How to: Front shock/spring removal

luk8272 · 03-29-2009, 06:21 AM

I had some similar troubles with Autozone. I didn't have a compressor so I was gonna let them do it, until I saw how they were going about it. Had to shut that down. Went get my own spring compressor.

Great write up chris.

chris4x4 · 03-29-2009, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rossk35

Instead of unbolting the ball joint why not just remove the top control arm. Its easier that way which is the way I do it on the 5 lug tacomas when installing a drop kit.

Much easier to remove 1 nut, than to remove the whole UCA. Why go thru extra steps if its not needed.

Blackened Taco · 03-30-2009, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris4x4

Well, We took the stock shocks/springs to Pep Boys to have them swap the new OME 885 springs and Bilstien 5100 shocks. We dropped them off, and left to go assemble Matts new TC UCA's. We needed a different size grease zerk for one of the arms, so we headed back to Pep Boys. We got the parts, hung out for a bit, then, while we were on aisle 9a, my phone rings, it was Pep Boys telling me the shocks were finished. We stroll over to the counter, and the dude says, "Here ya go!" with a big grin on his face. The Top Plates were on crooked, and Im looking at them and notice, that they assembled them without the bushings or washers!!! The service dude, says "Oh...sorry about that, I'll go get it fixed"....I told him I want to go back there and show the dude how to build them....he started to mumble something, but I was already walking back there. So I see this fat ass trying to work the spring compressor, and he asked "whats wrong with them?"....I about LOST IT! I told him "They need to have the bushings installed, washeres, and the spring is installed wrong". The manager was right there, and he looked at the tech and said "You should have known better! How many of these have you done?". Well, I showed both of them how to do it. Matts Top Plate was gouged as the top nut was installed without a bushing or washer, and it was gouging the Top Plate. Idiots. I was pissed.

Chris I am glad you told this story up until that point I was like how the HELL did he change out those springs in the parking lot? My head was spinning. First off wrenching that shit by hand is bad enough, but I was like how did he do the springs, at first I thought he had bought preassembled. WOW ..... now I can reax a little. Great job helping out Packerfan45 and a good "How to" as well. win/win for all. Good job!

squad314 · 03-30-2009, 06:23 PM

Great write-up,thanks alot guys.....I'm going to tackle this when my Billies arrive.Until then I'm trying to establish who to take the assembly to who can build them without screwing it up.

squad314 · 03-31-2009, 09:20 AM

Chris,do you recommend a dab of loctite on those fasteners on reassembly?........Blue?

cajuntaco · 03-31-2009, 10:59 AM

From what I have been hearing you will pay in labor about what you pay for the lift.

Keason1* · 03-31-2009, 11:27 AM

hey those springs provide 2" of lift correct? I already have the billys but have'nt installed them yet. I have the toytec spacer right now and i want to ditch that thing.

tacoholic · 03-31-2009, 11:43 AM

Sick write up! I still would've smacked the shit out of the tech guy though.

chris4x4 · 03-31-2009, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squad314

Chris,do you recommend a dab of loctite on those fasteners on reassembly?........Blue?

No lock tight. Just torque them down good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keason1*

hey those springs provide 2" of lift correct? I already have the billys but have'nt installed them yet. I have the toytec spacer right now and i want to ditch that thing.

We put the OME 885's and the 10mm lift enhancer on Packerfan's truck. He got just over 3.75" of lift.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tacoholic

Sick write up! I still would've smacked the shit out of the tech guy though.

I have been debating if I want to go back and smack him....

He should be banned from owning a wrench....if he even knows what one of those are.

PackerfanXD · 03-31-2009, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris4x4

I have been debating if I want to go back and smack him....

Let's do it!

redraider · 03-31-2009, 08:22 PM

subscribing

Marc M · 03-31-2009, 08:53 PM

Need to get one of these, I love mine!

Marc M

redraider · 03-31-2009, 08:56 PM

yes yes i do

Chuy · 04-01-2009, 01:25 AM

I installed 5100's last summer on my 07 4X4 Taco.

I did a couple of things differently.

I did not remove any ball joints or control arms. The lower ball joint separates in half; it is held by two bolts. The lower conrol arm bushings did have enough tension to keep the LCA in place, but, having dealt with ball joints on other cars, I found it a lot easier to deal with the LCA than with ball joints.

