Hi guys i'm new to the board. I drive a 2000 Taco 4x4 extended cab, auto. Its got a 2" 4crawler body lift on it right now. I just bought a 2.5" Pro comp lift and started installing it.

Jacked up the front
Took the tires off
Removed the lower strut eye bolt
*Problem* Remove the three upper strut mounting plate bolts.

Its funny how when i read it, it's just supposed to be some run through thing.

Well I could get two of three off on the passanger side and stripped the third one (which is the one towards the front of the truck in the back)out of its mounting in the top plate.

Tried on the drivers side and could barely get one loose. Had trouble getting a good grib on the other two and don't want to strip them out trying to get them loose.

The dealership i bought it from had "undercoated" it recently before i bought and that is making the job a lot harder because they sprayed it all over the bolts.

I decided to say screw the front until I can get my buddy to come over and give some help, and better tools. So i started on the back and it was a breeze maybe an hour and thirty minutes.


Any ideas on the front though i was wondering if you guys had run into similar problems or if you had any advice?

I rented a spring compressor for the day so i have it if i get the struts out. Who knows i might just take it down to the shop riding hot rod and have them put the front spacers in for me, it's been too much of a headache so far.

Oh yeah they are spacers in the front btw.

Thanks

 

I didn't have any problems with the upper bolts on my 4Runner. I would think the best option is to get 6 new studs for the top and just cut the old ones off. They're easy to replace while you have the coilover apart.