Issue bolting new shocks to lower a-arm

Ok, so I got myself in over my head I guess here. Im attempting to put new shocks on my 06 TRD Sport and having a hell of a time getting the bottom bolt started. Everything else is done, I took out the shock and spring as a unit and used a spring compressor to put the new shock in place. Put the unit back in bolted up the 3 bolts on the top of the tower and was able to get the lower shock in the bottom perch but there is no way to get enough tension off of the strut to get the bolt lined up with the hole. I tried to get one compressor on the spring while it was in the tower to take tension off but no luck. Any thoughts? The truck does have a 3" leveling kit that may be some of my issue.

 

All the times I did mine I had another person help me put force down on the lower control arm to line up the hole. Not sure if it's the right way to do it but works every time.

 

Get the factory bottle jack out of your truck. Put it in the wheelwell, upside down (base against the inner fender. Extend it (just use your hand to turn the 'loop' on the jack) so the jack makes contact with the UCA. Continue extending until you have clearance to get the strut in place. Slide the bolt in, 'lower' the jack, thread the nut and profit!


That's how I did the SAW install on my '04 and how I did the SAW install on my '12. You may want a rag between the UCA and the contact point of the jack to keep it from slipping

 

I use a small pry bar that fits underneath the shock eye and wedge it between the shock and LCA. You can use the leverage to gently pursued the LCA down and maneuver the shock into place

 

Got it, thanks guys! Just needed another pair of hands.

 

That method worked great on my 98. Thank you Obscurotron for posting.