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front spacer install need immediate help!

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by bowyer2002, Mar 12, 2011.

  1. Mar 12, 2011 at 4:13 PM
    #1
    bowyer2002

    bowyer2002 [OP] always tinkering

    Joined:
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    NE Missouri
    Vehicle:
    01 Taco SR5 D-cab 4WD
    OME 882s, OME shocks all around and OME Dakar spring packs, ARB, Warn 8000, ARE shell, Custom rear bumper w/ reciever, 5-235/80R17 Cooper Discoverer ST MAXX on FJ wheels, grey wire mod, Hi-Lift, Hellas, Red-Line hood lifters, Scion radio, sliders, Safari snorkel & LED Ditch lights on CBI mounts.
    We have wrestled ALL DAY getting the front spacers into my friends Tacoma.
    I have installed 3" lifts on three different Tacomas and have never had this much problem!
    We had to release the upper ball joint to get the lower a-arm to accept the spring & spacer on the drivers side.
    We have tried to repeat that feat on the passenger side but the ball joint won't come out of the upper arm! :(
    I dont want to install a new upper ball joint as it is late today.
    Any suggestions that I may be overlooking?
    Please help!
     
  2. Mar 12, 2011 at 4:33 PM
    #2
    ETaco23

    ETaco23 Marshall offroad Fabrication

    Joined:
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    Evan
    PNW
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    13' Pyrite Mica TRD Offroad DCSB 4x4
    Color Match Grille, Bed mat, Kings with JBA UCA's, Dakars and 34" BFG KM3, Snugtop Canopy, and my "Marshall Fabrication" Rock Sliders.
    Well I know that I had to disconnect the sway bar in order to get mine in on my 02.
    But if that doesnt work you can get a prybar in there and pry down on the UCA.
    But if that still doesnt help, then I sggest using a hammer and wacking the joint a couple times to get it free, and if that doesnt work you may need to get a fork in there to pry them appart...
    Hope that helps ya! :)
     
  3. Mar 12, 2011 at 4:35 PM
    #3
    ETaco23

    ETaco23 Marshall offroad Fabrication

    Joined:
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    PNW
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    13' Pyrite Mica TRD Offroad DCSB 4x4
    Color Match Grille, Bed mat, Kings with JBA UCA's, Dakars and 34" BFG KM3, Snugtop Canopy, and my "Marshall Fabrication" Rock Sliders.
    There should be a flat spot on the top of the spindle were you can wack it with a hammer..... that usually works for me...
     
  4. Mar 12, 2011 at 6:39 PM
    #4
    trd7

    trd7 4wd tacoma

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    Tyler
    Columbia, SC
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    AEM air intake
    ^this. keep whacking it and it will eventually come apart
     
  5. Mar 12, 2011 at 7:02 PM
    #5
    Quast

    Quast Well-Known Member

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    Dustin
    Mission, BC
    Vehicle:
    03 toyota tacoma 3.4L
    3'' OME lift, Deck plate mod, spidertrax wheel spacers, 12'' alpine type S sub.
    are you trying to get the balljoint seperated from the uca? if so beating on it wont help use a "pickle fork" and use that to seperate the ball joint by sedging between it and the uca. it may screw up the houseing for the grease but if you smash on that bolt where the castle nut goes your not going to be able to get it back on belive me i know from experience
     
  6. Mar 13, 2011 at 10:36 PM
    #6
    SargeSlapnuts

    SargeSlapnuts SargeSlapnuts

    Joined:
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    Pooler, Ga
    Vehicle:
    2003 taco TRD off road 4x4 dbl cab.
    255/85-16 BF goodrich km3's, modified trail gear Bumpers front and rear, 10k winch, ranch rear lift shackles, Rancho coilovers in the front, grey wire mod, aftermarket stereo, camper top on the back.
    just use a pry bar. thats what i had to do to get my 3" spacers in the front. just stick it throught the uca and pry off of the frame. it will give you plenty of room.
     
  7. Mar 14, 2011 at 5:59 AM
    #7
    bowyer2002

    bowyer2002 [OP] always tinkering

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2009
    Member:
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    Messages:
    439
    Gender:
    Male
    NE Missouri
    Vehicle:
    01 Taco SR5 D-cab 4WD
    OME 882s, OME shocks all around and OME Dakar spring packs, ARB, Warn 8000, ARE shell, Custom rear bumper w/ reciever, 5-235/80R17 Cooper Discoverer ST MAXX on FJ wheels, grey wire mod, Hi-Lift, Hellas, Red-Line hood lifters, Scion radio, sliders, Safari snorkel & LED Ditch lights on CBI mounts.
    Thanks for the feedback!
    We ended up hitting the UCA with a 2lb hammer and it popped loose on the drivers side - installed shock assembly, done.
    Passenger side was not so easily persuaded. Finally, we hit the UCA with a big sledge hammer and it broke free - installed shock assembly, done, at 10:30pm!
    Took it for a 10min test drive, several curves out to the highway and up to 70mph everything worked great!

    Moral of this story? Have a Big F*%@# Hammer! - it'll come apart eventually!
     

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