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Solo Motorsports LT Kit Install Help

Discussion in 'Long Travel Suspension' started by j4roe, Mar 29, 2017.

  1. Mar 29, 2017 at 4:47 PM
    #1
    j4roe

    j4roe [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Solo Motorsports 3.5 with heimed tubular uppers, Total Chaos spindle gusset, King 8" CO, Glassworks 3'' front glass, tube bumper, 4 25w 1000L Bumper LED, 2 Rigid Pod lights, 35" Toyo Open Country AT, Fiberworx 3'' Bedsides, Deaver F55, Custom 9" Shackle, Bilstein 7100 14" 2.0 smooth body w/resi
    Hello TW,

    After 8 years of window shopping and saying what if I finally bought a long travel kit. I went with the Solo Motorsports 3.5 LT Kit for the 96-04 3.4 Tacoma. I bought brand new 2.5 x 8" Kings from DownSouth Motorsports and they arrived last week. I had considered paying a shop to install the kit but I also wanted to attempt to do it myself. I kind of figure that I dont deserve to go long travel if I cant start to do some of this on my own and learn a thing or two. I'm not a newb but not a pro either. I was confident that it was within my abilities so I attempted the install myself. It took two and half afternoons after work to get everything off the truck. I was then able to get most of the kit on during the day on Saturday. Sunday I welded the Total Chaos spindle gussets and then installed the spindle/knuckle/hub. I ran out of daylight so I picked up with the shock install Monday afternoon after I got home from work.

    This is where the fun starts... I put the shock in the coil bucket and get it bolted in but the shock is about 1 inch too long for the kit.... I'm pretty sure the kit is at full droop and the upper misalignment spacer for the upper uniball is almost near bind or very close... If I have done my reading correctly over the years, shouldn't this 8" CO fit the distance between mount to mount at full droop? I can't understand why this is happening??? The CO is 24" eye to eye and is the exact CO that Solo told me that I needed. Is it possible that I have the misalignments wrong on the upper and Im getting some uniball bind about an inch before full droop? I guess I should say that Im using brand new lower ball joints (stock), brand new outer tie rod and inner ball (stock)... the kit looks perfect this is seriously racking my brain... Not that this should matter because I feel almost as capable as another person but I'm a paraplegic in a wheelchair so needless to say that after 4 days of doing this install, I'm worn the F#CK out! LOL This isn't how I pictured this going...

    I was really reluctant to make a post because I kind of feel like an idiot. I pry screwed up somewhere in the process and Im a little embarrassed but Im happy that I gave it a shot. That being said, I'm putting my ego aside and hopefully you guys wont be too hard on me lol. I decided I have to reach out for help now because I dont know what it could possibly be... I have posted some pics below so that you can see what Im working with...

    Any help is greatly appreciated!

    THANKS TW!!


    27051_zpspvdxgij9_9774974b21f4b2181d5e2a869dc15c04d447f18e.jpg


    20170328_1826461_zpscnrppyuf_11f8b694c140e18ba40096c53c26f63c4f243bde.jpg


    20170328_1826351_zpszy2bx8sz_431ca149430b932d9148a5233625cbebb3883235.jpg
     
  2. Mar 29, 2017 at 4:49 PM
    #2
    T4RFTMFW

    T4RFTMFW Well-Known Member

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  3. Mar 29, 2017 at 4:56 PM
    #3
    MrCrowntown

    MrCrowntown Well-Known Member

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    The shock doesn't look like its aligned in the adaptor plate, and the plate isnt oriented in the coil bucket correctly. Rotate the coilover 180degrees on the adaptor plate, and reinstall so the reservoir line sticks outwards. Then it should sit in the coilbucket all the way and gain the clearance you need
     
  4. Mar 29, 2017 at 5:14 PM
    #4
    jberry813

    jberry813 Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    ...too much shit to list.
    The coilovers is fine in the adapter plate, but he lined up the holes to the coil bucket wrong. Just needs to rotate the top plate 120* so the rest fitting is perpendicular to the frame (as you mentioned).

