Bilstein 5100 1st Gen Tacoma Install

Question on installing front 5100 struts
Saw on youtube , video on 2nd gen tacoma install without use of a spring compressor
1. Jack stands under frame, remove sway bar
2. Jack under LCA,
3. Mark and loosen LCA cam bolts
4. Compress suspension ~1 inch with floor jack
5. Loosen center upper strut bolt of
6. Remove 2 lower ball joint bolts
7. Slowly release floor jack, strut and spring safely decompresses
8. Unbolt bootom strut bolt, pull shock out
Note upper strut plate three nuts are never moved
Reverse to reinstall


Will this work on a 1st Gen tacoma

Only difference I see is lower ball joint bolts, 2nd gen has 2, 1st gen has 4

Am I missing anything?

Anyone done it like this?

Seems safe in their video

Thanks for any replies

R/Alan

 

That method does not work on a first gen from my experience. I couldnt get the lower control arm to swing low enough. It may work, I just couldnt do it.

 

Nope, you've got it. No difference between 2nd gens besides the 4 lbj bolts. This way is way safer than spring compressors imo.

 

I've done it. Don't see why there would be a difference.

 

Please report back and let us know. I'll be doing this in the near future too

 

I wrote up the procedure for 1st gen in post #84 of this thread:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/190159-installing-5100s-without-spring-compressor-video-3.html

 

PS. I didn't have to loosen the cam bolts to put mine on. I recommend not loosening them if you can avoid it.

 

FWIW, my LCAs would not drop enough without the cam bolts being loosened. For safety sake, I would not recommend following this procedure without doing it. If you're changing out front suspension components, you should be getting an alignment afterwards regardless.

 

I think it was because I didnt loosen the cam bolts

 

I'll bet the difference between having to loosen the cam bolts or not will come down to how long your coils are, and what setting you are putting the 5100s in on. If you're using longer coils or planning to set the 5100s on the maximum height, the cam bolts will probably have to be loosened. I didn't use maximum height, so I was able to install without loosening the cam bolts.

 

This method works awesome! I didn't loosen the cam bolts either

OME 883s and Nitrocharger Sport shocks FWIW

 

Had to loosen the cam bolts to remove the 881s, and install the 882s. I still think its not much more work to avoid any possibility of leaving tension on the coils.

 

I got the stock coils with a spacer lift off no problem without removing the 3 top bolts on the first side I tried but when I tried to install the 5100s set at 0 with the eibach coils I couldn't get them no where close to the lower shock mount they were too long so I had to go have them compressed at a shop then reinstall was way easier. I loosed the lower a arm bolts and took loose the sway bar links also and took the lower ball joint off but the CV wouldn't allow me too go low enough for the eibachs.

 

Much safer than this threaded rod style compressors for sure.


The wall mounted ones used by shops are safe but not readily available.

 

I will be installing 5100s on stock coils for now till I can get the scripts for better coils. My question is: Can I take off old struts and install new 5100s set at 2.5" without using a spring compressor. I was going to follow the popular "install video" to assist me but wanted to check with you all first. Thoughts?

 

Yep you can do it

 

I just done it a couple of weeks ago, it was simple getting them off. I did not have to loosen cam bolts but it was a bitch going back together with heavier coils.