Finally doing it SHOCKING put 1000 mi on new shocks

Attaboy z but you should have changed these shocks much earlier...downright dangerous. Look at some of the threads here and learn more about your Tacoma. good luck buddy

 

I want to replace my strut assemblies also, got 150k on them, but my darn alignment cams are seized and the LCA won’t drop down far enough to get the coil assembly out. I’ll have to cut the cams and replace the whole LCA but I’m reluctant to do that myself. I wish someone would make a video!

 

the con's at kfalls toyota (the nearest toyota service dept near me) wanted $195 to swap out the shocks on my front struts
(note- they are already dismounted) f that
went to les schwab....$20 both total out the door
thanks kfalls les schwab

WTF toyota!
reminds me why i do all my own wrenching these days

 

they aren't struts Z Tacomas don't have struts bud. Do some research before you put the wrong parts on

 

My God, that thing will ride so much better once you're done. I thought I went way over when I changed my stockers at like 140k. Mine is a 2011, so I hope to get at least another 200k out of it!

 

Dang I’m suprised the cam bolts weren’t froze. 341k mighty impressive

 

nothing was seized on mine
came out real easy....

I jacked up the whole front end onto (2) jack stands
I removed both the front wheels, both steering tie rod connection near the brake rotor & both sway bay linkage on the control arm
(also release the brake line & speed sensor wire tension by unscrewing the two bolts holding them to the frame)
(btw- I watched a video on this & they used vice grips to hold the sway bar linkage bolt on one side....DONT do this
I found an allen key insert spot on the bolt, this is the correct way to hold the bolt while you spin the nut loose for the swap bar linkages)
next - release the 4 bolts/nuts associated with each spring (3 on top & one on the bottom of shock)

then I took two flat head screw drivers one on the smaller size (not super small) & a med sized flat head screwdriver
along with a soft hammer, & jimmied the bottom portion of the strut assembly out
take one screwdriver & drive it under the shock so it lifts up
& take the other driver & move the shock out
be careful not to damage your cv boots or tie rod bushing/sway bar linkage bushing...they are delicate
(having the tie rod connection removed allows you to move the rotor around so you can use the flat headed screw drivers properly/easily)

I dont need to do an alignment after Im done...did not touch or change anything that is associated with alignment

I assume you can do the same?
but maybe Im mistaken

 

I am really interested in the results/feeling too
I should be reassembling this time tomm
& will update

 

here's a doc I found (here on TW in another thread)that is exactly what is need to do a front strut swap on a gen2 taco

 

Not a strut

 

Not worth arguing over.. most people on here dont even realize they're coilovers and not struts. Same difference for all intents and purposes

 

I would think an alignment would be needed? If the new coil assembly has a slightly different length, would that not affect alignment? I always get an alignment even after getting new tires.

 

why not buy take off TRD Offroad coilovers? you can buy them all day long assembled for around 120 with about 3k miles on them.

 

Lol exactly, why argue about it if it get's the point across?

 

Good job @Chiloquin_Car_Care!
I'd have installed Bilstein 4600's but that's me.
My sister has 212K on her Camry with original shocks. I still can't convince her they are worn out. He husband is an old sailboat captain which could explain it.

 

The sailboat in a category 5 hurricane probably rides and steers more comfortably and predictably than the Camry.

 

Laughs in belt fed

 

Ive never gotten an alignment done, or even checked for that matter, in 341k miles/7 years
I change my tires for new ever 50k miles
never had any uneven wear on tires during 340k miles

 

Im reusing the factory coils

 

Got em back (the coilovers, lol)
Time to reassemble
Cost $10 per coil over for the shock swap at les schwab... thanks kfalls les Schwab u rock