Rear Coil Spring Replacement
- Thread starter SouthAl
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Breadman03
New member
Mind you, mine's a 5th gen, but it was really simple. I installed air bags in the stock coils, which requires removing the springs to insert the bags.
I jacked up the truck until my tires cleared the ground, removed them and put the truck on jack stands. I then used a bottle jack under the axle to manipulate the axle up and down to facilitate sliding the shocks off the mounting points. Once they were off, I unhooked the sway bar to allow the axle to droop far enough for the springs to drop free. At this point, the springs came right out.
Putting it back together was pretty simple with the bottle jack to align parts.
The one thing I did wrong was to unhook the trac bar, per the instructions provided with the bags. I was not a limiting factor, and it allowed the axle to shift slightly under the vehicle. In order to bolt it back up, I used the bottle jack between a frame rail and the brake caliper to shift the axle back into alignment. It didn't take much pressure at all, so I wasn't concerned about breaking anything. I just don't have a local buddy who could have helped me.
I took maybe 4 hours to do the job, but really wasn't hurrying, was showing my 11 year old what was what, and running the air lines safely took a bit of time. You could probably swap springs in 30 minutes it you wanted to. My lower shock mounts were easy, but the upper mounts are a bit rusty and would probably take a little attention to remove.
Just out of curiosity, why are you replacing the springs? Old and saggy, looking for lift, or want to carry a load better?
I jacked up the truck until my tires cleared the ground, removed them and put the truck on jack stands. I then used a bottle jack under the axle to manipulate the axle up and down to facilitate sliding the shocks off the mounting points. Once they were off, I unhooked the sway bar to allow the axle to droop far enough for the springs to drop free. At this point, the springs came right out.
Putting it back together was pretty simple with the bottle jack to align parts.
The one thing I did wrong was to unhook the trac bar, per the instructions provided with the bags. I was not a limiting factor, and it allowed the axle to shift slightly under the vehicle. In order to bolt it back up, I used the bottle jack between a frame rail and the brake caliper to shift the axle back into alignment. It didn't take much pressure at all, so I wasn't concerned about breaking anything. I just don't have a local buddy who could have helped me.
I took maybe 4 hours to do the job, but really wasn't hurrying, was showing my 11 year old what was what, and running the air lines safely took a bit of time. You could probably swap springs in 30 minutes it you wanted to. My lower shock mounts were easy, but the upper mounts are a bit rusty and would probably take a little attention to remove.
Just out of curiosity, why are you replacing the springs? Old and saggy, looking for lift, or want to carry a load better?
riceandpho
Elite Member
https://youtu.be/PNH9GjFz51I
watch the video, itll help you.
watch the video, itll help you.
Here's a really good DIY writeup
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/149572-daystar-rear-1-5-lift-instructions-pictures.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/149572-daystar-rear-1-5-lift-instructions-pictures.html
Drunner97
New member
Unless you had the lower and upper arms completely removed, there's no way the axle could have shifted that much unless you literally kicked it out of the way. I've done my rear end springs twice and have never had it shift.
Easiest way to do the rear is put a floor jack under the axle housing, loosen the bolts (do not remove the bolts) to the upper and lower arms so it takes tension off the bushings, disconnect the driver side of the track bar, and then lower the axle while keeping an eye on the brake lines to make sure you don't lower it too much. If you need a little extra give to get the spring in, you can use the stock bottle jack between the bump stop and the axle to push it down. Depending on the springs you get, some have a stiffer driver side specific spring, so do the passenger side first.
HiVel-JR
New member
Hey OP, those are all good links to follow. The issue I had is at first the job looks really intimidating. But it is really one of the easiest things to do, just a little time consuming. If you have never done it, you will laugh when you are done and then wonder how the heck those springs stay on because they really come out that easy.
I have done it three times. Jack it up, take off wheels and YANK! Putting bigger springs back in can be a little trickier.
***Spring compressors work well too!*** ($30 bucks maybe at Advanced Auto or rent them)
