First time lifting a truck. Advice/tips

Def ECGS as a precaution. I got vibes 45k after lift and wish I did it initially. It's not bad if you're already there

 

Probably close to 8 hours. This was with me taking my time, going back to youtube videos and this forum, and plenty of breaks.

 

Hence this is my first time, are the UCAs coming in pre installed bushings and greased or should I prepare to do that?

 

I did my UCA's and front suspension last night. All night. Here's what I've learned:

1.Getting that UCA bolt out is largely under emphasized by every youtube video/walkthrough I've seen. Bending and pulling at the pinch weld wasn't NEARLY enough for that bolt to begin to clear. In fact, the bolt never cleared the wheel well. Not enough room to swing a hammer or get a drift/punch in there to make a dent from the engine bay side. Just a 24" pry bar and a 3lb sledge. Trying to drive it through from the wheel well side, by the flange of the UCA bolt. A few strikes from the wheel well side, then get into the engine bay and pry between the wheel well and the bolt, just to make sure it's getting as little resistance as possible. The good news: it went back in much easier. I still had to use the prybar and mini sledge from the engine bay side, but driving it back in was much, much easier. Just a little coordination to get the washers in place as the UCA bolt progresses.

2.Those bolts connecting the UCA to the spindle were seized, even after a good regular liquid wrench dousing a few times last week. Finally broke them free by tightening the f*ck out of the bolt with a long breaker bar, then loosening the nut and striking repeatedly just below the seal but above the spindle. Tighten to loosen - when more conventional means don't seem to work.

Those were the two biggest PITA of the entire project, that haven't gotten enough mention. From what I can tell, some tacoma's clear the bolts much easier than others. I definitely wasn't afraid to bend some sheet metal, but having the means to do it was a different story. Hopefully yours wont require as much of an investment of time. It's a project, so prepare for that, but even with the worst of the worst part of this project on mine, it still wasn't awful. Just time, labor, and patience.

 

Not sure if this encouraged me or discouraged .

Is there a specific side that should be facing out when installing the front suspension?

 

Yeah, the uca bolts are no fun at all, especially by yourself and inexperienced.

 

Lift with your legs, not with your back.

 

When doing the rear leaf pack, you’ll want to first try and get the (front) shackle bolts out by hand. You’ll scream at the top of your lungs swearing by God that you were trying to remove King Arthur’s sword. It won’t budge. Your next move should be placing a 1000 ft-lb impact on it. Give that a whirl until you about break your wrist. You’ll then want to place a 5’ long pipe on the end of your wrench, and jump on it like a mini trampoline. It will start to move. You’ll get a little excited. You’ll take it off there, move it back up to the 10 o’clock position, and start bouncing around on that son of a bitch again until your bar hits the ground. You’ll do this like 5 or 6 times and think to you’re self “WTF why isn’t this getting any easier?” You’ll take 20-30 mins scratching your head, drinking like your 5th beer, and then you’ll realize the bolt is seized to the rubber in the hanger and is just turning itself back every time you let it go. You’re going to call that bolt every name in the book. Tell it you’ll fucking torch it into molten lava and see it in hell etc etc. THEN you’re going to want to go into your garage and get your sawzall. You’ll crawl under the truck, curse the bolt one more time, and get to cutting that bitch in half, but you’ll realize you we at a really funny angle trying to get to it and your blade will pinch and the sawzall will kick back like a pissed off horse and slam your hand into the pavement. This should all only take you about 2hours on the first side.

Or you can just get new bolts and cut the old ones off with a grinder. Much easier if you ask me.

Anyways, good luck.

 

.......my brain......why did i actually read all of that HAHAHA

Them leaf bolts something I can pickup at the dealer?

 

Probably. I got mine at my local hardware store. I think I even found them in 10.9 if that even really matters. I’m sure your local auto parts store might carry them too. They *should be* M14 x 1.5 x 110mm Grade 8.

With any luck yours will pop right out though and you won’t need to go through the hassle of cutting them.

 

Wow, was I lucky...I didn't have any trouble with the rear at all, they were just heavy. I appreciate the very relatable anecdote; well written!

 

How's the ride with the hd leafs? I'm picking up some good condition used ones tomorrow. I feel like it might be a rough ride with an unloaded bed

 

Well its been a almost a month now and the was installed a while back! I'd like to thank the TW family for all of your inputs!

I was trying to record the process somehow but I decided to start the project over a weekend that rained so I just got to wrenching and did not do any type of write up.

My advice would be.

Pretty straight forward if you've done your hw on the steps in doing the project.

TIME - set a good block of time to not rush, and to complete the project.

Tools - a inpact wrench was gold where applicable.
Used regular depth socket in the end went and got a set if deep sockets.

Other than that hand tools with leverage bar will so it all for ya.

Thats all I got? Other than do your own hw on how to do the project and you're ready to go