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Help getting lower control arm to drop enough for shock removal

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by OutbackHack, Jul 4, 2012.

  1. Jul 4, 2012 at 2:15 PM
    #41
    OutbackHack

    OutbackHack [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I gave up for today and bolted everything back together. If there was a shop open today nearby I would have tried pulling the entire coilover and had them do the spring swap. But since it's a holiday and also 1000 degrees outside I'll try again later this week.
     
  2. Jul 4, 2012 at 3:01 PM
    #42
    4WD

    4WD cRaZy oLdmAn

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    This isn't personal Mike but I'll use you as an example...:)

    People , you need to understand the basic principals in whatever DIY you intend on doing, I've done a few coilovers in all proceedures above with & without compressors, that said for the first time or 2 you'd be time & $$$$ ahead if you just pull the coil/shock assembly off truck & have them changed over until to are confident & informed enough to attempt alternative methods... just my $.02
     
  3. Jul 4, 2012 at 3:32 PM
    #43
    OutbackHack

    OutbackHack [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I'll start by saying thanks again to everyone that offered helpful tips.

    Not sure when it was decided by the community here than I had never done any work on trucks or suspensions before. Admittedly I haven't specifically swapped out the shocks on a Tacoma before, but many of the principles are the same from previous work I've done. In this case I'm just not sure where the hang up is in preventing the parts from moving since I can't see inside the LCA joint.

    Additionally, as I stated, I wasn't opposed to pulling the whole coilover assembly and taking it to a shop to have them swap the springs; just that the local shops are closed today being that it's a holiday. I saw this alternative approach described both in a video and with other forum members stating their success with it and figured it was worth a reasonably cautious attempt. I understand the risks involved, although personally as far as I can see it carries no more risk than the other more accepted approaches short of just having someone else do it for you. I haven't seen a realistic scenario described how the spring would be able to escape the wheel well using this method that would make me reconsider it. I don't know everything though and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. If I fuck up myself or my truck I'll be sure to let you all know how it happened.

    Anyways, enough of that hopefully.
     
  4. Jul 4, 2012 at 3:41 PM
    #44
    4WD

    4WD cRaZy oLdmAn

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    Like I said Mike just using your situation as an example , not a statement as to what your mech. skill level is , I'm sure you're competent enough to do it, my statement was meant for the public at large bro'....all good...:cheers:
     
  5. Jul 5, 2012 at 9:58 AM
    #45
    BTO

    BTO Well-Known Member

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    Sorry about you getting run through the buzz saw like that. You got all kinds of strange advice on this one. Me? I think you were doing just fine but your LCAs are rusted and you simply need to soak in some PB Blaster and knock them loose. Once you do they will hit the floor like mine did.
     
  6. Jul 5, 2012 at 3:46 PM
    #46
    OutbackHack

    OutbackHack [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Success on round two. Turns out I was just being too cautious in applying downward force on the LCA to get it to drop. The alignment cams were seized enough to keep the last little bit of spring force shifting them. But after carefully prodding it (ie not putting any part of my body near it) I determined that the spring was actually 99.9% slack and with a little more downward force than I gave it yesterday the LCA dropped enough to let me pull the shock.

    Start to finish 2.5 hours this time around.

    Thanks again to everyone that gave useful feedback.

    lifted.jpg
    5100plus085.jpg
     
    lo2hi likes this.
  7. Jul 5, 2012 at 4:03 PM
    #47
    BTO

    BTO Well-Known Member

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    Yep. Turns out I was correct.
     
  8. Jul 5, 2012 at 4:16 PM
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    11TRD

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  9. Jul 5, 2012 at 4:24 PM
    #49
    KenLyns

    KenLyns 8.75" Third Member

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    What snap ring setting are you running on the 5100? Looks like no lift?
     
  10. Jul 5, 2012 at 4:25 PM
    #50
    THE TECHNICIAN

    THE TECHNICIAN Well-Known Member

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  11. Jul 5, 2012 at 4:27 PM
    #51
    OutbackHack

    OutbackHack [OP] Well-Known Member

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    0.85" lift. Second from the bottom with the stock spring. I may bump it up to 1.75" later but seeing how it drives at this setting for now.
     
  12. May 8, 2018 at 2:19 PM
    #52
    ajeronio

    ajeronio Member

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    Hey, what's up, I found this thread as I was having the exact same problem.. trying to remove my shocks and the lower control arm will just not swing free.

    Did you get 'er done using the "no spring compressor" method?

    Thanks!
     
  13. May 8, 2018 at 2:24 PM
    #53
    anthony250f

    anthony250f Well-Known Member

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    You loosed the cam bolts ?
     
  14. May 8, 2018 at 2:27 PM
    #54
    EatSleepTacos

    EatSleepTacos Well-Known Member

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    If you loosened the cam bolts already, then it's very likely your cam bolts are seized within the bushings. This happened while trying this method on a friends truck. We never could get it to swing freely.

    When it's not seized, you loosen the cam bolts and the LCA will swing freely, all the way to vertical.
     
  15. May 8, 2018 at 3:15 PM
    #55
    ajeronio

    ajeronio Member

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    I suppose some more info would've helped..

    Yes the cam bolts were backed plenty off, use of penetrating fluid, as well as the steering knuckle bolts removed of course, and I could not get the danged thing apart..

    I don't know what else to do but get back in there and give 'er till it comes apart.
     
  16. May 8, 2018 at 3:20 PM
    #56
    anthony250f

    anthony250f Well-Known Member

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    Are the cams seized ?
     
  17. May 8, 2018 at 3:27 PM
    #57
    ajeronio

    ajeronio Member

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    They move a bit, but having a hell of a time getting them to swing free..
     
  18. May 8, 2018 at 3:28 PM
    #58
    EatSleepTacos

    EatSleepTacos Well-Known Member

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    Your cams are definitely seized then
     
  19. May 8, 2018 at 3:43 PM
    #59
    ajeronio

    ajeronio Member

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    Dang. So does that mean take them right off and replace the bushings?
     
  20. May 8, 2018 at 3:49 PM
    #60
    EatSleepTacos

    EatSleepTacos Well-Known Member

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    Oh man if only it were that simple. Are you able to completely remove the bolts, and take off the LCA? If so I'd take it off, clean off any rust on the bolts, and do your best to clean off the metal sleeve inside the bushing. Then antiseize the shit out of it and reinstall.
     

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