Need help with suspension FT Benning Auto Skills Shop

[Doc_Fry]

Hello

Gonna be down at Benning the end of the month from the 23rd to the 25th of this month. Could use some help putting in the Toytec TRD Pro kit and Icon Upper control arms. I am not as 100% as I used to be and any help would be greatly appreciated getting this kit installed.

Things just came together and am ditching the 275/70s I just bought, luckily didnt install in favor if 285/70s. Biggest issue was not wanting to get rid of TRD Pro suspension for now and seeing new Toytec kit it was a no brainer to me. Along with the fact that I am down in Benning and can use the auto skills shop with a lift and any tool I would need. How coukd I say no? Just need some help. There has to be someone down there that can help at least a few hours..

 

[smokeatrr]

I live in Fayetteville and would have I will try to come down there to help you. I have a bunch of stuff going on that week including working at the firehouse on Saturday and having a well put in that week.

 

[Doc_Fry]

I would appreciate any help I can get. We are down watching the Grandkids while momma has to work and its the perfect oppertunity since I can sue the Auto Skills Shop and quit a bit easier than doing on a gravel driveway! Plus, with some compentent help I could get it done in about 4 hours or less.

 

[smokeatrr]

I will call the well company tomorrow to see if they can finish up on Tuesday. I will let you know. I am pretty good with wrenches, but have no experience with working on the suspension of a 4 runner. Thanks for your service to our country.

 

[Doc_Fry]

I will call the well company tomorrow to see if they can finish up on Tuesday. I will let you know. I am pretty good with wrenches, but have no experience with working on the suspension of a 4 runner. Thanks for your service to our country.

Thatnks I appreciate it. It is good experience and not that difficult to do. Hardest piece is removing the coil overs and installing the spacers. Just time consuming and a tight fit. The most difficult part may be getting ou on base as long as,you have a dl and no major issues we should be good. I appreciate any help and it will be good experience if you have never done before. At minimum chaning out the ear is pretty strAight forward. The good thing with help is being able to do twice the work in half the time. Pus we could have a bay with a lift if needed or just a regular bay and a few floor jacks and almost any tool you could think of for a small fee like $4 an hour.

As a side bonus, for those willing to help the autoshop offers a nitrogen purging service for $40 for all your tires. Cant be beat that I am aware of.

 

[Doc_Fry]

Thanks Again to smokeatrr and his pleasurable wife for your assistance today. I would have been in trouble trying to get everything finished today and still come out intact in the end. We got alot accomplished and bith learned a good bit about each other.

It is a pleasure to be apart of a community of others to hang out, wheel, camp, shoot, and mod with. I am just glad that he and his wife where available and able to make the drive to where I could do the mods at.

We accomplished a Toytec Complete TRd Pro kit with front Top and bottom spacer and rear coil springs
Icon Vehicle Dynamic Upper Control Arms
Firestone Rear Air Bags

Took a good bit to do. I msut say a spring compression machine take alot of the ache out of it. If you have done any of the above expect the following times to do.

Change out UCAs: 30 minutes a side
Add spacers modifying front coilovers: 60 minutes a side
Firestone Rear Inflatable Manual Airbags: 30 minutes a side

In the heat add an hour to two hours when the temps are above 90 for heat exhaustion and just plain exhaustion. I think what took the longest of our job is what made it so easy to do some of it. Was the Auto Skills Center tool loan counter. Back and forth with almost every single tool we needed except a 12 point 10mm socket. That was a great but terrible part as well. With only $23 out the door for the use of the facilitiy with good people it was a great day. Yet, nit something I would like to do in avery long time.


Lessons learned:
Airbags- line routing is critical in the rear because of the exhaust pipe. Removing the spare tire helps immensely. Also going to etrailers.com and watching their install video helps alot.
Toytec TRd Kit- Rear Springs - must remove the sway bar, torsion bar, lower shock mount to install as well as brake line and sensor brackets. Yes, the torsion bar bolt will line up eventually line up. But will require the tires installed and on the ground to do. Use break free oil. Line up springs in the rear mount.
Toytec TRD Kit, Front Spacers - using a spring compressor tool the big mounted one invaluable. Use break free oil. Mark springs before removing. Best way to remove upper bolts hammer standing on the back of the slacer. Best wy to install new ones is a press (warning will bend the bracket a little, need to bend bolts back in plsce), dont forget every rubber bushing going back together. There are great tutoriols on how to change out front spring shock combo. Take a look they are invaluable. Again oil the upper shock bolt threads. Bolts should go on easily if not try to clean with a rag and oil to do again.
Upper Control Arm IVD Billet - have proper sockets before beginning for the UCAs specialty bolts, passenger side UCA the long bolt will hit ac line you have to bend out of the way. Washers get lost easily. Torque everything down! Front TRD skid olate yes the front bolts go in first - the spacer go in the hole or else it will never go on..