Need your help installing front shocks (stuck cam bolt mount and sway bar link)

I already did 1 side successfully by loosening the cam bolts so that my LCA falls. Easy peezy. Well of course the passenger side is 10x harder. My REAR cam bolt nut comes off fine but the front one is stuck. Front cam mount is loose.

Also, my sway bar link nut turns, but the other side is literally a ROUND metal piece (yes no edges) so I can’t remove that either.

everyone loves talking shocks, nobody wants to talk about how to install them.

 

I didn’t take the alignment cams out when I did mine. Going from memory, I unbolted the LCA from the spindle and swung it out of the way.

 

I've never undone the LCA when I've done shocks. I disconnect the knuckle from the UCA so the whole assembly can drop down.

For the sway bar, I feel like there should be provisions for an allen key in the bolt, then you can use an open end wrench on the nut. Also, in the event you can't break any of the end link connections loose you can drop the whole sway bar at the mounts. Or, disconnect both sides of the suspension so they can move together without one end preventing the other from moving.

Lastly, if your LCA bolts are frozen then you may be in for a bigger project here anyway. You'll probably need to make some adjustments at the LCA for alignment when you're done with the suspension install. If they're seized then you're gonna need to look into replacement hardware for all that - which unfortunately is more expensive than you'd think.

 

I’d love to not be dealing with the LCA but the sway bar link just won’t come undone. The Allen key you are referring to is on later tacomas. This is a 2007 with no hole in the bolt. Got 2 ways to do this and both aren’t panning out lol

 

The sway bar end link is tapered, if you can compress the end link into the knuckle, then it should add enough tension where an impact should be able to zip the nut off. Hand tools won’t help you with the method. I’ve done it something by just leaning into the end link a little- as long as you’re not rusted to shit, it shouldn’t take much force.

 

You drive a 18 year-old truck, so get used to working on seized and rusted parts.

Before you begin, using hand tools, make sure you can loosen all 4 bolts holding the sway bar bushing clamps to the frame rails. That's another potential pain point on older trucks - the weld nuts inside the frame rails can break off, then the bolts will spin and won't come out, needing to be cut off.

If all 4 bolts spin, now try to remove the sway bar link:

1. Get vise grips as tight as you can on the round metal piece.
2. Heat the sway bar link nut with a propane torch until red.
3. Loosen the nut before it cools.

There are other, more destructive methods like using a nut splitter if this still doesn't work.

 

Want an update on how it’s going? Lol look at this. How screwed am I

 

^Not a problem at all. The inboard CV joint "tripod" slides freely in the "cup". Just pop the tripod back in the cup and put a large hose clamp around the boot after you're done. Metal zip-ties work as well.

 

I have a turd gen but same. No need to remove lCA. Just loosen enough to swing down.

As far as end link, I've sawzalled cheap suspension components off before. Last resort but an option.

 

Im trying to achieve that EXACT same thing. “loosen enough so the Lower arm swings down”. However. It isn’t swinging down! Yes the nut is loose on the rear mount and in the front the front the bolt is loose.

I can move the LCA up and down and see the front mounts moving but NOT the rear mounts. I think it’s seized

 

Gotcha. It does require a certain amount of loosening to achieve. That sucks. Do you have air tools or equivalent? I had to put a wrench on one side and hammer the other. I swear by kroil.

 

You're going to need heat and a lot of it for that bolt.

And next time, disconnect the 2 nuts under the lower ball joint and you should have room to remove the shock.

 

those nuts (bolts) are already disconnected, but the LCA cannot swing down if the mounts are too tight (which 1 is)

 

hmmm this sounds much easier in your post lol. Thing is greasy as hell and does not want to fit back on there. I think there’s a metal clamp around it but with no ‘release’ clip. Tried needle nose pliers but no luck on that either. Any tips?

 

Ahh the factory clamp is still on the boot. The dirt had cover it up lol. Use a flat screwdriver to pry up on the end of the clamp tab to release the three barbs. Picture below shows the small clamp. You would do the same action to the big clamp instead.





The factory clamp is not reusable, so you can carefully cut it with side cutters as well. Be careful not to cut the boot.

 

If that LCA bolt is seized to the bushings you’re going to have hell getting it aligned…solid chance you replace LCA’s next weekend. Ask me how I know

 

Id say your best bet is an oxy torch or map gas. I just put in a 2.5in lift and I just needed to unbolt the ball joints, and it's a Northeast truck too.