set of Inner and outer tie rods

Once I pull everything off, what is the best(easiest) order in which to begin re-installing the components? UCA, LCA, strut? Thanks!

Will be basically doing this tomorrow and Sunday with the following:
> new toyota LCA
> new toyota LBJ
> new LR UCA
> sonoran 1.2 shock/spring
> new cv axles


I'll let you know if I figure anything out not mentioned above.

 

[montana_jeepn]

Thanks everyone for the advice!

Will be basically doing this tomorrow and Sunday with the following:
> new toyota LCA
> new toyota LBJ
> new LR UCA
> sonoran 1.2 shock/spring
> new cv axles


I'll let you know if I figure anything out not mentioned above.

Awesome! I greatly appreciate it. This will be my first time tackling a full suspension. Thanks.

 

[montana_jeepn]

Well I started working on my passenger side....spent about 2hrs on her.

This is what I started with:

This is where I stopped:

My upper ball joints.....not too bad?

The bushings on the factory UCA's:

Can I unbolt the 4 bolts holding the LBJ to the knuckle and just pull the entire axle out so I can get to the upper ball joint to press it out? Once I get it out, I will proceed to pull out the LCA, install the UCA, connect the knuckle/UBJ to the UCA, and then button up the bottom half. Sound good?

 

[montana_jeepn]

Well my cams on the passenger side were frozen inside the bushing and no amount of my BFH would break it loose…..good thing I bought some new cams just in case. I broke out my Sawzall and went to home depot to pick up some "Torch" blades made by Milwaukee….I went through 10 of them just on the front cam……….the front of the cam I could actually get to the came itself…..the rear of the front cam, the bushing was pressed right up against the frame and I couldn't get my blade in there…..so I had to cut through the bushing and the cam………….….though I did learn that a little WD40 "cutting oil" makes it cut a ton better. This job so far really sucks!

oh yes….then there is the rear cam bolt…..

how the hell do you get this bolt out without removing the steering gear?

The good news….successfully removed the UCA, pressed the UBJ out, pressed in the LR "bushing", and loosely attachéd the knuckle to the UBJ to help hold it in place. Also sold my old tires and rims to a gentleman who couldn't speak english for his tacoma….I was able to communicate to him that he would need spacers to clear his brakes and buy new lug nuts……so in order to clear out my garage I let them go for $250…..

Oh…also broke the face of my Droid Razr while it was in my pocket…gorilla glass isn't so tough after all.

All and all, it was a crappy day, but man am I learning a lot doing it myself!

 

[txbonds]

Sounds almost like my weekend. I was lucky that my cam bolts were fine but both my upper and lower control arm bushings looked rough. I got stumped on the diff seal that the cv axle runs through. Was certain I had the wrong replacement seals and stopped work on Saturday. Find out today that I had the right seal all along and that toyota just changed the style a little.

Keep it up though and if you didn't already do so you can unbolt those 4 LBJ bolts and pull the knuckle assembly right off.

Well my cams on the passenger side were frozen inside the bushing and no amount of my BFH would break it loose…..good thing I bought some new cams just in case. I broke out my Sawzall and went to home depot to pick up some "Torch" blades made by Milwaukee….I went through 10 of them just on the front cam……….the front of the cam I could actually get to the came itself…..the rear of the front cam, the bushing was pressed right up against the frame and I couldn't get my blade in there…..so I had to cut through the bushing and the cam………….….though I did learn that a little WD40 "cutting oil" makes it cut a ton better. This job so far really sucks!

oh yes….then there is the rear cam bolt…..

how the hell do you get this bolt out without removing the steering gear?

The good news….successfully removed the UCA, pressed the UBJ out, pressed in the LR "bushing", and loosely attachéd the knuckle to the UBJ to help hold it in place. Also sold my old tires and rims to a gentleman who couldn't speak english for his tacoma….I was able to communicate to him that he would need spacers to clear his brakes and buy new lug nuts……so in order to clear out my garage I let them go for $250…..

Oh…also broke the face of my Droid Razr while it was in my pocket…gorilla glass isn't so tough after all.

All and all, it was a crappy day, but man am I learning a lot doing it myself!

 

[audiness]

I need to do my upper ball joints. Not looking forward to that job