Trying to install '02 Tundra salvaged front struts, Grrrrr

[Seafury]

So I got some '02 Tundra struts from a salavage yard in Iowa....complete with strut mounts, no broken studs.

They were a bit busted for what I paid, and what car-parts.com graded them as, so the yard owner was nice enough to refund me about 1/3 of my $

Upon further inspection not only are all the bushings shot (reason for $ back), but there is rust on each spring in 1 spot that has removed the black coating. I doubt they will snap or anything but i'm not thrilled. I should have asked for all my $ back :happens:

On to why i'm posting this lol....so at home with no garage, or driveway and only a small retail parts store compressor and my 1/2 impact gun+ lotsa hand tools how would you guys remove these dam strut mounts :frusty:

I also have claw type spring compressors which more or less worked ok. But the nut at the top just spins the whole strut shaft.

Yes its fairly rusty but threads are healthy, not crushed ect...
What is the trick to get this dang nut off lol

I did soak them both in PB Blaster for an hour or so, still no joy.....
Also I guess I would use the same proceedure to remove my 4R strut mounts when I remove my stock struts to swap over the mounts?

Thanks again.

 

[fightman80]

Not sure how much you've compressed the coils... but might need to be compressed a little more.

One trick I used, was to heat the nut with a propane torch, and touch a wax candle to the end of it. The wax lubricates the threads, and allows the nut to turn more easily.

Also... remember to use the Tundra rubber isolator along with your 4Runner Top hat (round plate with the 3 studs).

 

[JohnsD90]

I'm surprised you got money back from a salvage yard, that stuff is sold as is. Secondly I would not mess with used parts if I were you, just buy cheaper aftermarket ones.

 

[Mahalas]

Also... remember to use the Tundra rubber isolator along with your 4Runner Top hat (round plate with the 3 studs).

Will the 4runner one not work. And if so what exactly is this?
I'm trying to piece together a lift and I would highly appreciate if you could point it out.

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[Dezert4Runner]

So I got some '02 Tundra struts from a salavage yard in Iowa....complete with strut mounts, no broken studs.

They were a bit busted for what I paid, and what car-parts.com graded them as, so the yard owner was nice enough to refund me about 1/3 of my $

Upon further inspection not only are all the bushings shot (reason for $ back), but there is rust on each spring in 1 spot that has removed the black coating. I doubt they will snap or anything but i'm not thrilled. I should have asked for all my $ back :happens:

On to why i'm posting this lol....so at home with no garage, or driveway and only a small retail parts store compressor and my 1/2 impact gun+ lotsa hand tools how would you guys remove these dam strut mounts :frusty:

I also have claw type spring compressors which more or less worked ok. But the nut at the top just spins the whole strut shaft.

Yes its fairly rusty but threads are healthy, not crushed ect...
What is the trick to get this dang nut off lol

I did soak them both in PB Blaster for an hour or so, still no joy.....
Also I guess I would use the same proceedure to remove my 4R strut mounts when I remove my stock struts to swap over the mounts?

Thanks again.

Not sure how much you've compressed the coils... but might need to be compressed a little more.

One trick I used, was to heat the nut with a propane torch, and touch a wax candle to the end of it. The wax lubricates the threads, and allows the nut to turn more easily.

Also... remember to use the Tundra rubber isolator along with your 4Runner Top hat (round plate with the 3 studs).

Make sure as Fightman80 said and compress the spring a bit more because if the threads are clean it should only spin on installation once it's tightened enough. You can also try taking the closed end of a 6 point boxed wrench to the nut, then look at the end of the threaded area where you see two flat sides and with a crescent or open ended wrench hold the shaft still while turning the nut. It should work as long as the coil is compressed enough.

This pic shows the end just above the threaded area that has the two flat sides.

 

[UnderFire]

Supposedly the 4runner one is too small for the od of the tundra coil, they aren't too expensive, cheapest I found was rockauto.

 

[fightman80]

I'm surprised you got money back from a salvage yard, that stuff is sold as is. Secondly I would not mess with used parts if I were you, just buy cheaper aftermarket ones.

I bought a used set of Tundra Struts from a Auto Recycler.... still working great. Now, one thing you have to do before putting the money forward, is ensure that you SEE the units first. Make sure they send you pics, and make sure they are reputable.

Supposedly the 4runner one is too small for the od of the tundra coil, they aren't too expensive, cheapest I found was rockauto.

True. I'm running the 4Runner Isolators (rubbers), as I did not hear of this until after I had done the install. I have yet to have any issues using the 4Runner isolators.... but recommend that anyone doing this lift, just get the rubber isolators from a Tundra, as it will surely give you some piece of mind, and is the safer way to assemble them.

 

[cj80cruiser]

Will the 4runner one not work. And if so what exactly is this?
I'm trying to piece together a lift and I would highly appreciate if you could point it out.

Auto Parts - Parts.com, For Every Part of Your Life

You can reuse the 4runner one.... I did. The tundra isolater wouldn't but its not necessary.

 

[Mike&Ike]

Not sure if you got the nut off yet but try vice grips on the shock shaft and hold it while you impact the nut off. I do the at work all the time and it works like a charm.

 

[Forrrrest]

Make sure as Fightman80 said and compress the spring a bit more because if the threads are clean it should only spin on installation once it's tightened enough. You can also try taking the closed end of a 6 point boxed wrench to the nut, then look at the end of the threaded area where you see two flat sides and with a crescent or open ended wrench hold the shaft still while turning the nut. It should work as long as the coil is compressed enough.

This pic shows the end just above the threaded area that has the two flat sides.

Bamm right there. Thats how you keep it from spinning!!

 

[Seafury]

update

Thanks for all the advice guys!

I am a big dummy I should have realized how to take those apart.
So I them put in, I used the 4runner strut mount with the tundra rubber isolator.

now one more question I had a perfect front end alignment done 3 days before I put these in do I need to get it realigned?

and if so where can I find the proper specs for the alignment machine to compensate for these tundra struts?

 

[hungryeddy]

yes you have to align it again, and it won't align if the bushings are too busted. they might align it but it'll go out of alignment once it shifts in the bushing.