Sorry if this is a total newbie question but hoping to do it right the first time

I am going to replace the front coilover shocks on my 99 4Runner. It had Bilsteins installed from the dealer at time of delivery and many salty winter roads later and miles later, they are rusted out so I am replacing all my shocks. Just got done with the rears (wow the bils are a PITA to remove that top nut when they have 80k miles on them using just manual tools)

For the fronts, to remove the assembly, what are the steps to disassemble/reassemble? I took off the outer 3 nuts on the top and loosened the bolt/nut on the bottom. Do I wait to loosen/remove the center nut until I pull the whole assembly out or do I take that off before? I plan on using those manual spring compressors that you can rent for free from the auto parts store. Can someone(s) please walk me through the process and/or point me to a good, thorough write up on it?

I spent a couple days trying to figure out the rears learning as I went and having to McGyver some things to get the nuts off. Just hoped to avoid problems with the fronts and also be safe with that spring. btw, the spring is stock and have the rusted out Bilsteins in the coils. Installing ProComps as replacements (got a really good deal on them)

Thanks a ton in advance!

 

Take your strut assembly and new shocks into a tire shop and have them do it for $30 or $40 bucks. It's well worth $ not to have to deal with the damn manual spring compressors, those things are a PIA.

 

Blah

Save the hassle and take the struts to a shop and pay them 40 bucks, No need fooling around with the stupid strut compressors.

 

Wow, jinx much

 

So when removing the assembly, I leave the top center nut alone and the whole thing should slide out...correct?

If I save my scarce pennies and do the compressing myself, do I compress the spring and then loosen & remove the top center stud nut?

Thanks guys... Just trying to save as much $$ as possible these days and always like to do it myself so I know it is going back together correctly and exactly what has been done.

 

yes, make sure the bottom one is out of course.

compress then loosen center nut yes, You will not be able to loosen it while the torque of the spring is on it.

 

Most manual spring compressors are designed to compress the spring from the center of the coil. Since you are compressing a strut assembly this is not possible. You may want to look into using two compressors, one for either side of the coil so that you can get it to compress evenly.

Make sure that you mark the spring and top plate to make sure that it is aligned correctly for re-assembly. And pay attention to the alignment of the lower shock mount to make sure it will line back up with the bolt holes.

Once the spring is compressed then you remove the top nut. If you try and remove the top nut first then it's possible the spring will fly back and hit you in the nuts so be careful.

I still say take it in because any knowledgeable shop will be able to do it faster, easier, and more accurately then you sitting on your garage floor tightening and loosening a compressor with a socket wrench.

 

this should help u a little more http://www.4rnr.net/suspension.html

 

I would say take it to a shop. Those things are a PITA without a wall mounted spring compressor. That and it would suck to buy your truck for cheap because the spring took your head off.

I have a pretty well stocked garage and i dont even do them if that gives you an idea.

REMEBER--those srpings have some serious pressure behind them!!!

 

ditto on taking them to a shop thats what i did was like 30 dollars or so

 

I rented those spring compressors from Autozone and did it myself. Yes, it was a little bit of a pain, but not that bad. However, I did take some precautionary measures and had a friend stand on the whole assembly with a piece of carpet draped across it (don't know if that would've done anything, but did make me FEEL protected in my head. )

Took me a little bit to figure things out, but didn't take too long to do. I think the first side took ~1hr. The other side took 1/2 that.