I swapped the coil springs. I measured the ride height before the install and noticed the driver-side was about .25" lower than the passenger side. Wheeler's Off-Road made the suggestion and it worked!

0wrx2 · 04-01-2009, 09:24 AM

good write up! sounds like a classic case of "if you want something done right...."

im a big fan of doing everything myself, so during a coilover install for my WRX, I found a set of cheap spring compressors from sears for 55 bucks that do the trick just fine. not a bad investment for the price.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...pecialty+Tools

that way you dont need to deal with "techs" at pepboys.

#Reistlehr- · 04-01-2009, 10:16 AM

man, now i can see how to do it, i really want to.. but im afraid i will forget something and teh front end fall apart.

obsurfer1990 · 04-01-2009, 02:29 PM

so in order to install my 5100s i just remove the assembly and bring it into a shop to put the 5100s together and set them to the correct height then i just put them back in??

chris4x4 · 04-01-2009, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PackerfanXD

Let's do it!

After all this BS in the government, Im afraid that I wouldnt stop after a simple "Smack".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc M

Need to get one of these, I love mine!

Marc M

Where did you get that???? How much????

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuy

I installed 5100's last summer on my 07 4X4 Taco.

I did a couple of things differently.

I did not remove any ball joints or control arms. The lower ball joint separates in half; it is held by two bolts. The lower conrol arm bushings did have enough tension to keep the LCA in place, but, having dealt with ball joints on other cars, I found it a lot easier to deal with the LCA than with ball joints.

I swapped the coil springs. I measured the ride height before the install and noticed the driver-side was about .25" lower than the passenger side. Wheeler's Off-Road made the suggestion and it worked!

Thats another way of doing it. I prefer to just get the Upper arm out of the way. Give a little more room to work in there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0wrx2

good write up! sounds like a classic case of "if you want something done right...."

im a big fan of doing everything myself, so during a coilover install for my WRX, I found a set of cheap spring compressors from sears for 55 bucks that do the trick just fine. not a bad investment for the price.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...pecialty+Tools

that way you dont need to deal with "techs" at pepboys.

The Tacoma Springs have been known to break and bend the shit out of those types of spring compressors.

Quote:

Originally Posted by #Reistlehr-

man, now i can see how to do it, i really want to.. but im afraid i will forget something and teh front end fall apart.

After each step, stop and make sure you didnt forget anything. You can do it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by obsurfer1990

so in order to install my 5100s i just remove the assembly and bring it into a shop to put the 5100s together and set them to the correct height then i just put them back in??

Yeppo!

dozer711 · 04-05-2009, 04:30 AM

Great write up Chris!
Just in time for me to do mine. I just had the spring TSB done Friday. Hoping to install the lift I purchased from brianincc last month this weekend.
Hmmm, that coil compressor is not a good one to use? What kind would you suggest? Remember I got the 886's from him. THX

dozer711 · 04-05-2009, 04:45 AM

Looks like a nice compressor,
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb...106916493.html

03-29-2009, 06:21 AM	#21
luk8272 My 2 kids Name: Lucas Joined: Feb 2008, #4929 Location: Kaplan, Louisiana Age: 27 Gender: Guy Posts: 3,748 07 Silver4dr. 4x4, V6 Shortbed 2007 Double Cab Automatic 4.0 5% Tint, Bug flector, vent Visors, Removed secondary air filter, Rear Spring TSB w/ Bilstein shocks, Toytec 3" lift, Debadged, Billet Grille, 17x9 Pro comp 6001 rims, BFG 285/70/17, Fog light anytime mod, Tailgate hose clamp mod, Prodry AFE filter. Extended Differential Breather, ABS on/off, 6000k HID heads/fogs, ScanguageII, Devil horns, Devil horns on third brake light, Mounted 60" Highlift, Mounted Tool Box, Wet Okole Front Seat Covers, TW sticker, Midland Handheld CB,Painted engine cover, Revenge Fab Sliders Painted in shed. Bed Cover or Cap? and Exhaust!	I had some similar troubles with Autozone. I didn't have a compressor so I was gonna let them do it, until I saw how they were going about it. Had to shut that down. Went get my own spring compressor. Great write up chris. __________________ Arkansas Superlift Park 4/10/09 Big Easley Run 5/17/09 Windrock Coal Creek OHV 6/20/09 Louisiana members

