Shocks are ready for install....Not sure if I am

Cut that shit right off last night haha Same deal the left side actually came off when i held the other side with vice grips and pulled out the air gun...in/out/in/out...Passenger side wouldn't budge. Running into a problem now with the Lower Control Arm bolts. Not rusted, just wont budge

 

How low does the lower control arm need to drop? I dropped mine and it didnt drop nearly as far as the video. but it did drop off a good maybe 4 or 5 inches. the top of the strut is still peeking thru a bit. should i release the bottom bolt of the strut now?

 

It only needs to hang low enough so you can remove the shock.

If all of the tension has been released from the spring then, yes you can remove the bottom shock mount bolt.

 

I can only get it down to where the top of the strut is sticking thru the top late maybe a quarter inch. I tried pushing down the LCA and it seems like it wont go any further

 

Then the to cam bolts holding the lca to the frame are not loose enough. Once the are really loose you can rotate the cams and the lca will drop.

 

I think Discount Auto Parts rents spring compressors for free if you want to go that route. I'v never seen that video until now, but it looks a helluva lot easier than the way I did it.

 

Pressure seems to be off here. I can move this piece of rubber



This is how much the top still stick out.



LCA Dropped

 

How come new bushings?

 

So much rust.

The lca cams may be stuck with rust. Can you rotate the cams?

 

Got them to move freely with the PB Blaster. Got the shock out just fine now! Perfect! The frame actually isnt too bad at all. I undercoated it when i bought the truck. These Pittsburgh streets are garbage and the salt trucks just dump salt everywhere like shmucks. I had a 2001 five banger tacoma that i did the same thing too and it lasted pretty well.

 

Damn, rust sucks. Guess I take it for granted. We dont have to worry about rust here in Florida unless you live right on the beach.

You would think with all the technology today they could figure out something better than salt to put on the icy roads.

 

That's not possible but if you cannot visualize it then maybe you should not take chances.

 

Same here. Minnesota loves its road salt.

I hit everything I needed to loosen with PB blaster about 20 minutes before I hit that first Swaybar Link with a wrench. The nut loosened fine, but the recess for the allen key was so far gone on rust, there wasn't much I could do.

I'll check into the Autozone make.

 

I have done it the same way as the video... And it is the easiest way and best way of doing it for a DIYer..
Its super easy and safer then coil compressors.

 

Just did this again using the same method. I changed out my coils for some 886s. I think it took me an hour by myself to do both sides.

 

Gotta give it to everyone on this site for helping me out...This video was easier than ever! Hardest part for me was the rust on the truck. The video was very simple and in my opinion very safe. Had no safety issues at all along the way. Things went a little smoother when I decided to ditch the hand tools and pull out the air guns too. I gotta thank everyone on here for all he quick and helpful replies! Saved myself a ton of money and learned a lot on the way! Thanks again guys the truck looks great leveled out!

 

Post some pics

 

As a backup plan.

To make this job even 100% more safe you could even tie down the upper section of the spring to the frame with heavy duty wire rope or a chain just in case it did come off flying like a rocket, it won't go far. I didn't do mine like the video, but I will next time for sure for sure........

 

How can i mount a 1/4 spacer if i used the video way of compressing things, just remove the strut mount once the spring is out and add the spacer bolt it back down then install the new spring and strut?

also what size impact sockets should i need, I have a few but not a set and i'll like to have everything in hand before i start.

 

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