bamachem

look at me, i've done this about 10 times now. i've had them slip off...

MTL_4runner

It is dangerous, period (even with good tools and training).

.....not sure if people are folowing this thread too, but springs can slip off and compressors can break.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/my-lift-98715/


When I wroked as a mechanic I saw a coil spring slip out, ricochet off the floor and go through a wall. It all happened in the blink of an eye......scared the crap out of those of us who witnessed it. It's hard to know how dangerous one ton of force is when unleashed until you see the damage it can do.

xcmountain80

Yeah I had to use four compressors and mutha shucka this process sucks. I would much rather pay someone who has workers comp to do this. On one side of the truck the comp. slipped and the spring won the battle. he com. had to be cut off with a sawzall and as you can imagine kaboom we have yet to recover 1/2 of the cut off compressor. THIS ˟˟˟˟ CAN KILL YOU!! But hey do what you will I learn from all my mistakes and that the beauty of this website we can ultimately learn from others mistakes, therefore speeding the process while avoiding the mistakes.

CJM

My grandfather made a set many years ago I still use, all heat treated steel and HD stuff! They have a top and bottom plate made of 1/4 thick steel that is hardened. That is secured by two (very large) grade bolts and nuts (were talking 1 in diameter) that are hardened and finally two very large nuts on the ends of the bolts. The whole thing slips into the spring and allows easy compression with hand tools. What works so well is you can do each side a little at a time so you do them evenly!

I highly doubt any such thing exists except in his garage, he was a machinist so he made it. I have done countless jobs with this one and it works very well...

MTL_4runner

Let's see a pic of this tool your Grandpa made....I can't be the only curious person on the board.

bamachem

well, for some applications, i guess that would work, but you can't put anything INSIDE the coil on a 3rd gen when compressing the coils to attach the strut.

this is what you have to use on a 3rd gen - all external to the wraps:

gregbreakseverything

So I made it further on the install today. There were no shops open today so I ended up taking apart and building the struts myself. There were some scary moments, but noone got hurt. The air tools didnt have enough power to crank down the tundra coils, so we ended up having to crank it by hand. We only got the front done today, and it took us 8 hours to get it done. Once we figured out the one side, the other side worked smothly. Also one of the sway bar links snapped. Who was the guy selling the quick release links?

sschaefer3

Since it's my lift kit, I would take a look at the FAQ's on the Lift Kit page.

http://www.sonoransteel.com/store_co..._liftkits.html

BeachRNR

Good idea

gregbreakseverything

I am hijacking my own thread, what you going to do about it.

The new and improved website looks great steve!

paddlenbike

iTrader: (1)

I won't be installing the bamachem spacers this time around, but would it save me any effort in the future if I go ahead and install the extended studs now? I may install the bamachem spacers later if I end up with a TJM.

sschaefer3

I would put the studs in. Then you can add the spacers easily, instead of taking everything apart again.

paddlenbike

iTrader: (1)

Thanks.

BTW, I saw the UPS man roll up the other day with the lift you sent me. I go outside to greet him and he's dragging that 90+ pound box across my lawn and swearing every word in the book. I like Sonoran Steel. UPS does not.

gregbreakseverything

I had the exact same experiance, I offered to help, but he said he had it.

sschaefer3

You should see the guys face when I point to 5-6 kits all boxed up and tell him I have a pickup.

One guy whines, the other two just load it all up.