Hey all, I picked up a 7.1 system a few weekends ago, Steve is a real nice guy, very willing to answer questions and offer tips etc. Anyhow I am probably going to have a buddy of mine help me out with the install this coming Sunday. He used to work as a toyota mechanic and has a whole bunch of tools and access to a garage, so I hope all will go well.

I am looking for any tips/tricks from any of you who have do an install already. I'm specifically interested in any tips not covered in the detailed pdf available on Steve's site. Are there any bolts I should spray some lube on to get them loose? Any tricks for getting at some of the tough bolts to remove the shocks? I seem to remember someone mentioning some were tough to get at and they had to essentially ruin the existing shock to get it out.

I attempted to search but I swear to god the search function on this site sucks. I can rarely even find threads I know the words to the title that I posted myself.

Thanks everybody,

~Joe

 

I guess I should have mentioned this is going on a 2000 4wd 4runner, anyone know whether the diff drop spacers will fit on these (see pic). Steve mentioned some of the 2000 models have a different setup and the spacers included in the 7.1 won't fit.

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Dunno till you try it.

Aaron

 

Just looking at the pic I don't see why they wouldn't fit, as long as the new bolts supplied are long enough.

Yeah you will probably need to saw off the top of the rear shock. You can use a sawzall or a high speed cutting wheel (what I used). Do it as close to the bushings as possible - the chrome tube is actually hollow with compressed fluid inside. If you cut it too low you'll make quite a mess.

Not sure about the #7 kit, but with the #1 I had jackstands on the rear frame, and had the floor jack under one side of the axle full up... to install the opposite side spring.

Get all the shock bushings ahead of time. Steve sells them or you can get them from Toyota. I had problems getting all the right parts from Toyota - If I did it again I would just get them from Steve.

 

Thanks Jon, I was under the impression I had everything I needed. I'm honestly not sure what a shock bushing is. I don't recall reading about it in the instructions but I am probably wrong. So it sounds like you essentially destroy the old shocks to get them off huh? I was hoping to salvage them to offer them to somebody on CL locally (free or nearly free).

EDIT: I believe the bushing is already on the shocks included in the 7.1 as shown on the SS site

 

Verify with Steve but I believe the upper front shock bushings aren't included. I don't see them in the pic. The rears are all there. The upper front bushings are probably considered part of the topout plate, that is how their shown in the parts manual if I remember correctly.

As for the rear shocks, you might get lucky with an AZ truck that the bolts aren't all rusted up. Most people end up cutting them - I did.

 

Joe,

Check out my bumper, lights/rack and lift writeup: https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/i...cluded-111728/

Scroll down a ways to get to the lift part of the write up. You can ready my experience w/ installing this lift. I've also got a few tips and "special notes" that might help ya.

 

Thanks very much to both of you! The one thing about the pic you linked (Jon) is that those are the old shocks that used to come w/ the system 7 setup, they are now the black heavy duty shocks. But you are right, I only verified that the rear shock had the bushing, I'll have to check on the front or just send Steve an email.

Rockslide I have seen your writeups before and they are always top notch, I'll be sure to consult the lift portion of yours.

Thanks!

 

The rear shock bolt might not be rusted tight in AZ, but it is hard to get too. Using a small key on the nut you should be able to remove it by turning the shock (that is what I did). Does the front setup come preassembled?

 

The front setup is not preassembled (if I understand your question). I have to remove the existing shocks and springs and use a spring comp to install the new ones. I have heard about this shock bolt before. I have also heard this can essentially ruin the old shock. Not a huge deal I just figured I would try to salvage as much as possible in case somebody can use the old parts (local craigslist).

Thx,
Joe

 

thanks (I thought Steve sold the front set preassembled ).
The shocks are $30 new at the dealer so I don't know if you will make much on CL.