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Installing own suspension

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Old Mar 12, 2006 | 12:01 PM
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BigJohn's Avatar
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Installing own suspension

Just wondering if its worth it too install my own Suspension or get it done professional, what tools do you all need can a beginner do it
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Old Mar 12, 2006 | 12:04 PM
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what are you putting in? a suspension lift? if so, then yes, a beginner can do it, but i would recommend having a capable friend or two help. also, i would recommend taking the front struts to a shop to have them compress them for the spacers.

of course, this is all IF you meant suspension lift.
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Old Mar 12, 2006 | 12:19 PM
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yeah a suspension lift liek the ome shocks and coils
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Old Mar 12, 2006 | 12:34 PM
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since your ride is fairly new (well newer than mine is)...rusted bolts should be a minimum. its been done....how beginner are we talkin here? sturdy jack stands is a must coz youre gonna be tuggin & yankin on the thing. soak your bolts before with penetrating lube a day or two before beginning.

i found the fronts to be easier to swap. definitely need a compressor (or take your shock to a shop) to get the top plate off. the top nut on the rear shock is a beeyotch to access. have fun with that one. drop your spare for more room to work with. you might also have to disconnect 1 link on the f & r swar bars to get more leverage.

i did mine @ goodyear with my friend who used to work there. took about 5 or so hours lunch included.we had to torch the rear shocks out....

youll need basic tools. wrenches, sockets, shallow & deep. breaker bar might help too...

good luck!
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Old Mar 12, 2006 | 12:39 PM
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I just put in spacers all around, same work required as new coils, did everything except for rear shocks. You'll need a good set of metric sockets w/ deep, up to 19mm for shock in front (on my 99), along with a 19mm (or 3/4) wrench to hold other side, socket extension comes in handy, vise-grips, maybe a pry-bar, and other handtools... the front struts can be compressed with a tool rented from autozone, I also used this tool (spring compressor) to remove rears without disconnecting everything back there, it would have been much easier to take front struts to a shop though...
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Old Mar 12, 2006 | 05:00 PM
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fyi...the compressors i rented from autozone would not fit within the coil wraps. that is why i had to take ti to a shop. $35 to install the new top plates total for both.

also, the front 3 strut nuts are 14mm. the rear ones are touch to get at, and a wratcheting wrench is really the only way to get to them. i soaked all the bolts with deep creep for about a week exactly (twice a day) before installing. stripped one nut, but had nut extractors to remove it. all in all, including cv replacement, diff drop, and welding of panhard drop bracket took about 5 hours. lunch was also included in that.
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Old Mar 12, 2006 | 10:08 PM
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From: Vancouver BC
We have a wall mounted one at work and what an amazing difference it makes!!! spring compressors scare me!!! have had a few let go on me!!!

I would say its a really easy setup... it is probably one of the few vehicles a do it yourselfer can do a suspension lift on... take your time, avoid getting mad... and enjoy... plan a full day to do it... and if it takes less perfect... may I also recomend a day that a shop is open so you can have your fron springs compressed.....

Mind you thats all easy for me to say, I do it for a living

cheers
Bob
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Old Mar 13, 2006 | 04:16 AM
  #8  
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From: Montreal, QC Canada
Originally Posted by BigJohn
Just wondering if its worth it too install my own Suspension or get it done professional, what tools do you all need can a beginner do it
These should give you an idea on what you are contemplating:
http://www.toyotaoffroad.net/afertig/96/ome.htm
http://www.disknet.com/ExideC/suspension_lift.htm
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Old Mar 14, 2006 | 02:33 PM
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From: Ocean Beach, CA Five square miles surrounded by reality.
mtl

thanks for the links to those write-ups, i'm getting ready to do an install myself.
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