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86-95 Trucks & 4Runners 2nd/3rd gen pickups, and 1st/2nd gen 4Runners with IFS

Removing front shocks the easy way

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Old Dec 10, 2007 | 11:44 PM
  #1  
Matt16's Avatar
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Removing front shocks the easy way

I spent 4 hours on my driver's side shock but I figured out the easy way and the passenger's side took 20 min. Here's how I did it. First, you must decide whether you are going to keep your old shocks- if you are, keep looking, I can't help you. Now that that is out of the way, take out the following tools:
  • Socket wrench
  • 22mm socket
  • 22mm box wrench
  • foot long socket extension
  • propane torch and lighter
  • BFH (big hammer)
  • 4 feet of steel pipe
  • WD40
  • angle grinder and metal cut-off wheel

Procedure:
  1. Spray the 22mm nut and bolt on the bottom of the shock
  2. Attach the socket and extension to the back of the bolt
  3. slide the 4' peice of pipe over the socket wrench
  4. slip the 22mm box wrench over the nut on the front
  5. light up the torch and heat up the nut for a couple minutes and keep spraying the nut with WD40 (there's going to be smoke and flames here)
  6. after the nut is heated, take the box wrench with two hand and holt the 4 foot pipe down with your foot
  7. the nut should loosen off, so undo it
  8. now that the lower end of the shock is undone, cut the stud off the top with the grinder
  9. now install the new shocks- I used medium strength threadlocker on both the upper and lower nuts. The upper nut I tightened until it compressed the rubber bushings about a centimetre (10mm)

My suspension was terrible before I installed new shocks. Turns out the front passenger's side shock was blown.
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Old Dec 11, 2007 | 04:36 AM
  #2  
MMA_Alex's Avatar
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From: Downeast, ME
It shouldnt be that hard, and you shouldnt have to spray wd-40 on it while heating it. what is that supposed to do? cause a fire?

took me less than an hour to do the fronts, and i didnt destroy the shocks.

you need something to hold the shock body, while you undo the top bolts, as well as a torch, and a decently sized 3/4 inch ratchet or breaker bar.
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Old Dec 11, 2007 | 05:13 AM
  #3  
f4stunna's Avatar
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From: South Central MA
air tools




bbbrrrrrrrrm bbbrrrrrrrmm bbrrrrrrrrrrrrmmmmmmmmmm

done
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Old Dec 11, 2007 | 05:39 AM
  #4  
pat24's Avatar
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From: Pepperell Ma
or if you can bend it back and fort till it snaps thats what i did on my ranger after trying t get it off for 2 hours i just snaped it ouf took 2 minets
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Old Dec 11, 2007 | 05:39 AM
  #5  
bigtrucknwheels's Avatar
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From: Harrisburg, PA
Originally Posted by f4stunna
air tools




bbbrrrrrrrrm bbbrrrrrrrmm bbrrrrrrrrrrrrmmmmmmmmmm

done
hahaha
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Old Dec 11, 2007 | 09:17 AM
  #6  
Matt16's Avatar
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My shocks had been on there a long time and were not coming off by undoing the top nut. As I said, I knew at least one was blown due to the ride, so I wasn't interested in saving them. The WD40 seemed to get sucks between the nut and the bolt when it was hot, so why not. The flames weren't a problem.

Now we'll see how difficult the rear shocks are. I am using Procomp ES3000s.
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Old Dec 11, 2007 | 09:22 AM
  #7  
Matt16's Avatar
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I was wishing I had air tools the whole time. Maybe when I have onboard air.
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Old Dec 11, 2007 | 09:23 AM
  #8  
Travisfab's Avatar
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From: San Diego
2WD shocks come out in about 5 minutes max.
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