Am I an idiot?

Heat ==>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aivMjkXgKZ8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPlndTrPK6A

 

so i got them on...my uncle works at a dealership and said the way i was trying to do it would be great (if i didn't live in new england)

so i case anyone comes across this tread looking for an answer then, here it is.

i had to remove the 2 bolts under the lower control arm that bolt to the spindle, the 3 nuts on the top shock mount, the lower shock bolt and the sway bar bolt. lifted the sway bar up and out of they way and then grabbed the brake, spindle and UCA and lifted and swung back a bit and the shock assembly weasels right out of there ( in front of the LCA)

So i guess to answer my initial question......yeah I'm kind of an idiot, partially out of ignorance to the seized LCA bushing thing

 

I would like to replace my front shocks myself (I have the shocks already), but don't feel 100% confident doing it myself.

I'm just curious, Did you use a breaker bar on the bolts you have problems with getting off, after applying penetrating oil?

 

i did use a pretty good size ratchet. not exactly a breaker bar. and yes i used PB blaster. i didn't really have a hard time with any of the bolts. it was just the alignment cams and the LCA that didn't want to budge.

 

See, all you missed was the weasel in
Glad you got it

 

thanks man, i was mighty pissed when i couldnt get the thing out of there.....i have a sweet vibration from 20-40 now though..........from what I've read, you kind of just deal with it

 

My truck is 8 years older than yours, so you would recommend bring it to someone to have them replaced?

Did you end up getting them replaced or did you bring it to someone else to replace them?

 

I took the whole shock assembly out, and my uncle took it to work and used the wall mounted spring compressor to replace the shocks. I'm sure any local shop would do it for a reasonable price.

 

So you're still screwed because they won't be able to properly align your truck with siezed LCA bushings.

 

How can a 2 year vehicle have seized bolts that bad, even with the salt/brine slush of where we live in New England. That doesn't leave much hope for mine, being 8 years older.

 

I've heard that Toyota doesn't do anything to prevent this issue from happening like LUBE THE FUCKING THING. Mine were dry, but I'm in AZ and even after a decade they were loose as my ex girlfriend.

 

Got it aligned and it's within spec still.....so there's that

 

If I did it myself, I planned to use the method where you don't need a spring compressor and basically use the Tacoma weight as a giant compressor/ decompressor. From almost everyone I've read that has done it this way, comment how easy it is and will use this method from now on.

 

Did you use the stock setting?

 

The struts or coils work with the shocks, as one unit.

 

I just wouldn't start to start replacing the shocks and find out I have a seized bolt like you, then have to reassemble it to bring it to someone who can, so I might just bring it to someone and pay $200.

 

Belive it or not.......I had I seized and I sprayed the shit out of it for a few days and it broke free. and no I did 1.75 setting.

 

This is all strange to me. All I had to remove to replace the shocks was wheels and swaybar. ??

People should not be intimidated by this task. if you have a jack and a wrench it can be done fairly easily.

 

Should the method without a compressor, only be done with two people?

 

pogo stick lols