Replacing the Shocks or Struts not the springs

Just want to confirm as I am not an Expert. I have a 1998 Tacoma Extra Cab 3.6L 4 x 4

I bought the front shocks without the springs for my Tacoma and I want to replace the front ones and leave the spring part. I expect to jack it up block it and remove slide these shocks down and out and replace... I have 6 lug tires not 5 but is this video below basically accurate for my truck? Remove top nut and bottom 2 bolts and fall out and do reverse to replace correct?

There are several vids where they do the entire assembly with the spring or say they need spring clamps or start removing other parts of the front suspension. I do not really use it for off road so I will just do the shocks or what ever the inside piece is called.

https://www.google.com/search?sca_e...ate=ive&vld=cid:6987ec6c,vid:8s5U2aFvrdI,st:0

 

For a 6 lug truck, you need to compress the spring in order to replace the shock. There are right ways (with a spring compressor) and there are some sketchy but well documented ways (a jack under the lower control arm), and there are some outright dangerous ways (full send with a cordless impact on the top hot bolt).

Essentially you need to:
1- secure and jack up the truck
2- remove wheel and tire
3- remove the top three 14mm nuts & bottom nut and bolt (19mm ?) - note the installation orientation of the bolt and nut
4- remove the coilover assembly from the truck (coilover = coil spring over a shock)
5- use a spring compressor to compress the spring, remove top cap (again note the orientation of all the top hat pieces and bushings)
6- remove shock from compressed coil
7- reverse the steps with the new shock

I suggest you educate yourself a little more before attempting any of the methods, as with any method to compress the coil spring there is danger.

 

Thx a-lot I may just tale it
in then. Though I could
do it myself. But I know
my limits. I did the
back ones myself.

 

I should have got the entire assembly then lol.

 

Full assembly is what I did. But as previously mentioned, don’t monkey with it if unfamiliar with it. It’s very doable but there’s a lot of sketchy spring compressors out there that are downright dangerous. You could save a little money by taking them out yourself and just run em to a shop and have them swap the new shocks onto it for you
https://youtube.com/shorts/0w7_uqphy_I?si=biHjB5FY1Rb9Z-nH

 

Thx guys

 

Return them if you can. RockAuto has fair prices on Monroe quick struts. I recently did these on my 95.5, and never looked back. It's a very easy job this way. And think about almost 30 years those springs have been working, and possibly sagging a little...


Hope to help,
Mike

 

You know what? I have to go look I think may have got the full assembly with the sorings. I will go look. I bought them
in summer and cannot remember.. boxes have been sitting there for a while lol...

 

Actually,, I DID get the whole assembly. Jeez, They have been sitting since summer and I forgot. I guess I can attempt them then. Left and roght. Is it hard with the pre done assembly? I got Monroes, but not the cheapest ones..

 

Not difficult at all. Congrats on realizing you got the assemblies ?


Mike

 

For all your effort Monroes will not last very long. You can confirm by digging around this forum for member posts. If you can, return them and get the 4 corner set, best price I found on assembled coilovers. You can do only the fronts but should get all 4 shocks done at the same time.

It's fairly easy, use good jackstands/blocks for safety, you can see it's just the top and bottom that needs to come loose with no spring disassembly.

 

I put bilstein 5100 coilovers on mine recently and new shocks in back. And yeah, I thought it might be better to get entirely assembly as well. Worked out well, truck feels great especially after I put new rack and pinion bushings.

 

I drive my truck on the freeway mostly amd don't go off roading I think Monroes will be fine.

 

Lol I'm sorry bubba I wasnt saying mine are better, I just meant new shocks feel good that's all.

 

Sorry was post before you. All good. If I was off roading I would go more ln depth. I got Monroe's on the back and they are great. Again NOT off roading.

Also there is a left and a right shock. Meaning when in the drivers seat looking forward left and right? or?

 

Yeah it goes by if your in the driver's seat looking forward, and that's with all parts. Supposed to be anyways.

 

It's pretty easy to determine which is which. They are 180 degrees out from one another in orientation. Remove, replace one side at a time. No problemo !


Mike

 

left = driver side (AKA captain's side)
right = passenger side (AKA drinker side)

 

At the risk of ... It's not that the Monroe products are bad for off roading. They are just bad for everything- especially the "quick struts". Many members had issues with their trucks being LOWER after installing the correct Tacoma parts and were trying to get the parts for heavier applications like the 4 Runner. That issue aside, the lifespan of those products just doesn't stack up to better quality components. Again, this is not about off roading. This is about a much higher quality Bilstein 4600 shock lasting several times longer than a cheap low quality part. Expect that the Monroe product will be "good" for 2 years before being totally blown out, whereas you can expect a more OEM-like lifespan out of a Bilstein product, because in actuality, the TRD trucks left the factory with Bilstein shocks in them.

Your Monroe's in the back are likely "great" compared to whatever blown out shock was there, but any new shock would feel better than a shock used well past it's expected life cycle.

 

Where do angry balls of potential energy fall into this list?
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAq35dmBpme/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==