Lift Install Woes

S

seanzorio

New member
I'm 5 hours into a spacer install on my 04. It's got 135k on it, and lived some of it's life in a rusty area, becase I am having a hell of a time getting things apart.

I did the rears first, and had to drop the rear swaybar to get the springs back in with the spacer kit.

I got the fronts disassembled except for the LCAs, and just ran out of gas for the night.

I thought this was a quick, easy install? I feel like a huge idiot for having so much trouble with this.
 
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Yeah, I'm just a little disappointed in myself.

I'm a decent mechanic and have done a lot of work on various Honda stuff over the years, including engine swaps, turbo setups, etc.

Most people on here are done quicker, and I managed to mangle/break a wheel stud getting one of the rear wheels back on.
 
You're doing better than I did. I broke two sockets on the first rusty skid plate bolt I tried, and quit without making any progress whatsoever.
 
it's ok. I think everyone has had a project that went that way. It look me a good 6-7 hours to finish without help. Getting the fronts shocks in was a pain in the butt by myself. Good luck and keep going!
 
The rear is most certainly the easiest! The front suckssssss. I remember spending 3.5 hours on the first front, the second took about 2 hours and the rear was a breeze! Good Luck!!!
 
tsonnenl said:
You're doing better than I did. I broke two sockets on the first rusty skid plate bolt I tried, and quit without making any progress whatsoever.
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Both of the front bolts on the front skidplate are sheared off. I've got a BJJ seminar today, so I'm starting bright and early on Sunday morning re-working.

:hs: I hope it's all worth it in the end.
 
Keep the faith man...you'll get it done. It took my dad and I about 5 more hours than I thought it would, and he is handy with a wrench. We had a bear of a time removing all the rusted bolts. Seems like one of the bolts at the front was nearly inaccessible and took us an hour to get off. Once we got everything off, we actually thought the front was easier.

We never did figure out how to install the rear spacers without compressing the springs. We were clearly doing something wrong, but just rented a spring compressor and got it done.

It was totally worth it in the end, and very rewarding to do it on your own. Good luck!
 
seanzorio said:
Both of the front bolts on the front skidplate are sheared off. I've got a BJJ seminar today, so I'm starting bright and early on Sunday morning re-working.

:hs: I hope it's all worth it in the end.
Click to expand...

It will be worth it! It always takes longer the first time. I bet it would take you a quarter of the time to complete it if you did it again. Just stick with it!
 
PB blaster is your friend...spray everything down and come back 15 minutes later...also impacts make it pretty easy oh and a 5 foot 2x4 to pry the lower control arm down...but other than that keep it up.
 
I too had a hell of a time with my runner and I only installed front spacers. Mine with xreas and 125,000miles took me and a buddy (we're both aircraft mechanics) probably about 10hrs (2 short days) with plenty of breaks and I managed to break a swaybar bolt and **** my righthand wheel speed sensor, a mistake which will cost me 4 times what the kit I was installing cost, but I still think it was worth it. I looks so much better leveled out and I could use the extra ground clearance up front.
 
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I just finished this install yesterday morning and I followed this thread.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/68638-daystar-2-5-1-5-install.html.

went pretty well. I left strut assembly upright in UCA and just hooked up the spring compressers there. Still took about 6 hours total (F&R) as it was my first time and had no help. Knock on wood, this project went ok this time. I have been in your shoes many times on much easier projusts. Hang in there and I recommend lowering the LCA, it worked like a charm!!
 
Yep Sean, keep up the determination. Like others have said, we've all had what was suppose to be an easy piece of work turn out to be a long process. You'll know that part of your truck well and all the pieces will be in proper working order. I am sure I'll be on here next year putting my lift on after a couple days of hard labor :-). Looking forward to your finished pics! Best regards, Doug
 
Welp, it's installed.

I managed to get a wheel stud off angle, and broke it off, but I've got another one sitting in the center console to install Tuesday night.

I've learned a lot about my truck breaking everything down and re-assembling. The front skid plate is still sitting in my dads garage, as I didn't get it back on, and it's too filthy to put in the truck.

It's aligned, lifted, and so far I love it.

I'm going to need new CV boots, so there's another fairly sizeable project for next weekend, or the weekened after.
 
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