Should I Tackle 5100 Swap?

I have my height-adjustable 5100s in the garage. I'm wanting to do the swap myself, but my auto-wrenching (that sounds bad ) experience stops at plugs, hoses, oil changes, thermostats, etc. I have all the stands and tools except for the spring compressors and I don't have a problem getting a good set of those. However, I've seen the videos of the compressors failing and flying all over the neighborhood and now I'm wondering if it's worth the risk. Should I give it a try?

 

I'd tackle the install yourself but, if it were me, I'd take the old coilovers and the new 5100's to a shop and have them swap the springs over. They have much larger spring compressors and could do it in a matter of minutes.

 

Easily done by yourself without the need for any dangerous spring compressors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkVLBOnAifc

 

Thanks Pugga, that's a good idea. 22,000 posts!? When do you have time to drive your Taco?

Unfortunately my torque wrench only goes up to 75 lbs. I'm way short of the 100+ needed.

 

Doing everything except compressing the coils will not absolve you from torquing the knuckle bolts or cam adjusters

 

D'oh. Good point. New torque wrench to come....

 

After putting my lift on like the video, I honestly don't know why anyone would do it any other way. Spring compressors scare me.

Toyota makes a really good spring compressor. It's pretty expensive, but then we already own one.

 

Oh boy, so much work!?!?!?

 

After watching Mr. Hypoxia's video another time, I think I'll try that method. More to follow. . . .

 

Yeah, but that's half the fun.

 

Just to clarify. It's not my video. In fact I believe it was created by another member here a while back. I'm grateful he made it as it really made my install a breeze.
Another friend of mine did his own install the same way with the same great results.

The springs do store a great deal of potential energy that could ruin your day so this should be attempted with caution. I personally believe the risk to be less than what there would be with spring compressors though.

 

I made the video.

PM me if you have questions or need help.

 

Thanks Derek.

 

Only thing I can add is...
-Work on as level ground as you can
-Align the knuckle and LCA up before trying to threading the bolts into the knuckle (If not working on level ground)
-Not needed, but for my situation, if I had another pair of hands to push the knuckle down, I would have not cross threaded and stripped my knuckle...

Think that was my only problem using this method, other than that, works great..

 

I never remove or loosen the knuckle or LCA bolts. Just watch out for the speed sensor lines and you will be fine...

 

If you don't disconnect the LCA from the knuckle/spindle, how do you have enough room to drop the shock out. (using the video method??)

 

A wrench was thrown into the plans (not a torque wrench, either). I forgot that several weeks ago I'd volunteered to help the sis-in-law put new baseboards in her house. I've been tearing out old ones today, and getting/cutting/installing new stuff tomorrow. Oh well, next weekend.

 

The most i have ever done to get more play in there is the UCA to spindle bolt...

 

sub'd thanks for the video ddd