03-30-2009, 06:23 PM	#24
squad314 Dragon Slayer Name: Marc Joined: Dec 2007, #3665 Location: Herding Cats in Saint John NB Gender: Male Posts: 1,715 TRD Sport 4x4,badass black 2007 Double Cab Automatic 4.0 Leer 100R with Thule Tracker II system,Nasta tubes,Factory cargo bars,Sirius Starmate,Ventshades,GoodYear Duratrac 265/70/17's,All weather mats,K&N Air filter,factory roof rack,Pop&Lock,2.5" lift~front,5100's set at 2.5,rear-5125's and AAL,WetOkole fronts,Axxess ipod adapter.	Great write-up,thanks alot guys.....I'm going to tackle this when my Billies arrive.Until then I'm trying to establish who to take the assembly to who can build them without screwing it up. __________________ TacomaWorld Hockey Team #14 LW Sine Macula

03-31-2009, 09:20 AM	#25
squad314 Dragon Slayer Name: Marc Joined: Dec 2007, #3665 Location: Herding Cats in Saint John NB Gender: Male Posts: 1,715 TRD Sport 4x4,badass black 2007 Double Cab Automatic 4.0 Leer 100R with Thule Tracker II system,Nasta tubes,Factory cargo bars,Sirius Starmate,Ventshades,GoodYear Duratrac 265/70/17's,All weather mats,K&N Air filter,factory roof rack,Pop&Lock,2.5" lift~front,5100's set at 2.5,rear-5125's and AAL,WetOkole fronts,Axxess ipod adapter.	Chris,do you recommend a dab of loctite on those fasteners on reassembly?........Blue? __________________ TacomaWorld Hockey Team #14 LW Sine Macula

03-31-2009, 11:27 AM	#27
Keason1* time travel exists Joined: Mar 2008, #5246 Location: Wichita Falls, TX Age: 23 Gender: Male Posts: 1,758 07 PreRunner-Driver Mod 2007 Double Cab Automatic 4.0 2.0 Fox Coilovers, 285-65X18" Dune Grapplers, moto metal rims. K/N CAI. 4X Hella 500's, 6K HID's, Pioneer HU, Image dynamics, rear 5100's, painted engine cover. aux reverse lights, Blacked out tails, LED cupholder mod, flowmaster 50, custom bed bar.	hey those springs provide 2" of lift correct? I already have the billys but have'nt installed them yet. I have the toytec spacer right now and i want to ditch that thing. __________________ http://zombiedefense.org/main/index.html

03-31-2009, 11:43 AM	#28
tacoholic 09 but I drive a 012 Expedition... Name: Jeff...I'm pretty sure Joined: Jan 2009, #12480 Location: East Bay, CA Gender: Dude Posts: 4,459 Quite possibly, someday... Double Cab Automatic 4.0L V6	Sick write up! I still would've smacked the shit out of the tech guy though. __________________ 2010 Ford Fusion Sport FWD...402A only. 2005 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer...loaded. Will always want...2009 Tacoma //TRD Sport Double Cab Short Bed in SWB.

03-31-2009, 10:59 AM	#26
cajuntaco Member Joined: Oct 2008, #9973 Location: Lake Jackson, Tx Age: 27 Gender: Male Posts: 60 08 Tacoma 4x4, Banks Exhaust 2008 Double Cab Automatic 4.0 V6 Banks Exhaust, Removed Secondary Filter, Toyota factory suspension upgrade. 265/75 Interco TRXus M/T's	From what I have been hearing you will pay in labor about what you pay for the lift.

