Icon 2.5 ext CO's & UCA install questions

[T4R3prospect]

Hey All, this is my first post since getting my 4Runner. It's a 98 5 speed with 250k. I bought it from a member (Arc). I love it but my toytech boss coil overs are toast. I purchased the extended 2.5 CO's and icon UCA's. I may be reading to much about the install because it seems like a lot of people have trouble removing the bolts and also the balljoints. I live about 40 minutes from a auto parts store so I'd like to get absolutely everything I will need. Does anyone who has done this lately have any specific tool recommendations? I have read that certain ball joint separators need to be modified to work correctly. Has anyone had any luck with a umnmodified one? Also can anyone recommend a balljoint press that works? Is there anything else to have on hand that I may not be thinking of? Thanks in advance. You're help is appreciated.

 

[IsaiahC]

I followed the thread below and it worked to remove the ball joint just fine.
The only thing I did differently was that I didn't rent the jaw puller to separate the upper ball joint from the upper control arm. Instead I removed the cotter pin and nut, then threaded the nut on upside down and smacked it a couple times with a ball peen hammer. It came right off in a couple hits. Also, I didn't have the appropriate sized socket for the ball joint press so I had to use a crescent wrench which really messed up my back.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/162849-3rd-gen-upper-ball-joints-ubj-easy-way.html

 

[T4R3prospect]

Thanks Isaiahc, don't know how I missed that one!

 

[ajonesnv]

What part of NV are you in??

 

[T4R3prospect]

Cold Creek

 

[ajonesnv]

NICE. I love it up there.

 

[T4R3prospect]

I love it up here too. I does suck when you're in the middle of a project and realize you need something though.

 

[T4R3prospect]

Success!

Thanks for all your help guys! Got them installed in one day. Was much easier thank I expected. (I think I read to many horror stories about it). I found that a regular 2 jaw puller was the most effective tool for ball joint removal. (Although I borrowed every tool I could for the install). The balljoint press/removal tool was much too big to clear the spindle or fit in the fender. I still need to dial the co's in. It seems to have more rake now than with the toytecs. It also seems like the Toyota lean is more pronounced. I'm going to get some measurements tomorrow and see what I can do with the CO's. 2.25" is the max space from top cap to adjustment ring/nut right? I really wish I could do something about the rake. I don't know if it's just being from the desert but I really prefer negative rake.Thanks again for all the tips/advice.

 

[T4R3prospect]

I keep reading different specs on how much o can crank these co's up. Anyone have definitive answers? Thanks in advance.

 

[T4R3prospect]

Got them dialed in. thanks.