Lift help

[BigRogers]

Okay...I ordered up my 3" full ome lift for my 2001 SR5 & started the work this afternoon. Got the wheels off and lower shock bolt out. Started working on the 3 top nuts and couldn't even get my wrench over the nut closest to the wheel well (furthest back if you are looking at it). How the heck do I break that thing loose?? Tool suggestions?? I'm stumped.

Secondly. I haven't really gotten into it but the rear end but how do you even get to the top shock nut?? Maybe I need to get into it a little further but I couldn't even put my hand on it. So how the heck do I get a wrench on it??

Thanks for your help guys.

 

[Baja Runner]

For the front, its easiest to do the top 3 nuts first, when there is still some compression on the strut. Once they are loosened, keep the nut on about 1 thread, and then start lowering the suspension down with your bottle jack. Once you see the strut drop down a bit, you can pull that lower mount out.

Anyways, the top nut thats furthest back towards the wheel well? I used a regular ol' closed end hand wrench. I actually have a ratcheting closed end that wont fit back there. Make sure you dont have tension on those nuts, and you've PB blasted them. They should come off pretty easily.

The rear upper shock mount isn't as bad as you think. You've just got to figure out how to get your hand up in there. I just stick a deep socket 14mm on my 3/8" drive, and wedge it against the body/frame. Then take some channel locks and grab the top end of the shock, and twist it.

Or if you're really gun ho, just cut the top mount off with a sawzall... But the above method took me about 5 mins per shock.

 

[BigRogers]

...and you've PB blasted them. They should come off pretty easily.

showing off my noob status....whats PB blasted? some sort of penetrating oil?

 

[4runsport]

PB Blaster is a penetrating oil, should be right next to WD-40. I had the same issues as you installing my OME lift. I ended up destroying the rear shocks on the way out but they came out eventually. I actually had mine sooo rusted in (east coast salt) that i punched a hole in it with the screw driver and used that to turn the shock. Took a little while but it came out.
The fronts are exactly as Baja described. Just DO NOT take off the center nut that holds the whole shock assembly together. I've heard some painful stories of that. 3 nuts at the top, 1 nut on bottom. Thats it!

 

[BigRogers]

okay, think i have it figured out. thanks for the info.

sway bars? from what i have read it seems the front sway bar needs to come completely off the truck. the rear needs to come off but go back on after the lift is complete.....right??

 

[Baja Runner]

All you need to do for the swaybar's is take off 1 nut per side.

For the front, just take off the top nut that is on the endlink bushings, the one shown here:

Do this for both sides.

For the rear, there is almost an identical looking endlink on the frame rail, do the same thing. Just take off that top nut.

That will allow the suspension to drop down. You do not need to take off the entire bar!

For the rear remember you can take undo the lateral support (panhard bar) on one side if you need to. The drivers side spring sometimes is hard to get in, but you shouldn't need to...