96 4Runner rear coil & strut replacement

amoskalets · 10-28-2009, 02:16 AM

Hey everyone,

I have a 96 4Runner that I have decided to lift. I bought a lift kit from "Revtek". It is an all around 3" lift, spacers. I was able to install the front with no problems, but the rear spacers are giving me trouble.

Problem #1
I have a spring compressor that worked fine on the front coils, but doesn't work on the rear. Is there another way I could compress the rear coils?

Problem #2
I am also installing new bilstein struts, and again the fronts were very easy to change, but I can't seem to understand how to remove the top nut. There just isn't enough room to work. Any idea's?

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Smallwood0507 · 10-28-2009, 06:09 AM

I cant help you much on the springs but for the rear shocks their a pain in the ass. What you want to do to get the old ones off is to jam a wrench up their against anything you can and twist the body of the shock to get it off....but of course (i used bils as well) you cant do that with them. You have to jam an alan wrench against the side then acting like gumby get another wrench up their and twist it as tight as you can before you snap...for the driver side rear shock you will need to drop the spare tire and reach through the car....make sure to take deep breaths soo you dont get pissed off......good luck

98srx6 · 10-28-2009, 07:03 AM

What coils are you installing in the rear? I did not need coil compressors for the rear when I replaced mine with OME 890s. I just let the axle droop down all of the way and applied a little bit of additional pressure on the side that you will be removing/installing first.

amoskalets · 10-28-2009, 06:22 PM

Smallwood0507,
Thanks that helped I was able to replace the driver side Strut, but the passenger side strut doesn't want to budge. I'm almost tempted to drill a small hole from the trunk space and get an air gun in there. I'll just keep trying I guess.

98srx6,
I'm not replacing my coils, I'm adding spacers to them. Basically I need the coil compressed about 3" in order to slide the spacer in. What I did was I went to sears and bought a "Hook" spring compressor which did the job.

dannomite · 10-28-2009, 06:33 PM

If you are replacing the rear shocks then just cut the shock shafts. If you are reusing them then spray the crap out of them with some penetrating lube and let it sit for a bit. I was able to get in there with a pivoting head ratchet and get a fair bit of torque on the nut. Also if you take the time and search you will find several threads about this very procedure.

Elton · 10-28-2009, 08:38 PM

the rear isn't to bad just undo the shocks rear panhard bar and sway bar end links

amoskalets · 10-29-2009, 05:03 PM

Sweet thanks a bunch guys, Saturday it should be done.

10-28-2009, 07:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
98srx6 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 80	What coils are you installing in the rear? I did not need coil compressors for the rear when I replaced mine with OME 890s. I just let the axle droop down all of the way and applied a little bit of additional pressure on the side that you will be removing/installing first. __________________ 99 Limited

10-28-2009, 06:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
amoskalets Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 3	96 4Runner rear coil & strut replacement Smallwood0507, Thanks that helped I was able to replace the driver side Strut, but the passenger side strut doesn't want to budge. I'm almost tempted to drill a small hole from the trunk space and get an air gun in there. I'll just keep trying I guess. 98srx6, I'm not replacing my coils, I'm adding spacers to them. Basically I need the coil compressed about 3" in order to slide the spacer in. What I did was I went to sears and bought a "Hook" spring compressor which did the job.

10-28-2009, 06:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
dannomite Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 239	If you are replacing the rear shocks then just cut the shock shafts. If you are reusing them then spray the crap out of them with some penetrating lube and let it sit for a bit. I was able to get in there with a pivoting head ratchet and get a fair bit of torque on the nut. Also if you take the time and search you will find several threads about this very procedure. __________________ 1996 SR5 5speed rear locker.

10-28-2009, 08:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
Elton Contributing Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Siletz,Oregon Posts: 10,669	the rear isn't to bad just undo the shocks rear panhard bar and sway bar end links __________________ My Truck 98 4runner SR5 3.4L 5spd 4x4 E-Locker Mods Mom 07 Tundra d-cab limited 5.7L 4x4 auto sister 92 pickup SR5 X-cab 3.0L 5spd 4x4 Papa 89 Pickup SR5 X-cab 4x4 3.0L 5spd/98 4runner SR5 4x4 auto 3.4L R.I.P 91 4runner SR5 4x4 3.0L 5spd Totaled 5/13/06 My Wreck

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10-28-2009, 06:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
Smallwood0507 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 54	I cant help you much on the springs but for the rear shocks their a pain in the ass. What you want to do to get the old ones off is to jam a wrench up their against anything you can and twist the body of the shock to get it off....but of course (i used bils as well) you cant do that with them. You have to jam an alan wrench against the side then acting like gumby get another wrench up their and twist it as tight as you can before you snap...for the driver side rear shock you will need to drop the spare tire and reach through the car....make sure to take deep breaths soo you dont get pissed off......good luck

10-29-2009, 05:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
amoskalets Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 3	Sweet thanks a bunch guys, Saturday it should be done.