Second gen rear shock install...

I will most likely pay someone to do the front install as well. Unless, I do some more research and feel comfortable doing it. Good luck.
If you can turn a wrench, I would suggest trying the rear yourself. It was much easier than expected despite having very rusted original shocks on there as I would imagine you may have as well living in the NE.

 

Yes, the YouTube video makes it look easy and I feel the same way about feeling comfortable doing the fronts. The rear shocks look straight forward, so I may time it to have the fronts installed after I do the rears.

 

I just put in new upper control arms (light racing) and the ome 885 coils, only challenge was that every bolt was seized from 11 years of salt and rust lol.. other than that it was pretty straight forward, I took the coilovers to a local garage with a spring compressor and they swapped the coils out in 5 minutes.

The hardest part I would imagine would be getting the old shock off the coil, apparently its pretty scary!

 

i replaced the rear 5100's a few weeks back and now i have a clicking noise from the rear when i start from stop or turning.

anybody else have this or imagine what it could be?
it is not a squeak like you might hear with poly bushings, more of a clicking.

i can jump on rear bumper and it will not make the noise. even making truck rock side to side i cannot get it to make it while not in motion.

I have squirted some lube at all the moving pieces like bottom shock mount, leaf spring ends etc.

do rear drum brakes start clicking when worn? (i know, wrong forum for that question)

 

Just followed these instructions and had both shocks swapped out in under 45 minutes. An easy job, definitely recommended for novices. Good confidence builder.

I used a crescent wrench on the top to keep the shaft from spinning. Also threw some Liquid Wrench in there about an hour beforehand to loosen things up.

 

Attempted this yesterday, broke the stud off all the way to the nut while holding the tip with vise grips...stupid design.

Now what, sawzall thru the nut?

 

Yep, I used a dremel but sawzall will probably work better.

 

Thanks for the reply but I'm still a little confused as to how to saw thru the nut. There's a little flange/washer looking thing that also has threads. I'm thinking sawing thru the nut will still leave a threaded portion that I won't have access to or am I worrying over nothing?

Thanks ahead of time for any suggestions

 

Saw through the nut and pry it off. You don't have to be careful since the shock is trash anyway

 

Ok thanks again..

 

Did 5100's about a year ago. Best improvement I have ever made on a vehicle.

 

Great write up and this thread was super helpful. Did this on the weekend to swap OEM to 5100's. Like others I had to sawzall through the nut on both sides, the grease for the lower mount made a big difference after I tried one without.

 

His thread really helped me today. Thanks @chris4x4!!!

 

I am needing to install blistering 4600 shocks on the rear of my Tacoma 2013, 2wd pre runner. But I can’t seem to find a good online retailer who sells the ones that fit my truck. Can you guys suggest a good online source for these shocks? Thanks so much.

 

Prerunner or a 5 lug?

Either way, try Marie @HeadStrong Off-Road

 

Pre runner

 

Job done, thanks for the write up!

Pro tip - my new shocks came with a loop of packing strap to keep them compressed in the box. You can slip this off temporarily to fit the lower bushing then put it back over the shock while you set the lower bolt in, then slip it off again and guide the upper end of the shock into its mount. Saves trying to compress the shock whilst under the vehicle, just don't forget to cut the packing strap of when you're done

 

Appreciate this thread. Used it today when installing a pair of Bilstein 4600s... replacing OEM Tokicos with 150,000 miles on them. Vise grips weren't enough to hold the threaded top of the shock, though, so I had to hacksaw both of the nuts off. Otherwise, pretty easy job. 4600s look pretty beefy compared to the OEM shocks, too.

 

I figure this thread has had a good long run so might as well keep it going. I swapped out my OEM front struts already with some takeoff OE Bilsteins. I have the rears sitting waiting to be installed, was concerned about what was involved but after reading through this thread it seems they should be easier than the fronts were. Definitely going to need to cut them off, I'll update once I swap them. Thanks to all of those before me.