HELP: Stuck coilover collar BOSS kit

[alexb]

I'm in the process of trying to lower the front of my coilovers a bit and cannot get the top collar on the passenger side to budge. I got the bottom loose and have soaked everything in PB blaster and used a breaker bar with no luck. There seems to be a lot of play in the rubber bushing at the base of the shock when you twist the coilover and I'm afraid of damaging the bushing. I'm letting it soak more in PB right now. Anyone have any tips or advice to get it loose?

 

[soze]

Lightly rap a few points on the adjustment ring with a hammer. Same to the wrench. Also try wrenching the ring in alternating directions. More blaster and waiting. Repeat all above.

 

[mace.]

Be careful with that wrench as mine and a few others have broke them. I had to use a strap wrench to get one side lower.

 

[soze]

Got any mud/dirt called on top of the ring? I washed, used compressed air and toothbrush to remove trail souvenirs. Helped get the penetrating oil to the threads.

 

[alexb]

Lightly rap a few points on the adjustment ring with a hammer. Same to the wrench. Also try wrenching the ring in alternating directions. More blaster and waiting. Repeat all above.

Got any mud/dirt called on top of the ring? I washed, used compressed air and toothbrush to remove trail souvenirs. Helped get the penetrating oil to the threads.

I've done all that a few times, still no luck. Might just end up letting it soak over night. haven't scrubbed the threads yet. I'll try that next.

Be careful with that wrench as mine and a few others have broke them. I had to use a strap wrench to get one side lower.

I already broke one trying to adjust them a few weeks ago. ToyTec greatly mailed me a new wrench that looks to be improved upon over the old design. It now has a second smaller notch to grab another hole in the collar.

 

[adam2562]

last resort, pipe wrench?

 

[wfo9]

Try taking tension off the spring. There are a couple of ways to do it.

1. Spring compressor
2. Vehicle weight. Straps. Take off vehhicle weight...

Regardless all adjustments should be done with the the weight of the vehicle off it.

 

[alexb]

last resort, pipe wrench?

Already tried placing a pipe over the wrench. No luck yet. Even smacking it with a BFH.

Try taking tension off the spring. There are a couple of ways to do it.

1. Spring compressor
2. Vehicle weight. Straps. Take off vehhicle weight...

Regardless all adjustments should be done with the the weight of the vehicle off it.

Spring compressor isn't a bad idea. If it doesn't budge in the morning after soaking in PB all night I'll go to AZone and pick one up.

 

[Greedy]

Do you have your tires off the ground or are you trying to adjust with the suspension loaded?

 

[alexb]

Do you have your tires off the ground or are you trying to adjust with the suspension loaded?

Tires off and suspension at full droop.

 

[Greedy]

Tires off and suspension at full droop.

I second the spring compressor. Would suck to bungle up the threads on the shock body.

 

[wfo9]

Already tried placing a pipe over the wrench. No luck yet. Even smacking it with a BFH.



Spring compressor isn't a bad idea. If it doesn't budge in the morning after soaking in PB all night I'll go to AZone and pick one up.

I would do that before you destroy it. I'm not familiar with the BOSS coil overs, but some rings have an allen set screw... It should move real easy with the spring tension off.

 

[Greedy]

You could just strap the coils with some worm drive clamps or ratchet straps while loaded up, then unload the suspension and give it a go. My guess is the bottom of the coil bedded into the collar and is catching.

 

[AudiTech]

My experience with coilovers (on cars) it to apply anti seize and duct tape the exposed threads when your installing them.

 

[alexb]

I would do that before you destroy it. I'm not familiar with the BOSS coil overs, but some rings have an allen set screw... It should move real easy with the spring tension off.

Yeah I've started to beat them up a little bit so I think I'm going to try to go that route with a spring compressor or something.

You could just strap the coils with some worm drive clamps or ratchet straps while loaded up, then unload the suspension and give it a go. My guess is the bottom of the coil bedded into the collar and is catching.

I tried ratchet straps but they were all too long. Tried just tying a knot around the coils but my knot tying skills suck apparently cause as soon as I release the tension it starts pulling the knots apart.

 

[alexb]

Well gave it another go this morning and still no luck. Rented a compressor from AZone but the coils are too narrow to fit the compressor in. Going to my last resort. I'm taking the entire strut off and taking it up to Midas to have them release the tension and adjust the collar. Then put the strut back on and take it in for alignment.

Gotta love wrenching on cars and doing mods. Makes me wonder why I don't leave it stock sometimes, but then I see the finished product and it makes it all worth it. For now...... lol

 

[alexb]

Well got another update. Took the strut up to Midas and they put it in the spring compressor and released all the tension and the thing still would not budge! I have never adjusted this coil before so they think it probably got cross threaded on from the factory and has seized up. Turning it either way with the spring lifted completely off the collar it wouldn't move the slightest.

Going to be calling ToyTec and see what they say, since I've never messed with this coil and have had them less than a year I'm hoping they will help me out and maybe send a new strut out. Fingers crossed.

 

[Lenny33]

Hey Alex, what finally happened with this? I am in the same predicament - added a bumper and cannot adjust up in height. Those collars are completely stuck!

Well got another update. Took the strut up to Midas and they put it in the spring compressor and released all the tension and the thing still would not budge! I have never adjusted this coil before so they think it probably got cross threaded on from the factory and has seized up. Turning it either way with the spring lifted completely off the collar it wouldn't move the slightest.

Going to be calling ToyTec and see what they say, since I've never messed with this coil and have had them less than a year I'm hoping they will help me out and maybe send a new strut out. Fingers crossed.

 

[alexb]

Hey Alex, what finally happened with this? I am in the same predicament - added a bumper and cannot adjust up in height. Those collars are completely stuck!

After contacting ToyTech, explaining what happened and sending them a video of strut in bolted down in a spring compressor showing how it would not budge they replaced it for me.

First they just wanted to mail me a new set of collars and told me to cut the old ones off. I said that was not acceptable and the said they would send a whole new shock and collars. I had to swap the coil and top plate over to the new shock and mail back the old one.

They first tried to claim I probably got a small rock or sand stuck in the collars causing it to seize up. I said that was very unlikely as I had never adjusted that coil and hadn't driven in any dirty environments.

I'd contact ToyTech and see what they'll do. My strut was still under 1 year old at the time.

 

[Lenny33]

Well after 1 year and 5 months my adjustable coil over is no longer adjustable. Toytec was contacted and they have offered 15% off replacement coils. On one hand, it is nice of them to offer me a discount on something that is out of warranty. On the other hand, I would expect more from them on a product that I bought so recently. The whole reason I bought an adjustable coil over was because I anticipated adding a bumper and winch and wanted the flexibility to dial in my suspension. If I had known that the "adjustable" coil over is really only adjustable for a short period I probably would have not bought them.
So....opinions?
Am I being an unreasonable consumer or should they do better? I would say to not hold back, but I know that on this forum, that is rarely a concern. ��