95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners 4th gen pickups and 3rd gen 4Runners

Any tips before i install my lift this weekend?

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Old Mar 25, 2008 | 09:59 PM
  #1  
osker fenix's Avatar
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From: San Luis Obispo, CA
Any tips before i install my lift this weekend?

Im installing my SAW coilovers and OME in back along with new shocks any tips or things to watch out for before i start?

I thought i read somewhere when installing the SAW's you need to manipulate the brake line a little or move it closer to the caliper, anyone have any insight on that?

thanks
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Old Mar 26, 2008 | 12:28 AM
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dont know about the saw deal, but just spray all the bolts with pb blaster or similar starting now, and it should be trouble free come this weekend. may want to have a breaker bar handy, and things will be 10X quicker w/ an impact.
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Old Mar 26, 2008 | 12:30 AM
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on all my runners - i didnt have to mess with anything. Just pop off the wheel, unscrew the sway bar nut, unscrew the 3 bolts on top of the shock holder, unscrew and take out the nut/bolt at the bottom holding it all in, and presto - its out. if you crank up your saws before installation, they can sometimes be a pain to get in, so i use a bottle jack and position it on top between the a-arm and teh fender well and crank it down enough to slip the saw in there. good luck - each side takes me about 6 min total now.

The rear on the other hand - the shock is the biggest pain out of everything to remove/install. IT requires u to contort your hand/arm enough to get at the nut on top of the shock to unscrew it. THe coil is easy - just remove your sway bar nut, let the axle dangle, and wiggle it and should pop right out. installation is just as easy.
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Old Mar 26, 2008 | 12:37 AM
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A few tips in removing the rear shocks: Leave the lower shock mount connected as serves as an assistant in holding the shock in place. Use a type of wrench that will grab the shock body. If you intend to discard of the shocks (as in not sell them or save them) a Chain Wrench works well. Chain Wrenches might be somewhat expensive. I would recommend using a Belt Wrench, which can be had at sears for like 10 bucks. The belt wrench won't damage the shock body. Use the wrench to grab the shock body while you wrench the nut from the top. It's a bitch. Oh yeah, remove your spare for more room to work back there. Use lots of PB Blaster prior to doing this so it will make your life easier. You may also be able to tighten the wrench around the shock body, then let it turn until the wrench hits something that will hold the wrench in place while you use both hands to turn your ratchet to losen the nut up at the top.

For the front: Install the SAW coilovers uncranked, then with the vehicle OFF the ground, use the spanner wrench to dial in the height you want. I hear this can get kind of tough, so take your time. I have never used or seen the spanner wrench that comes with the kit in person, but if its at all possible, try to find something that will fit over the wrench and effectively extend it, giving you more leverage.

Those are my ideas
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Old Mar 26, 2008 | 12:57 AM
  #5  
Elton's Avatar
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here's a good write up to remove the front struts
http://www.4rnr.net/suspension.html
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Old Mar 26, 2008 | 05:43 PM
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osker fenix's Avatar
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sweet thanks my fellow yotatechers and californians. Thanks for telling me about the swaybar bolts i didnt even think of that. Im gonna be installing this at my friends dealership so we'll have impacts and a rack, so hopefully that'll make our lives easier...right now im just really fearing those rear shocks.

Anyone know about those brakelines?
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Old Mar 26, 2008 | 09:00 PM
  #7  
osker fenix's Avatar
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anyone know off hand what size socket i need for the top bolt of the rear shock?
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Old Mar 26, 2008 | 09:19 PM
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From: Lincoln, CA
i just did it, most everything was 17mm, 19mm, and 14mm, i think it was 19 but dont quote me on that. an extra set of hands it the best tool to have, took me a while to get mine on, the front didnt just slide on mine tho took alot of forcing and beating to get the front coils in, the jack between the fender and the upper a-arm is wat i ended up doing and that worked the best. took about a half hour a side after i figured out how to do it, and then the rear took like 40mins but that was mostly spent trying to get my track bars back in place,which i shouldnt have taken off anyway.
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Old Mar 26, 2008 | 09:53 PM
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osker fenix's Avatar
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dude nice another californian! what about your panhard bracket did you install one of those? was it pretty straight forward?
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 03:24 AM
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Originally Posted by BornChaos
A few tips in removing the rear shocks: Leave the lower shock mount connected as serves as an assistant in holding the shock in place. Use a type of wrench that will grab the shock body. If you intend to discard of the shocks (as in not sell them or save them) a Chain Wrench works well. Chain Wrenches might be somewhat expensive. I would recommend using a Belt Wrench, which can be had at sears for like 10 bucks. The belt wrench won't damage the shock body. Use the wrench to grab the shock body while you wrench the nut from the top. It's a bitch. Oh yeah, remove your spare for more room to work back there. Use lots of PB Blaster prior to doing this so it will make your life easier. You may also be able to tighten the wrench around the shock body, then let it turn until the wrench hits something that will hold the wrench in place while you use both hands to turn your ratchet to losen the nut up at the top.
Exactly what I did and what a relief it was to finally get that taken care of. This is why Yotatech is such a great site/forum. Tons of posts that help out in explaining the details one may not ever find in just reading the vague step-by-step instructions in a manual.
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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 07:59 AM
  #11  
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From: used to be so. cal. now Indy
Originally Posted by osker fenix
dude nice another californian! what about your panhard bracket did you install one of those? was it pretty straight forward?
take the spare tire out first. that will give you some extra space.

you can do it all by yourself, specially while the rear coils and shocks are out. if it's kinda stiff to when putting back the panhard bar, use a racheting tie down to pull it in little by little.

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Old Jul 9, 2008 | 08:42 AM
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Old thread.
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