Strut removal 96 SR5- possible help?

[Duhockey]

Who here has replaced their front struts and shocks?

I just bought a Toytec coilover and will be removing my month and a half old Procomp shocks and struts from the front of my Runner.

I was told that a special tool was needed to get the struts off, and because of that my buddy that usually works on my 4runner with me wont be able to help with this one.

Is there some special trick to replacing these? Who in the Denver/Colo Springs/Ft Collins Area might have done this before and have the tool or be willing to help.

I was planning on trying to do this the 1st week in Sept after I get back from my vacation back east.

Sn0wrunner has already pledged his support, but has not done this before so I was gonna see who might have already done this so we might learn from any mishaps...

Thanks for any help you can provide! :help::help::help:

 

[ric]

special tool ? if your just replacing with the adjustable coil-overs, basic tools will do it.. look me up when ya get back, Ill help, I mean Ill instruct you on how to do it, Ive done a few, but Im getting older which means Im getting lazier ,

 

[Elton H]

read it no special tools or stuff needed
http://www.4rnr.net/suspension.html

 

[Duhockey]

read it no special tools or stuff needed
http://www.4rnr.net/suspension.html

Nice...

I think I could prob do that with some help or "oversight" :lmao: from an experienced guy like Ric.

so do you think I need to get another alignment afterwards too??

 

[ric]

IMHO yes, Id get get an alignment.

 

[Stick Figure]

Nice...

I think I could prob do that with some help or "oversight" :lmao: from an experienced guy like Ric.

so do you think I need to get another alignment afterwards too??

this should be super easy to do .... just jack it up, pull the wheels and pull the spring/strut assembly.

http://www.ncttora.com/fsm/2003/Repair_Manual/03tacoma/sa/fsa4wdpr/remo.pdf

w/ out having to undo the upper strut mount, it takes all the challenge out of it lol

 

[Elton H]

i think my link is better

 

[Stick Figure]

i think my link is better

depends ... i think it would take longer to read all that than it took me to actually do the front suspension on my truck. lol Remove 4 nuts/and the one bolt, and pull the strut out, in this case, install coil over, adjust and you are done. Of course i've done a few other suspensions before the truck, so maybe i'm a bit bias.

Oh and after looking at it, if you take a few seconds to drop the end link off, you won't need all the jacks pushing down on the A arm, the only thing that fights the suspension dropping is the fact that sway bar is attached to the suspension on the other side(especially a problem if it has the vehicle weight on it). Same w/ the rear, first step is to drop the sway bar, then both shocks ... didn't require a spring compressor to even remove the stock springs that way, or install the 99 srings some of the taller ones will still require a spring compressor of course. As far as installing the front, slide a sway bar up under the strut and you can move it right up into place rather than fighting w/ a jack. Also hit it w/ some lithium grease, WD40, or something to keep it from ripping the paint off the shock like in the pics that way they won't rust right away from being bare metal.

Maybe i'll do a full write up next time my truck is apart for something.

 

[fightman80]

In my experience, which is limited, the only time you would require a "special tool" would be if you disassembling the stock strut assembly. This tool, was mentionned in one of the above posts, and is a Spring Compressor. I was able to borrow one from a local parts store with a deposit. Once I returned the tool, my money was refunded.

As for your job, sounds to me like you are simply removing the old strut assembly, and replacing it with the new Coilover system. This should be really easy, and would require you to simply remove the 3 nuts on top, and the 1 bolt from the bottom. When I did my spacer lift, I jacked the truck up, releaving all of the weight from the wheel. I used a large pry bar to take the residual pressure off of the suspension in order to wiggle the bottom bolt out. I did have second person helping me, so one could use the prybar, while the other takes the bolt out. I then re-used my stock assembly, so had to use the Spring Compressor. You should be able to simply install your NEW assembly, using the same mounting points, and WHAMMO! You're done!

I wish you luck! Post some pics, and let us know how it goes!

 

[Duhockey]

In my experience, which is limited, the only time you would require a "special tool" would be if you disassembling the stock strut assembly. This tool, was mentionned in one of the above posts, and is a Spring Compressor. I was able to borrow one from a local parts store with a deposit. Once I returned the tool, my money was refunded.

As for your job, sounds to me like you are simply removing the old strut assembly, and replacing it with the new Coilover system. This should be really easy, and would require you to simply remove the 3 nuts on top, and the 1 bolt from the bottom. When I did my spacer lift, I jacked the truck up, releaving all of the weight from the wheel. I used a large pry bar to take the residual pressure off of the suspension in order to wiggle the bottom bolt out. I did have second person helping me, so one could use the prybar, while the other takes the bolt out. I then re-used my stock assembly, so had to use the Spring Compressor. You should be able to simply install your NEW assembly, using the same mounting points, and WHAMMO! You're done!

I wish you luck! Post some pics, and let us know how it goes!

So you didnt even have to touch the upper ball joint??

 

[fightman80]

So you didnt even have to touch the upper ball joint??

NO, there was no need to! The Haynes Manual suggested it, but we were able to do the work without doing so.