Question: best method for replacing front coilover shock assembly?

I'm about to replace my front coilovers with KYB OEM equivalents and have seen a couple videos and write-ups mostly with people installing some kind of lift, seems critical to take off the sway bar link and upper ball joint to maneuver the assembly out of the spindle, but I've seen people that also remove the tie-rod ends and/or the sway bar itself. Curious if anybody who's done this could help give me a better idea of what I'm likely in for. Thanks!

 

No need to pop the spindle off the ball joints. Jack up the front end, remove wheels, disconnect sway bar links from spindle and outer tie rods. That will allow you enough room to remove the whole coil over assembly. Take photos before you take it apart, or even better, do one side at time so you can compare to the original setup.

 

Awesome, thanks a lot!

 

I've used the drop the LCA and bring the coil over out the bottom method described at https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...arm-to-disassemble-assemble-coilovers.535784/ It's worked well for me twice. There isn't a lot of space pulling it out the top. YMMV.

 

Also, just jack up one side at a time. When you are reinstalling the strut assembly and need to jack up the LCA to close the deal, you'll want the other side tire on the ground, to keep the truck from rocking so much that you can't compress the assembly. I've been through this and you want that other tire, on the ground.

 

^This is how I do it. Just make sure you have a quality ball joint separator to get the tie rod ends off. I would not recommend using a pickle fork unless you want to mangle the boots. Ask me how I know.

 

This might help for reference. This is how the coils are supposed to be aligned on each side.

 

I'd just drop the LCA. remove and replace.