Question about strut install

Watched a youtube video tonight - a guy with a 1999 Tacoma is installing front struts and has a seriously difficult time taking out the bottom shock bolt. Then he has to use a massive lever to line up the new strut and shock mount. This can't be right - aren't there a couple bolts you can remove to allow you to align the shock to the mount without tension? Can someone point me in the right direction?

Much thanks

 

Somebody has the answer - the guy on YouTube had 26,000 hits - showing folks how to do this job the WRONG way.

How do I release the tension on the bottom mount without having to use a 6ft lever?

 

Undo the sway bar and have someone stand on the hub. That's the way I put mine in.

 

There is no easy way that I know of. I too had to use a 6-foot lever to pry the lower control arm low enough to accept the lower shock mount.

 

its very easy if you just unbolt the sway bar link and the lower ball joint from the spindle, it lets the arm drop the extra 2" you need to get the bottom bolt in. I did mine this way and just pushed down by hand and slid the bolt right in.

 

Which bolt do you usually take out of the link, does it matter? Like when removing the cv axle.

 

Just the top one so it swings down on both sides

 

This is how I'm going to do mine this evening.

 

after you get the bottom bolt in you need to jack up the arm to compress the strut so you can reconnect the spindle to the ball joint.

common sense but I figured I would mention it so you have a spare jack ready to do it, also the sway bar link has an allen wrench cup to hold it from turning when you tighten and loosen it.

 

Worked like a champ, but I was afraid as hell.

 

So I guess this is a good time to replace the bar end bushings?

 

I did not undo both sides of the sway bar, I just under bolted the link from the bar and and left the bar where it was. Did one side at a time.

 

You don't need any of that. Use a pry handle under the bottom of the shock and the lower control, pry up on the shock and insert bolt and install nut. All done, pat yourself on the back and have a cold one.

 

This is the method I used, except on my 03' there is 4 bolts holding the lower ball joint to the knuckle. Be sure and loctite and torque those back and snug control arms but don't tighten until weight is on the wheels.
https://youtu.be/vkVLBOnAifc

 

I just pushed down on mine til I could slide the bolt in?

 

only if they are bad but they don't go bad very often so I would bet they are sill good as new. they are built solid as a rock and they don't move much so they don't wear out like other front end parts. if you drive washboard roads all the time I suppose they might wear out

 

Mine are definitely cracked and disintegrating (the big bushings at the frame are fine - its the bar ends that are cooked)