I'm Having Trouble Installing Lift

[Qlaloo]

First off, I'd like to mention that I'm new to the whole installing lift kits thing and have never installed one in my life, so bear with me. Okay so it's 3AM in the morning and a friend and I have given up as of now and need help. I ran into a problem trying to install my OME 885/5100 Bilstein with 3/4" top plate spacer front suspension portion. It seems that I cant seem to fit the shock into the the lower shock bolt mount on the drivers side. I have no problem getting the shock into the top mounts, it's just that it seems like the bilsteins are too long to fit. We've even tried removing the spacer and putting it in and yet the lower part of the shock won't fit into the lower shock mount. We have tried everything we know (which isn't much) to try and fit it in. We've tried putting a bottle jack between the UCA and top of the Wheel well to try and push the lower control arm down but that didn't seem to give us enough space either and it was sketchy and dangerous. I've included pics to try and see if that'll help solve my problem. I think that a possibly of my problem could be because the wheels weren't turned straight all the way but they were really close to, because the CV boot does get in the way just by a hair. But I'm not sure. Any help would be appreciated. Thank You!

 

[Velonici]

Probably going to have to remove the 2 LCA bolts going into the spindle assembly and loosen the cam bolts. I had to do that to get them to drop low enough then used a jack to get the LCA back into place.

 

[XxTiBEARiusxX]

It's been years since I installed a lift in my old Tacoma, put I think I did this method

 

[brianhuntRVA]

Probably going to have to remove the 2 LCA bolts going into the spindle assembly and loosen the cam bolts. I had to do that to get them to drop low enough then used a jack to get the LCA back into place.

This is probably the correct answer. See this link for more details on doing that:

OME Install - no spring compressor - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum

Aren't you going to get a ton of lift by installing that setup with a spacer? What setting do you have the Bilstein strut perch at?

 

[Drunner97]

^ I gained a ton of lift with the 885/5100, so you probably won't need the top spacer.

I also did the no compressor method since mine didn't come assembled. That's likely what you're going to need to do. Put the jack under the LCA, drop the bolts, loosen LCA, and lower it down until it fits, then crank it back up until everything lines up.

 

[strathcona]

I didn't do a lift, but my bilstiens were tight getting in as well.

I removed the two bolts from the LCA like the others have said and had my son use a large pry bar placed under the cross member to push the LCA down.

A couple of taps on the lower part of the shock with a dead blow hammer got it into place. Just don't pound the hell out of the shock and bend anything.

 

[Qlaloo]

Thanks for the advice guys! I'm gonna go ahead and take the lowering the LCA and jacking it back up route! I'll let y'all know how it goes.

 

[Qlaloo]

It's on the lowest setting

 

[robaroni]

Thanks for the advice guys! I'm gonna go ahead and take the lowering the LCA and jacking it back up route! I'll let y'all know how it goes.

That's the way to do it. I'm trying to figure out how you got the original strut out without taking those bolts out!

Your going to get some serious lift with that spring and a spacer. What setting are you putting the 5100's at?

 

[Qlaloo]

That's the way to do it. I'm trying to figure out how you got the original strut out without taking those bolts out!

Your going to get some serious lift with that spring and a spacer. What setting are you putting the 5100's at?

I'm keeping it on the lowest setting

 

[Velonici]

Oh and FYI, getting those 2 bolts back in is a pain in the ass. I dont know why but I always have so much trouble getting them to grab.

 

[Drunner97]

Oh and FYI, getting those 2 bolts back in is a pain in the ass. I dont know why but I always have so much trouble getting them to grab.

You have to get them lined up just right. If there's even a slight angle anywhere, they won't grab.

 

[wnelax04sr5]

get a friend with a pry bar and pry down on the lca after you unbolt it, should go in then. if not spring compressors

 

[blackoutt]

^ I gained a ton of lift with the 885/5100, so you probably won't need the top spacer.

I also did the no compressor method since mine didn't come assembled. That's likely what you're going to need to do. Put the jack under the LCA, drop the bolts, loosen LCA, and lower it down until it fits, then crank it back up until everything lines up.

Did this settle out at all? I'm planning on putting 885's on my 5100's (lowest setting) on my v8. I got the toytec top plate spacers because I didn't think I'd get a full 3" with just the springs.

 

[Drunner97]

Did this settle out at all? I'm planning on putting 885's on my 5100's (lowest setting) on my v8. I got the toytec top plate spacers because I didn't think I'd get a full 3" with just the springs.

It's starting to look like it's settling, but it's only been on for two weeks so far. You may get less than 3" because of the V8, I'm only a V6, but I figured once I started putting skids, sliders, and eventually a dual battery setup, I'd want the extra length. I am starting to notice the driver's side lean more and I'm probably going to put a spacer in the rear once it settles down some more. Current measurements have my rear about a 1/2" difference between driver's side and passenger side with a half tank of gas.

 

[Qlaloo]

Did this settle out at all? I'm planning on putting 885's on my 5100's (lowest setting) on my v8. I got the toytec top plate spacers because I didn't think I'd get a full 3" with just the springs.

Here are the results from the front end! I still need to do the rear!

 

[Drunner97]

Good Job. I have the same bro lean pic before I did the rears.

 

[blackoutt]

That's with the 885's, 5100's set at 0, and 1/2" thick top plate spacers? Did you have to get longer strut mount studs? Looks good (looking at the front only lol)

 

[Qlaloo]

That's with the 885's, 5100's set at 0, and 1/2" thick top plate spacers? Did you have to get longer strut mount studs? Looks good (looking at the front only lol)

Yea the front setup is OME 885, 5100s, and toytec 3/4" spacer. Yes the 5100s are set on 0 and I had to put longer studs in. I still need to install my fj cruiser rear springs with 1.5" daystar spacer but I'm so inexperienced so I'm looking for a good writeup on it.

 

[Qlaloo]

Does anyone know if I can get away without running aftermarket upper control arms for a while? I'm running 265/75/16 tires and spidertrax 1.25"? Moneys kind of tight being a college student.