My Strut Assembly doesn't fit back into the Control Arm Bolt, help!!

I am installing the ReadyLift 69-5510 2wd five lug Tacoma kit on my 2006 Base Taco and I followed all their steps in their instructions video link below. I added the strut spacer and even rotated the top part of the strut 120 degrees (even thought they never freaken explained how to do that, which i found out by using strut spring compressors to loosen the top of the strut) but after that i'm stuck!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w_Hg8JoKLY&list=WL

The strut assembly doesn't fit anymore! Either I install the sway bar endlink and the lower part of the strut doesn't reach the control arm; or I install the strut assembly to the control arm bolt but the upper endlink with bushings doesn't reach the other side.

Please help i'm stuck! If you have installed this kit or are familiar with lifting 06 base 5 lug tacomas I need your help!!

Here are some pics of my frustration! You can see how the lower part of the strut is way out from the control arm and the top strut bolts have already been installed.

 

I don't have a 5 lug but it looks like you still have your sway bar attached. Try removing that and see if the lca will drop further down. Also loosen the top bolts so you have some wiggle room.

 

Yea in the instructions it says just remove the end link which I did but then if i install the strut assembly the endlink bolt doest reach the bracket to screw from the top side (the bolt sits too low and doesn't reach the hole). Idk what I did wrong and i'm so frustrated :/

 

if the top nuts don't reach try using a jack to push the lower control arm up?

 

Maybe try install the strut assembly with the sway bar end link disconnected then use a Jack under the lower control arm to bring it up to attach the sway bar

 

I actually tried that, didn't work i felt my truck was going to tilt over haha

 

Did you cut down the bolts on the shocks as per instruction? Also I would disconnect the lower sway bar link on both sides and reattach it when everything else it bolted in.

 

Is the whole front lifted on jacks?

 

Your spacer looks too low at the top

 

Yea I did everything exactly the way it says in the instructions and video. When I try to put my strut assembly back, either the strut will fit or the sway bar end link but not both. The sway bar link's bolt (the one that goes through that bracket hole) barely touches the bracket and it not 'long enough' to go through the hole because the control arm is lowered and when i lift it up then the lower strut doesn't fit in its right place. It's just a major frustration !

 

Yes the front is lifted on a jack and two stands. And the top strut nuts are fine, the problem is the lower strut that goes through the control arm, it seems that it has gotten 'longer' to fit when i try to lift the control arm back up to install the end link, that's when it creates chaos for me.

 

you think so? Why do you think is that? i tighten the bolts tight enough. Do you think maybe the spring compressor might have messed it up? I compressed the coils so that i can rotate the top 120 degrees using the new spacer bolts and mount them back into the OEM strut holes.

 

What I would do is remove both end links. Get both coils bolted in. set the truck on the ground then bolt the sway bar back on. With both end links unbolted, you should be able to move the sway bar up and down. I think the reason the sway bar won't move right now is because you have one end link bolted in.

 

^^^^^ I didn't un bolt both at the same time and it was a pain leave the sway links undone until everything it back in place. As for the top strut rotate the spacer and see if a different side fits better I can't remember if it's lopsided or not.

 

Disconnect sway bar on both sides and rotate it upwards out of the way. I tried prying lower controll arm with prybar and couldnt get mine back in. I had to unbolt the lower ball joint(two large bolts) to allow enough play to get my struts back in.

But mine is 4x4 yours looks kinda diffrent

 

Thanks man! I didn't know that by removing both end links the sway bar moves. I thought you had to unscrew the middle bolts to remove the whole thing, this really helped putting the end links back into the sway bar. You are a life saver man!!

 

yea, by unbolting both end links the sway bar moves up and down making it reachable for the links to bolt in.

 

So you finished?

 

Yes I am. I will be posting pics tomorrow after i get my new tires installed

 

As promised, here are my before and after pics.