DIY SUSPENSION INSTALL HELP

Hey fellas!

After putting money aside, window shopping, reading through this forum and FB groups, countless YT videos and identifying my needs, I finally purchased suspension components. I’m wanting to install everything myself and am hoping you guys can help me with some info.

I will be installing:
- Camburg X Joint UCA
- FOX 2.5 IFP Coilovers
- FOX 2.0 RR Rear Shocks
- ICON RXT Leaf Pack

My questions are:
1: What are the torque specs?
2: What kind of jack and jack stands will I need?
3: Will any grease gun and grease work? Any suggestions?
4: What is the tool list? What size wrenches, sockets, breaker bar, etc?
5. Best way to remove existing leaf pack?
6. If you had one tip, what would it be?

I’m a carpenter by trade so have accumulated a lot of tools naturally but not one metric wrench or “mechanics tool”. I’d like to take this as an opportunity to learn and build my collection of tools.

 

Torque specs and required tools should be in the install instructions for those kits. nlg2 chassis grease with a standard zerk fitting should work fine. I would get a long reach jack and truck jackstands, a non long reach jack will have trouble lifting the truck off the wheels without maxing out.

 

You don't actually need many tools; a good set of metric combination wrenches, and a good set of metric impact sockets, deep and shallow, impact gun, pliers, and a few odds and ends, but if you're asking these questions, I'm not sure I'd recommend this as your first foray into 'mechanic-ing'! You live in a major centre; why not hunt up the local Tacoma group and see if you can get a guy or two to come over and help? Shouldn't cost more than a few beer, all in.

 

Good list and good advice about finding a group. Lift install is pretty easy, but takes a bit. Having an extra set of hands or two would definitely be nice.

I'd recommend a floor jack and 6ton jack stands.

I'd also recommend considering doing the ECGS bushing at the same time and also doing ubolt flip with bumps.

All in, your can buy all the tools and still save money compared to shop labor charges.

 

ECGS

 

First of all, you should just get the following:

100-200pc set of 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" sockets both metric and SAE. There is a dewalt set I was looking at last night to keep in my truck and it was like $150....

$173 DEWALT Mechanic Tool Set, 247-Piece, 1/4 in., 3/8 in. and 1/2 in. Drive, SAE, Ratchets, Sockets, Hex Keys, Combination Wrenches, Polish Chrome Finish (DWMT81535)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0767PMCD...colid=2GHL57Z4W4LTA&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1

As you can see, that socket set comes with some of the other things on my list below. I would however get that set, keep it in your truck for trailside repairs, but still get all those other tools, to have at home at all times.


Husky roll of ratchet/wrenches

3/8" Breaker Bar, then scrounge up a small steel pipe to extend that breaker bar, when it comes along for free(or if you want to pay at home depot)

Set of 3/8" metric impact deep sockets

(whatever tool brand you use) impact driver, and 1/2" impact driver

3/8" to 1/2" impact adaptor

3/8" metric and SAE socket allen set

pack of punches and chizels(i think channel lock brand?)

Dont even start the job without all that on hand, in my opinion. Youll use all those tools for the rest of your life....

Have fun shopping tonight and let us know what you go with.

 

6 tons jack stands.

 

Here are some 3rd Gen torque settings.

Along with the tools mentioned, I found a tie rod separator tool useful.

 

My tip is to enlist a friend with the skills and tools you don’t already possess. I did all my suspension upgrades on my buddy’s driveway and his support was priceless.

 

So uhh, did you go shopping?

 

YTU has gotten me through many installs so far.

 

Hey guys just wanted to say thank you for all of the suggestions. All of the suspension components are shipped as of this morning and should be here by Thursday! I am going to do the ECGS bushing and do want to do the u bolt flip kit with new bump stops. I think I’m going to go with the kit from Accutune. I do have a buddy from work who’s got a lot of the stuff already and has agreed to help me for free lunch for a week and beer so I will keep you all updated!

 

Agree with local support - Depending on your patience level, there is a thread in the AZTW thread for mod days that could align with your arrival dates if you want a hand. Otherwise, the task you're embarking on is fairly straightforward. Check youtube for order of operations and tricks but it's very easy to work.

as an aside, be prepared to schedule an appointment with an alignment group shortly after installation, e.g., my steering wheel was 6° off-center when I finished the job lol.

 

Good luck. Learn and have fun! (And get a front end alignment after )

 

Lol if you don't even have a wrench I would hire this one out. Change your own oil or something.
I am a woodworker too but I wrench when needed. There is a different skillset.

 

nothing on that list is very hard, hes just changing shocks ucas and leaves. Hes not pulling a tranny , all that stuff can be done with basic tools and a youtube video.

 

Have you even read this forum? Haha there was this one guy that ended up trading his truck because his suspension install went so wrong! Remember this is general public.

 

Just because someone can screw it up doesn't make it hard, it just makes some people incompetent. This is a basic lift with bolt on parts its an easy job for anyone.

 

And I would be much more worried about an oil change done incorrectly than a suspension part installed incorrectly. One makes your truck ride like crap, the other grenades the engine.

 

Find a friend with the knowledge and tools, ask for help. Take notes and then you’ll have a sense of what you’ll need to do the job in the future (lift kit on a new truck, other parts, general maintenance, etc…). No need to go out and buy all the tools all at once, accumulate them over time as needed. When I started wrenching I had little craftsman roll cart and some wrenches. Now I have a second mortgage on the tool truck…

now you don’t have to go out and buy snap-on quality but spend a little money on wrenches and sockets. Everyone shits on harbor freight but their new icon series is pretty legit for the shade tree mechanic.