I think people probably mean the seals/bearings around the CV job being delicate. Mine came out with a couple moderate prying motions on the housing with a 16" pry bar. Went back in with some firm pressure and gentle rotation of the CV. Pretty simple job really, maybe I just got lucky?
Today I finished my 5100 rear install. The KYB's I'm replacing didn't want to loosen. I tried prying them back and forth to break them. No dice, these bastards were very resilient. Ended up cutting them off, then the metal dust "boot" was stuck on the shaft. Tried prying, lubing, everything to get that off. Cut, bend, and tore that off. Then the damn metal washer below the gromet was seized as well. Cut the washer in half, then hammered the demolished remains of the shock body up through the top.
Used my vice and 2 sockets to press the 1/2" tundra bushings out and the new energy suspension bushings back into the shock and now the shock swap is done. :guitar3:
I had trouble with the shocks on my lift as the old ones had rusted up, I had to read on a forum that you use a pipe wrench to hold it so that it doesn't spin!!! It was such a pain without that tip!!! Not sure if that's what you were talkin about
I remember when my shocks were shiny and new(er). They don't stay that way long.
That would have totally been a viable option, had I been able to hold the shock.
The dust "boot" as most shocks have, was NOT rubber nor anything I could move out of the way to hold the shaft. The dust boot was made of 16g steel. It could not be moved, so I chose to take the "easy" route by cutting through the whole deal. It wasn't that simple, but ultimately I got it done.
The new bilsteins and energy bushings went seamless. Fit great, ride nice and smooth, I'm done and I don't plan on ever re-doing them again regardless, lol.
Finally got around to installing my lift. The rear end fought me until the end. Also snap one of the rear sway bolt. Then sheared the extraction tool off in it...now running no rear sway until I find a welder. I lifted my buddy's 4runner in 6hrs front and rear I almost spent that long on the rear..
My lc7 gave me 3.5" of lift by the way.
I put my lift on today too!
I struggled with the rear too. Getting those long springs in there was a pain. I got 3.5-4" from my new LC coils too. Then the bushings on the lower shock mount fought me until I figured out a decent way to put them on and the panhard bar was a pain to reattach. I really hope to never have to use a ratchet strap like that again.
My Toytec Boss Coilovers went on pretty well though, despite the one upper strut mount nut that took me forever to get off. Figuring out how to adjust them was a pain though, their instructions were wrong and unclear, especially for a first time coilover user like myself...
I brought the passenger side down to 1" of threads showing from 1.25" and plan to do the same to the driver side in the morning as well as install my diff drop. I've got an appointment at firestone for an alignment at noon, I can't wait to drive this thing! It's amazing how good it looks and how much of difference a ~3" lift makes!
I put my lift on today too!
I struggled with the rear too. Getting those long springs in there was a pain. I got 3.5-4" from my new LC coils too. Then the bushings on the lower shock mount fought me until I figured out a decent way to put them on and the panhard bar was a pain to reattach.