08 Tacoma replacing strut. Bottom won’t fit!

Replacing my stock struts with rough country’s 2 inch loaded struts I’ve gotten everything in fine except the Bottom bolt. I feel like the lca won’t flex down anymore and I can’t get the bottom hole to line up.

 

Loosen upper ball joint castle nut and let it hang.

We usually have to pry down on the upper arm while loading the weight on the lower arm to get the big lifts in and not cross thread the ball joints.

 

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This is currently what I’m dealing with.

 

Lower control arm won’t drop any further and I feel like even if I got the bolt through that it would stay dropped and not be able to reconnect knuckle to the uca

 

Can always loosen the lca hardware if you're unable to pry it down far enough. Might help to disonnect tie rods

 

I’m going to try that in the morning. Do you think I’ll have issues reconnecting the sway bar link or the uca?

 

No, if anything you'll have to place a jack under your lower ball joint to raise everything back up enough to get the nut started for the upper. Just be careful with your brake and abs lines. They look like they're getting tight.

 

do you think I’d I got a coil compressor kit that I could compress it enough to fit it in?

 

I mean, yeah that would work, but I think you're over thinking it. Have you tried loosening the LCA hardware yet? Don't be afraid to put some ass into pushing down on the lower arm.

 

The lca hardware is on there pretty good. I also put all my weight on it and it still didn’t go down enough.

 

Do you have the top side already bolted down tight?

 

You can use a strap or a jack to reconnect the UCAs.
+1 for loosening the lca and get it to flop down. Good time to find out if they’re seized otherwise it’ll be a painful alignment.

 

For the lca hardware you’re talking about the 2 bolts on the bottom side right. Also the bolt with the castle nut on the bottom side.