In over my head a little bit???

josh.bunch

josh.bunch

New member
So I started my spacer install tonight and I think I may be in over my head. I've never done anything like this before. The main thing I am frustrated with is that DayStar doesn't include instructions that show what is included and what goes where.

I have searched for a thread of someone who has taken pictures and give instructions that are worth a damn but with no luck.

I did find a great write up on a 4th gen but not sure how much that will translate. Daystar (Spacer) installation on 4Runner with XREAS - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum

Bottom line...is there anyone in the DFW area that is free Saturday or Sunday that wants to earn a case of beer or something of the like. I'm a tile guy and could hook you up in that way if that suits your fancy. I'm specifically in east Fort Worth/west Arlington. :ybrick:
 
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Got the rear done...6 hrs. pretty pathetic I know. I got one of the front finished.... now here is the issue. One of the 3 bolts for the strut on the passengers is stripped to sh!t. I tried cutting it off with a grinder it was a no go. It's worse than it used to be.

The only way I know to get it off it the torch it with a welder. Only problem it that it is not driveable.

I'll pay someone $50 to come torch it for me and then you can leave. I'm desperate here. This is my wife's daily driver and she is out of town until tomorrow so this really needs to happen today.

Someone be my savior. PM me if you can save my ass.
 
Josh, can you post a pic of what we are talking about here (the clearer the better).

We might be able to help you get that bolt out of there but I am struggling to picture what you got.
 
You can see which one it is. Sorry they are upside down
 

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Ya i used a 14mm but no go. It was such a tight space...anyhow...I just paid a welder in Craigslist 85 bucks to blow that thing to hell where it came from.
 
how did that happen? what where you trying to do?

to get the coilovers out, you undo the sway bar, loosen just the three nuts not the center one. take out the lower shock bolt and then take off the 3 nuts on top. use a bar, put it between the upper control arm into the engine compartment and have someone pull down on it and you should be able to pop them right out.

I plan on investing in ratcheting wrenches, they make the job so easy its not even funny. they are especially useful for those 3 nuts ontop there...

and always pbblast the day before you work on stuff that hasnt been touched in a long time.
 
josh.bunch said:
Ya i used a 14mm but no go. It was such a tight space...anyhow...I just paid a welder in Craigslist 85 bucks to blow that thing to hell where it came from.
Click to expand...

looks like you are gonna need a new top plate, I got them from Oreillys for like 30$, but they had to order them.
 
I had to cut mine off. Get a dremel with a metal cutting disk. Slice through the bolt as low as you can. Then I used a grinding bit to grind the last bit out. I had to saw the bolts closest to the engine out on both sides. Took me 5 minutes each side.
 
Duhockey said:
I plan on investing in ratcheting wrenches, they make the job so easy its not even funny. they are especially useful for those 3 nuts ontop there...

and always pbblast the day before you work on stuff that hasnt been touched in a long time.
Click to expand...

Ratcheting wrenches will be added to my tool collection VERY soon. My dad got a set for Christmas, and I did the lift install with them. Without them, it would have been much, much more painful.

PB Blaster is worth its weight in gold, too.
 
Duhockey said:
how did that happen? what where you trying to do?

to get the coilovers out, you undo the sway bar, loosen just the three nuts not the center one. take out the lower shock bolt and then take off the 3 nuts on top. use a bar, put it between the upper control arm into the engine compartment and have someone pull down on it and you should be able to pop them right out.

I plan on investing in ratcheting wrenches, they make the job so easy its not even funny. they are especially useful for those 3 nuts ontop there...

and always pbblast the day before you work on stuff that hasnt been touched in a long time.
Click to expand...

I followed those instructions...almost. I tried to take out the 3 bolts first, then the lower one. Dont think it would be that different. Oh well, you live and you learn.

I was doing this solo and for the first time so it was a learning experience. Took me 6.5 hrs yesterday to do the rear, and about 4.5 today to do the front. The problem yesterday was when I disconnected the panhard bar it "shrunk" on me. I had to drill a new hole in the frame side to make it fit. I fought that dang thing for 2.5 hrs before I gave up and drilled a new hole.

I think if I had a buddy, or even a trained chimp I would have shaved a couple of hrs off each day from just being able to say, hand me ___ instead of crawling up and walking across the garage.

PB Blaster is legit. I was jamming to Old Crow Medicine Show while working and over torqued the lower bolt on the shock, and snapped that booger off a 1/4 in inside the housing. I sprayed PB Blaster in there several times over the span of 1.5 hrs and then I took a normal drill bit, switched it in reverse and backed that bad boy out. I was elated!!

I'm going to post pictures and a descriptions of my experience in my build thread a bit later. Check them out.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/80217-build-thread.html
 
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rjaudi said:
I had to cut mine off. Get a dremel with a metal cutting disk. Slice through the bolt as low as you can. Then I used a grinding bit to grind the last bit out. I had to saw the bolts closest to the engine out on both sides. Took me 5 minutes each side.
Click to expand...

I didn't have a dremel but I really need to invest in one. I tried to use a 4 in angle grinder and there just wasnt enough space there to fit. If it had been one of the front ones it would have been no problem. I'm just $85 lighter in the pocket, but I stand VICTORIOUS!!

Glad I'm not the only jackwagon that had to resort to this.
 
theizzardking said:
whoa.........that would have been an interesting install to watch
Click to expand...

Because I screwed the pooch at every turn? If you were around to watch I would have put your a$$ to work. Then maybe I would have avoided some issues.

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Big John said:
How far away from original did you 'relocate' your panhard?
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I drilled a hole 3/8 to the middle of the vehicle on the frame side. I went and had my alignment yesterday and they told be I was going to have to get an adjustable panhard bar to put my truck back in line. Also the caster is 1 degree off on each side which doesn't seem to effect driving. The guy doing the alignment says he adjusted it as much as he could, He says I have to get adjustable UCA's to align everything back up. They don't sell that stuff or install it, so they don't have a dog in the fight, and I don't know any better. Let me know what you think.

Alignment.jpg

Also does anyone know where I can find an adjustable panhard bar besides from here: 4Runner - Fully Adjustable Trac/PanHard Bar (1996 to 2002) - $175.00 : Sonoran Steel, Sonoran Steel Custom Metal Fabrication L.L.C. Custom Toyota Truck Parts

Seems a little steep. Looks like a good product, I would just like to save some cash. Especially since I'll have to find someone to weld washers over the original holes so it stays put.
 

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