03-31-2009, 08:22 PM	#31
redraider Hello Ladies Name: Eric Joined: Apr 2007, #1212 Location: San Antonio,TX Age: 28 Gender: Guy Posts: 523 BSP 06 Prerunner V6 LB 2006 Double Cab Automatic 4.0 V6 Billet grille, grill guard, OEM fog lights, OEM cruise control, CAI, blacked out taillights and headlights, side steps	subscribing

03-31-2009, 08:53 PM	#32
Marc M Dirty White Boy Name: Marc Joined: Jun 2008, #7441 Location: Washington, Pennsylvania Age: 39 Gender: Dude Posts: 926 '06 TRD O/R Dbl-Cab 2006 Double Cab Manual V6 TRD Cat-Back, TRD CAI, 3" Lift, Ivan Stewart Rims, Color matched Grille and Door Handles, Sport Scooped Hood, GrillCraft upper and lower, DTRL, Foglight Mod, Redline Hood Struts, 20% Tint all around, SGII, Blacked out dash, Extang Full-Tilt, etc, etc, etc.	Need to get one of these, I love mine! Marc M __________________ '06 Tacoma Dbl-cab, 4X4, V6, 6-spd, SR5 / TRD Off Road '05 Corolla XRS 6-Spd '00 Echo 5-Spd '90 4Runner SR5 5-Spd '86 Shortbed 4X4 5-Spd,SAS'd ASAP '82 Supra 5-Spd Take your automatic and "Stick" it........

03-31-2009, 08:56 PM	#33
redraider Hello Ladies Name: Eric Joined: Apr 2007, #1212 Location: San Antonio,TX Age: 28 Gender: Guy Posts: 523 BSP 06 Prerunner V6 LB 2006 Double Cab Automatic 4.0 V6 Billet grille, grill guard, OEM fog lights, OEM cruise control, CAI, blacked out taillights and headlights, side steps	yes yes i do

04-01-2009, 01:25 AM	#34
Chuy Junior Member Joined: Aug 2008, #8328 Location: Lakeside, CA Posts: 5 07 Tacoma 4Dr 4X4 2007 Double Cab Automatic	I installed 5100's last summer on my 07 4X4 Taco. I did a couple of things differently. I did not remove any ball joints or control arms. The lower ball joint separates in half; it is held by two bolts. The lower conrol arm bushings did have enough tension to keep the LCA in place, but, having dealt with ball joints on other cars, I found it a lot easier to deal with the LCA than with ball joints. I swapped the coil springs. I measured the ride height before the install and noticed the driver-side was about .25" lower than the passenger side. Wheeler's Off-Road made the suggestion and it worked!

04-01-2009, 09:24 AM	#35
0wrx2 Junior Member Joined: May 2008, #6406 Posts: 3	good write up! sounds like a classic case of "if you want something done right...." im a big fan of doing everything myself, so during a coilover install for my WRX, I found a set of cheap spring compressors from sears for 55 bucks that do the trick just fine. not a bad investment for the price. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...pecialty+Tools that way you dont need to deal with "techs" at pepboys.

04-01-2009, 10:16 AM	#36
#Reistlehr- AngryTacoma Joined: Mar 2009, #14854 Location: Parsippany, NJ Age: 21 Gender: Male Posts: 242 09 Magnetic Grey Double Cab Long Bed SR5 2009 Double Cab Automatic 6Cyl	man, now i can see how to do it, i really want to.. but im afraid i will forget something and teh front end fall apart.

04-01-2009, 02:29 PM	#37
obsurfer1990 Member Joined: Nov 2008, #10720 Location: san diego Gender: Male Posts: 56 06 prerunner 2006 Xtra Cab Automatic	so in order to install my 5100s i just remove the assembly and bring it into a shop to put the 5100s together and set them to the correct height then i just put them back in??

04-05-2009, 04:30 AM	#39
dozer711 Senior Member Joined: Jan 2009, #12200 Location: Upstate, NY Gender: Male Posts: 109 '09 DC SB Magnetic Gray Metallic SR5 TRD-OR 2009 Double Cab Automatic 4.0 V6	Great write up Chris! Just in time for me to do mine. I just had the spring TSB done Friday. Hoping to install the lift I purchased from brianincc last month this weekend. Hmmm, that coil compressor is not a good one to use? What kind would you suggest? Remember I got the 886's from him. THX

04-05-2009, 04:45 AM	#40
dozer711 Senior Member Joined: Jan 2009, #12200 Location: Upstate, NY Gender: Male Posts: 109 '09 DC SB Magnetic Gray Metallic SR5 TRD-OR 2009 Double Cab Automatic 4.0 V6	Looks like a nice compressor Looks like a nice compressor, http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb...106916493.html

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