Suspension lift solo install

I'm wondering how realistic it is to try and install a set of coilovers and dakars by myself. I had a buddy who was gonna help me do it this weekend, but he had to leave town last minute, so I'm stuck doing it solo if I want to get it installed this weekend.

Is this an absolutely terrible idea? I'm pretty well mechanically minded, not too worried about the install procedure, I'm more worried about running into an issue that I can't solve without physical help. Is that something I might run across?

 

from what I understand if you are mechanically incline, it would be hard just by yourself but do able. I think few members here did it by them selves. I am somewhat mech incline but not dealing with trucks but had 2 buddies 3 including me and it took 8 hours to do AAL, OME from and back and arb bumper. but with out the bumper I think it would of took 4 to 5 hours with us 3

 

Thanks man, anything in particular that I should be looking out for?

 

There is quite a few good how to videos out there to aid you along with this project as well as having all the tools you think you will need and plan to have alternate transportation if you run into a snag.good luck

 

I flew solo on my install. The hardest part will be muscling the lower control arm down far enough to get the shock/spring in. It's awkward to do alone but not impossible.

Actually that is the second hardest part if you're installing leaf springs. Those are a bitch to do alone. I used jackstands and my most colorful words to help get them in.

 

yeah I think the hardest part was the removal of UCA that was a pain the rear was pretty fast but again I had 3 myself included working on the rear and we had a lift

 

I did the install alone, in my driveway. I second the gentleman above and agree that moving the LCA and getting the bottom of the new shock to align was hard. Also removing the old leafs, you may have to remove your bed boxes momentarily. Get creative with your bottle jack(s).

 

You'll be fine. My advice, if you are worried then you might forget something when putting shit back on so take pictures of everything you're taking off so you know how things were before.

 

If you havent pulled these parts off your truck before, I'd estimate a 12 hour day. If you have bring that down to 8/9 hours as you already know which areas things are going to get "stuck" in, like needing to pull down on the a arms while removing the coilover being one.

I've done similar installs alone, totally possible just needs creative use of jack stands and body placement

 

It's pretty easy.
If the shocks and springs are assembled, that's even easier.

The hardest part for me when I did my install was the Dakars. They were heavy and a pain to hold and bolt solo.

Doing UCAs/LCAs as well? Or just spring and leaf?

Just watch a few install videos, read several of the how to guides on this page and you'll be good.

Oh. If you can setup the night before, it makes it seem even easier. Such as getting the truck on stands and ripping the tires off.

 

Impact wrenches and air ratchets come in handy too.

 

I did the front and rear with an AAL in my driveway by myself in 5 hours. I second the other posters saying that you need an impact wrench. This job can't be done without it.

For me the hardest part was getting the LCA reconnected to the spindle. That took real effort.

 

Solo mission also. And I choose do it myself because I'm OCD like that lol. The day before my solo mission I went ahead and spray liquid wrench on all the bolts that was gonna come off. The front was easy just make sure you mark your alignment bolts. I came from rice rockets so coilovers is nothing new to me. But dakars leaf was new to me especially solid axle. My biggest feat was aligning the leaf back. Rachet strap will be your best friend. Beside that take your time and do it right GL with the solo mission.

 

I completely disagree with everyone saying the front is hard. As long as you figure out hot to manipulate the spindle to fit the coil over in, you're good. UCA's will be a little bit of a pain if it's your first time, just remember to bend the fender well. The hard part will be those Dakar's though, I had a hard time doing that by myself

 

Thanks all,

I believe I've got all the necessary tools, even crawled under to check a few to be sure.

I'm not doing the control arms since I'm just lifting 2", which I understand is low enough to not need the UCAs.

My truck is a 2014 that's always been garaged and hasn't seen much in the way of salt or grime. I tend to keep it very clean inside and out, so I don't anticipate things being stuck too badly.

I was really hoping I could pull this off in an evening, but it's sounding like I'll need to devote at least a whole day to getting it done. Maybe I should just hold off until I can get a friend to help out... It's probably not a good idea.

 

might dedicate a whole weekend. That way when you run into an issue you have time to deal with it

 

I've done a number of suspension installs solo now. It gets easier each time.

For the guys fighting with the LCA's... Don't. The reason it was hard is because you were fighting the elastic rubber bushings in the LCA's... Just loosen the LCA cam bolts and LCA moves easy, and floor jack is your friend.

The only thing I would recommend is getting a friend to help with leaf springs. Bulky, cumbersome, heavy, etc.

For new leaf spring install, do one side at a time, watch your brake lines.

1. Feed them in from the rear,
2. Get the bolt through the forward hanger first,
3. Then bolt through the shackle hanger, Make sure you put the shackle bolt in the right way when attaching to your leaf pack.
4. Finally, position the axle so that the leaf spring center pin goes into its hole on the spring perch. You can use ratchet straps to aid you in getting leaf spring to align with axle
5. Install u-bolts

It's important to torque proper, shock bolt, LCA's UCA's, and springs while truck is under it's own weight.

Get alignment after.

Have fun!!!

 

Crom pretty much covered it. I did my install on my own. Fronts on a Saturday and rears on a Sunday.

I replaced the UCAs so I didn't have to loosen the LCAs. Most difficult part was bending the fenderwell enough to get the UCA bolts out.

Take your time, follow a write-up, have beer on hand, walk away for a few if things get frustrating and you'll do fine.

 

Physically, it's totally doable. Lots of shoulder involved since you'll likely be sitting/squatting/hunched and have to lift 40-ish lbs.

Crom's tips are dead-on. I fed my leaf springs in from the front, but if you have room, do it his way.

On the front, I'd disconnect the UCA to get the strut out, or loosen the LCA bolts and disconnect the outer tie rod end. I scratched up my NitroChargers because I tried to wiggle them through the maze. When I installed my Fox shocks, I was changing UCAs anyway and then it dawned on me that that's the easiest way to get the strut out.

Nuts and bolts shouldn't be too bad on your 2014, but I'd start hitting them with PB blaster every day a few days before you plan on doing the job.

And get a breaker bar.

Ok, I think that's it. Oh, and if you're installing Dakars, don't use the OEM Toyota bushings...go for the polyurethane. My OEM bushings didn't fit the leaf pack and the packs would shift side-to-side causing a clunk.

 

Those who say the front was hard haven't put dakars in the back solo. I even installed the 5160 reservoir with the spare tire still on! (The rod to lower it was 600+ miles away back at home) Those who have them know how hard it is even with the spare tire out. So nobody can tell me shit!