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My 5100 install saga and tips for others

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by xxaarraa, Nov 14, 2010.

  1. Nov 14, 2010 at 11:06 AM
    #1
    xxaarraa

    xxaarraa [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Started at 9 AM on Saturday with a very capable helper and figured it would take us 3 hours. Took us closer to 8. By far one of the more frustrating and educational jobs I have undertaken.

    Some tips that worked for me:

    1. Remove the front sway bar completely. We spent a good 2 hours wiggling the shock out of and then back in to the mounts before it occurred to me to remove the sway bar to free up a lot of space. Plenty of scrapes and nicks on the fingers could have been avoided as well as scratching up the coil and new billies.
    2. Remove one of the bolts of the lower control arm to create more room. No amount of wedging or standing on the lower arm would give me room enough to put the newly assembled billy/coil back in the mount. Spent another 2 hours bending and scratching things we shouldn't have. Since the strut is already removed, there is no pressure on the LCA, removal of one of the bolts made it so much easy.
    3. Get a GOOD spring compressor tool. The POS one I rented from Autozone was in two pieces (one for either side of spring) and I spent probably 2 hours in just compressing and uncompressing the springs.
    4. Get a ratcheting wrench set. Getting the top bolt off the shock needed me to use vice grips and having a ratcheting wrench would have saved plenty of time as opposed to using a crescent wrench.
    Difficulty level of the job seemed very low. Conceptually, it is easier than doing brakes. But boy there are so many pitfalls. Thanks to everyone who posted their experience. I found that having plenty of printouts and photographs from this site helped me piece it together.

    Also, I test drove the car and it feels "rougher" and also get plenty of tire squeal even at 30 mph going around moderate bends. I am guessing a fresh front end alignment (which is now so fkeud) would alleviate these symptoms? Can anyone confirm?
     
  2. Nov 14, 2010 at 11:11 AM
    #2
    rmb_crew

    rmb_crew My other ride has 18,400HP!!!!!!

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    Yeah i ripped my sway bar out when i noticed the same thing. I didnt undo the LCA i just took a big freaking pry bar and was able to wedge it in there to get the new shock in. As for the alignment yes it will fix that. Im sure if you look at the front of your truck it will probably look just like mine. the tires look like this \ / so the alignment will fix all that.
     
  3. Nov 15, 2010 at 1:39 AM
    #3
    xxaarraa

    xxaarraa [OP] Well-Known Member

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    What did you wedge the pry bar against? I mean, what did you pivot against to push the LCA down? I tried wedging but there wasn't anything near there to pivot against to get force on the LCA. The frame was miles away?
     
  4. Nov 15, 2010 at 1:53 AM
    #4
    The_Hodge

    The_Hodge Volunteer Moderator

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    Seeing the third gen section forced me to get a Ford...
    you have pics of the shocks/coils after install? just to make sure everything is kosher
     
  5. Nov 15, 2010 at 6:23 AM
    #5
    TexasTacoma37

    TexasTacoma37 Well-Known Member

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    I used those crappy spring compressors from auto zone as well...but with the help of an impact gun it only took about 5 minutes per side.
     
  6. Nov 15, 2010 at 6:29 AM
    #6
    macgyver

    macgyver Well-Known Member

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    Agreed, the impact gun makes it go a lot faster.

    Here's a few pieces of advice from my experience wrenching on vehicles over the years:

    Keep the crescent wrench in the kitchen drawer! Thats where I keep mine and it never gets used. I don't even have one in my garage.

    Like you said, those ratcheting wrenches are worth their weight in gold. I love mine...also if you are buying a set, spend a little extra and buy the ones with the hinged/pivot head.

    Air tools, air tools, air tools.

    use your factory bottle jack to articulate the suspension rather than having someone jump on the LCA's to move the suspension...it will help you save your energy.
     
  7. Nov 15, 2010 at 6:33 AM
    #7
    Bama_TACO

    Bama_TACO ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!

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    What setting do have the billys on? I knocked the upper ball joint loose. Left the sway bar in place after loosening the end link bolts on each side. Used the Auto Zone spring compressors and didn't have any issues like you had. My only issue was being stupid and installing the spring perch upside down and had to start over. Second time took me less than 1 hour to do both sides. I only used hand tools.
     
  8. Nov 15, 2010 at 6:35 AM
    #8
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    Well put! You just can't say enough about the right tool for the job and treating your tools like an investment. Spend the money on your tools, you'll have them forever. I laughed at your comment about the knuckle busters also... I keep them in my truck for emergencies in case I don't have the right size wrench or socket but I wouldn't want to go through a complete project with only a cresent.
     
  9. Nov 15, 2010 at 7:59 AM
    #9
    xxaarraa

    xxaarraa [OP] Well-Known Member

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    You guys are funny. My first test drive after putting everything back together was to Sears where I picked up a full set of offset ratcheting wrenches. Got a pretty decent spread, I had to get a #17 separately for half the cost of the whole set which had like 8 sizes. I didn't exactly know what the "offset" head would be good for, but I take it from your strong endorsement that they are better than flat heads.
     
  10. Nov 15, 2010 at 8:00 AM
    #10
    xxaarraa

    xxaarraa [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I set mine at .85. My only intent was to firm up the ride, I didn't really want too much lift. I figured .85 would level out the rake from the Spring TSB a little bit, which it did.
     
  11. Nov 15, 2010 at 11:44 AM
    #11
    rmb_crew

    rmb_crew My other ride has 18,400HP!!!!!!

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    I pretty much took the pry bar and went on top of the UCA and caught one of the springs and lowered the whole UCA, spindle, and LCA all down together.
     
  12. Nov 15, 2010 at 1:07 PM
    #12
    pudge151

    pudge151 Well-Known Member

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    i followed the step by step tutorial on here and it took me about 3 hours by myself, to change all 4 shocks
     
  13. Nov 17, 2010 at 2:35 AM
    #13
    xxaarraa

    xxaarraa [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Here's the final result folks. Rear spring TSB, 5100s set at .85 and 265x70x16s with spidertrax at all 4 corners.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  14. Nov 17, 2010 at 3:02 AM
    #14
    Leadgolem

    Leadgolem Well-Known Member

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    Herculiner bed liner, White LED instrument lights, Custom painted hood, Homemade leather steering wheel wrap, Avic u310bt gps stereo, 1.5" bushwacker fender flares, 1.25" bilstein lift front, 1" shackle lift rear, rear bilstein 5100 shocks, ridiculous helper spring lift rear, wet okole seat covers, mutilated exhaust, boom mat under hood
    I didn't realize there was a significant difference in difficulty when your doing them on a second gen. I did my first gen myself in 4 hours. I did not disconnect the sway bar. After I had the spring assembly attached loosely on the top I did climb in my wheel well. Back against the top of the wheel well. Then shoved down on the lca with my leg. I was able to get both mine on that way. A bit tricky keeping the lca in the right position while you put the bolt in though.
     

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