    The reality is even that's not going to give him enough clearance as this is a two person job. Unscrew the preload collar all the way out so all the preload out of the coil. Two person job because one to set the bolts and another to stand on top of a pry bar on the LCA
     
  5. Mar 29, 2017 at 5:17 PM
    #5
    jberry813

    jberry813 Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    Also a hell of a lot easier if you get the spindle out of the way. Install the spindle last because you can jack the LCA up in order to set the 4 bolts from the lower pivot into the spindle.
     
  6. Mar 29, 2017 at 5:24 PM
    #6
    j4roe

    j4roe [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Solo Motorsports 3.5 with heimed tubular uppers, Total Chaos spindle gusset, King 8" CO, Glassworks 3'' front glass, tube bumper, 4 25w 1000L Bumper LED, 2 Rigid Pod lights, 35" Toyo Open Country AT, Fiberworx 3'' Bedsides, Deaver F55, Custom 9" Shackle, Bilstein 7100 14" 2.0 smooth body w/resi
    Thanks for the quick replies guys! I really appreciate it... Jberry I've read a bunch of posts that you have input on so I know you're the man. Thanks again!! Aside from the things you mentioned, everything else looks fine though right? I figured it was a bind problem but I did consider that I should have put the shock in first before I bolted up the spindle to the upper... I will go out there right now and see if I can get them in! Thanks again guys!
     
    ChadsPride likes this.
  7. Mar 29, 2017 at 5:24 PM
    #7
    jberry813

    jberry813 Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    Shit. I stand corrected @MrCrowntown. You are dead on correct with rotating the shock 180 degrees. And rotate the top plate 120 degrees. This work bullshit I do is interfering with my internetting.
     
  8. Mar 29, 2017 at 5:27 PM
    #8
    jberry813

    jberry813 Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    Thank @MrCrowntown too. He was 100% correct in his assessment too. I just added to it and was too quick in my reply an didn't pay full attention to the photos. The goal is to have the bolt that goes through the upper shock eyelet and the top plate adapter to be parallel to the frame. Let me know if it doesn't make sense and I can draw something on a bar napkin.
     
  9. Mar 29, 2017 at 5:31 PM
    #9
    jberry813

    jberry813 Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    Well thankfully Carl Nyberg invented the blow torch for just such an occasion.
     
  10. Mar 29, 2017 at 5:31 PM
    #10
    MrCrowntown

    MrCrowntown Well-Known Member

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    I require nothing but videos of this truck bombing around the Dez

    :drevil:

    @j4roe
     
  11. Mar 29, 2017 at 5:33 PM
    #11
    MostEpic

    MostEpic IG: letthemeatdust

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    Party in the front Party in the rear
    Is this the new 3.5 kit from Solo? I know they're working on a new one, just curious since I'm also in the market.

    Thanks
     
    ChadsPride likes this.
  12. Mar 29, 2017 at 5:35 PM
    #12
    j4roe

    j4roe [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Solo Motorsports 3.5 with heimed tubular uppers, Total Chaos spindle gusset, King 8" CO, Glassworks 3'' front glass, tube bumper, 4 25w 1000L Bumper LED, 2 Rigid Pod lights, 35" Toyo Open Country AT, Fiberworx 3'' Bedsides, Deaver F55, Custom 9" Shackle, Bilstein 7100 14" 2.0 smooth body w/resi
    Yea man thank you CrownTown too. I understand what you mean with the shock bolt. Sounds like I just need to unbolt the spindle too... TW ROCKS!!!! FAAAWWKK Im so anxious!!! I guess my day just got brighter... I was starting to get down like maybe this wasn't going to happen sooner than later. Thanks a million guys seriously you have no idea.
     
