I'm installing OME lift on the back of my 2001 4Runner and having trouble get to the upper shock mounts. They are different from what I have on my 2005 where they are mounted outside of the frame rails. On 2001 they are inside the frame rails and I can't find the way to get to the nut on the driver side. I shell say it it very difficult to feel the nut on passenger side as well, but at least I got my hand to that point.
I need your help and advise. Truck is on jack-stands and I want it to be running on Sunday.

 

When I did it, I just got a chain wrench on it, and turned, and was lucky enough to have the bolt on the shock break on both, they slid right out. Other wise there is a way to get a wrench in there, not a ratchet. Id just sawzall the top part right below the bushing. I don't remember where I stuck my hand to access it, but To put them back on, put the top on first, much easier.

 

I used a sawsall on mine also. As Yukon said, cut below the bushing.

 

Wheels/tires off and spare down and out of the way. One guy (with smaller arms and hands) holding a box wrench on the nut on the top and one guy turning the shock with a chain wrench or big channel-locks. It sucks, but it works.

I actually just changed mine out today by myself, but the ones I pulled off had only been on for less than a year so there was pretty much no rust. I was able to hold the box wrench on with one hand and turn the shock using channel-locks with my other hand. This process puts slight scratches on the shock body from the teeth on the channel-locks, but nothing too bad cause it went really easily. Last year when we pulled off the original shocks, the top bolt was stuck pretty good so we ended up just crunching the shock in with the channel locks so we could get a good enough bit on it to turn it.

To get the new ones on, I held the wrench in place up top and tightened the shock on by hand until I couldn't turn it any longer and then I held the shock in place with one hand and turned the nut with the box wrench. I could only get like 1/4-turns on the one on the drivers side, and about 3/4-turns on the passenger side. Took me a while. Today's was done with the tires off, no spare underneath, and with ~4.5" lift springs.

Sawzall sounds like a pretty option though...

-Ferg-

 

I haven't messed with the shocks in a minute but I think its just a 14mm deep socket and a good arm to twist. Slip the wrench over the top of the inner frame rails and then throw your hand in there and make it work. Maybe try a universal joint to alleviate some of the pain but either way that should do it

 

You *might* be able to get a not-quite-so-deep deep socket on there (my deep sockets are about 3 inches deep and they were too deep) and a not-very-bulky 3/8 ratchet, but it is still going to be a PITA cause the shock body will turn and you can still only get like 1/4 to 1/2 turns in there. Good luck with a universal joint cause there's still not much room to manuever a ratchet at 45 to 90 degrees off the top nut.

-Ferg-

 

yea i used a 14mm deep then used a vise grip around the flange on the shock its a pita but its doable

 

Yeah I don't have any problems with it anymore since the body lift, but I've changed shocks twice before it went on and both times just used a smaller wrench and 14mm deep socket. Wasn't the easiest wrench to turn but came out like it was supposed to

 

This exactly what I've done yesterday and after 40 minutes they were off, but shocks are in bad condition...

 

yea if the shocks are crap id recommended the sawzall