Tools I'll need to install my kings, rxt's, uca's.

Good afternoon Tacoma fam, hopefully you are all safe with your families and Corona has not yet impacted you. I recently purchased King 2.5's #700 front/rear ext with adj, dirtking uca's, icon rxt's, and durobumps. I was looking to get them installed in the coming weeks but the more and more I think about it, I may take that money buy the extra tools i'll need and do it myself. Especially since things like jack stands, floorjacks, etc. can always be used in the future.

I am not completely inept when it comes to tools (installed my prinsu, sso slimline w/ winch, baja lights, steps, meso upgrades, and exhaust) but still have not ever ventured into anything like suspension. Aside from impact wrench/driver, socket set, torque wrench, floor jack and jackstands, what else would I need to do this myself? I will most likely cut through the uca bolt and have a dremel i could use low and slow to get through it.

Def nervous but would love to learn and ultimately be able to service my truck myself in the future. Also a little nervous trying to dial in the height up front on the kings when i put in the rxt's at option 1. The only thing im not touching would be CMC..no welding skills here. Any suggestions opinion greatly appreciated!

 

You can do the bolt without cutting. Just is a PITA and time consuming.
Other than than, a BFH to unseat the UCA from the knuckle.
Suspension on these trucks really are pretty easy compared to
other stuff.

 

You have a MT so benefit of the doubt
But if you’re unsure what tools you’ll need, this may be a bigger job than you’re prepared for.

 

You should spend some time reading through other people’s installs. I’m sure that King setup has been done/reviewed to death.
Google any question and put tacomaworld at the end.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...nstallation-and-alignment-2018-tacoma.547035/

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-owners-with-king-coilovers.472876/

Going out on a limb and guessing 3rd Gen.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ecgs-bushing-replacement-and-write-up-to-follow.472081/

might as well have them do this while they’re at it. If not your next post will read:
“Help just installed Kings w/ blah blah blah, and I’m getting vibrations, my alignment, etc”

 

At option 1 on the rxt leaf pack combined with kings up front, you may have a rear squat or, at best, a level appearance. You probably already know this but just throwing it out there in case it was not apparent to you in doing your research. Again, sorry if you already know this.

 

As far as tools go the job can be completed with just basic hand tools, a good floor jack, and a couple stands. You can look at the hundreds of builds on here or if you are a visual learner then hit the youtubes and watch one of the thousands of install videos.

 

Like others have said you don’t need to cut the bolt. With a little finesse and slight bending of the metal that’s in the way of the bolt releasing you’ll be fine and save some money. As a tip it’s easier to put the bolt in from the other direction when replacing it.

A measuring tape, deep socket metric sockets 14mm - 21mm is nice to have, a breaker bar, some loctite, and a king suspension spanner wrench.

 

So i feared this. I was honestly planning on keeping the Kings how they came with factory setting. I have heard that with 700's up front, minimal weight(im still under 200lbs, but close) that you can get between 2-3'' up front. You think i should do option 2? If i did that wouldnt i 3 degree shims or carrier bearing drop? Also trying to take vibrations into consideration.

 

I have tried to search and read up as best i could, but I think the difficult part is finding someone that has similar weight up front and #700 springs also while having the rxt in the rear. I am sure it will just be some trial and error in dialing the height. Appreciate the links provided good sir.

 

I would be stepping outside of my knowledge box talking about Kings and their settings. Given that you are going up at least 2" then I would go with option 2 on the rxt. It will keep the factory rake. I did the carrier bearing drop on my install and did not do the shims. The carrier bearing drop was so easy and cheap that it would be foolish not to do it. The shims are probably easy too but I'm not getting any vibrations. I also have a DCLB so that may affect my ride quality as others on the forum have theorized.

 

I'm running kings up front with #700 springs, a hybrid front bumper, with a wench. When I first installed the coilovers they only had about 2 threads showing on the top which only gave me about 1/2 inch of lift, I cranked them down to have 10 threads showing and that gave me about 2 1/2 inches of lift. I'm also running the RXT leafs, bed cage, RTT, high clearance bumper with dual swingouts, spare tire, jerry cans, high lift. I swapped out for option 2 which also gave me about 2 inches in the rear, however now the springs have got a few workouts and settled they have dropped down to no lift. They are super flexy and have a ton of droop, but hopefully by going up to option 3 I can get the lift back. As far as carrier drip, and degree shims go, I didn't use them and have had no problems.

 

I just installed this set up but with 650 lb coils. I installed the stage 2 on the RXT and it was a lot of lift compared to the kings as they come from the factory.
The sticky for the stage 4 Icons explains a lot. My son and I did it in an couple hours on the drivers side and 1.5 on the passenger side with swapping UCA's. Get a big set of channel locks and bend the inner fender to get the UCA bolt out. I used two floor jacks, one to lift the vehicle and the other to move the LCA back to position to bolt up the coil overs.
It not a hard job. Couple of metric sockets, bfh, jacks, big channel locks. This is a fairly easy job tbh.
CMC is easy, just need some one who can weld.

 

I feel like a dremmel isn’t the best tool for cutting the UCA bolt.

search for the install on YouTube. I was going to link one in... but there are dozens of installs of this setup and similar. Just find a Tacoma of your generation and it’s all just..

Bolts to remove front wheel. 6
Sway bar and linkage bolts. 2
Top hat bolts and lower mount. 4.
Upper control arm bolt. 1
Sway bar mount. 2. (+2 on spacer)
Button it back up.

video shows the procedure and goes over exact tool list

 

Appreciate the insight here, I am only looking for about 2 inches up front so I may take them to 8 threads. Plan to do it this saturday!

 

Don’t forget about suspension “settling” after install. My 650# king coil install seemed high at first but after a few days and 20 miles or so, it definitely settled bit an inch lower than when we initially installed n (no adjustment out the box). Since then, I’ve adjusted the collar to add pre-load and raise it an inch up.

I would strongly suggest jack and stands that can go to at least 20” high and get the ECGS bushing.

another tip, buy the T-handle tool so you can adjust the coilovers on the truck, if that matters to you. I’ve adjusted mine twice now in 2 weeks since installing the King.

 

FLAT prybar helps immensely for UCA washer install.

 

You don't need to cut your UCA bolt. I've pulled them out and reinstalled them on a few different trucks in the same direction they are in from the factory. You will need to flex a metal flange out of the way and it helps to have another set of hands. Also, having a punch to tap it out and tap it in helps. Just be patient and take your time, but it's easy enough.

A ball joint puller makes life a lot easier. Tacoma spindles really hold onto those ball joints.

$206 SPC Specialty Products 40260 Universal Spring Compressor

SPC spring compressors are worth every penny if you have a lot of coil over adjustment to do. Way safer and can be used with the coilover on the truck if needed.

5/16" punch for adjusting the coilovers (small adjustments only).

Wheel chocks of some sort

Anti seize - nice to have

Also, check your u-bolt torque after a few thousand miles!

 

Any reason why some videos show them loosening or removing the two bolts from the LCA to the rotor assembly? Does this just make it easier to put in the coilover?