  13. Mar 29, 2017 at 5:36 PM
    #13
    j4roe

    j4roe [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Solo Motorsports 3.5 with heimed tubular uppers, Total Chaos spindle gusset, King 8" CO, Glassworks 3'' front glass, tube bumper, 4 25w 1000L Bumper LED, 2 Rigid Pod lights, 35" Toyo Open Country AT, Fiberworx 3'' Bedsides, Deaver F55, Custom 9" Shackle, Bilstein 7100 14" 2.0 smooth body w/resi

    You got it!! LOL pretty sure that wont be a problem! haha
     
  14. Mar 29, 2017 at 5:36 PM
    #14
    jberry813

    jberry813 Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    ...too much shit to list.
    They released their XLT kit which ditches the factory bucket and allows for a 10" coilover and bypass with a shock hoop above the bucket.
     
    MostEpic[QUOTED] likes this.
  15. Mar 29, 2017 at 5:36 PM
    #15
    MrCrowntown

    MrCrowntown Well-Known Member

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    Head over to the AZ BS thread. There are a bunch of us around here who love to wrench on stuff and help out fellow members too! Also wheeling and stuff.

    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/az-bs-v5-0.431790/page-1889
     
  16. Mar 29, 2017 at 5:37 PM
    #16
    j4roe

    j4roe [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Solo Motorsports 3.5 with heimed tubular uppers, Total Chaos spindle gusset, King 8" CO, Glassworks 3'' front glass, tube bumper, 4 25w 1000L Bumper LED, 2 Rigid Pod lights, 35" Toyo Open Country AT, Fiberworx 3'' Bedsides, Deaver F55, Custom 9" Shackle, Bilstein 7100 14" 2.0 smooth body w/resi

    I bought the kit the day after Christmas and I believe it's their latest addition. It has the 3/4 heim uppers... I couldnt afford the lower uniball or fabricated spindle but maybe one day I can add them on... they are definitely on the list of additions and so is the heim steering with clevis....
     
    MostEpic[QUOTED] likes this.
  17. Mar 29, 2017 at 5:39 PM
    #17
    j4roe

    j4roe [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Joe
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    Vehicle:
    1st Gen
    Solo Motorsports 3.5 with heimed tubular uppers, Total Chaos spindle gusset, King 8" CO, Glassworks 3'' front glass, tube bumper, 4 25w 1000L Bumper LED, 2 Rigid Pod lights, 35" Toyo Open Country AT, Fiberworx 3'' Bedsides, Deaver F55, Custom 9" Shackle, Bilstein 7100 14" 2.0 smooth body w/resi

    Yea man for sure! Thanks again! What part of Phoenix are you in? Im in Central PHX... had to do this install in the parking lot of my condo complex... LOL neighbors are pry sick of me at this point... HOA's suck! LOL
     
    MrCrowntown[QUOTED] likes this.
  18. Mar 29, 2017 at 5:41 PM
    #18
    MrCrowntown

    MrCrowntown Well-Known Member

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    I'm in north phoenix,

    and yes. you will get an agreement out of me about HOAs lol
     
  19. Mar 29, 2017 at 5:43 PM
    #19
    j4roe

    j4roe [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Joe
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    1st Gen
    Solo Motorsports 3.5 with heimed tubular uppers, Total Chaos spindle gusset, King 8" CO, Glassworks 3'' front glass, tube bumper, 4 25w 1000L Bumper LED, 2 Rigid Pod lights, 35" Toyo Open Country AT, Fiberworx 3'' Bedsides, Deaver F55, Custom 9" Shackle, Bilstein 7100 14" 2.0 smooth body w/resi
    Nice man how far North? I grew up in North Phoenix but now I guess you would consider it North Central since the Valley has exploded in size...
     
  20. Mar 29, 2017 at 5:50 PM
    #20
    MrCrowntown

    MrCrowntown Well-Known Member

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    Dirt King Mid travel with King 2.5 coilovers, Baja Kits chase SUA with 14in fox smoothies under custom hangars.
    it definitely has grown. Union hills and the 17
     

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