Bilstein: Front Struts Replacement

[iamiles]

Has anyone successfully changed their 2000 tundra front struts? I need some help, tips, advice...etc. Thanks!

[helica]

what part are you stuck on? If you're 2wd, then it's extremely easy! 4x4 is still easy, just gotta work around the axel shafts.

lift, secure vehicle. Remove wheel. Remove 3 nuts on top of strut, remove one nut/bolt from bottom of strut. Remove strut from vehicle.

[toyotadude04]

DAMN, he got to you first......Oh well, hope it helps anyway.

Its not really all that hard to do. You just need some spring compressors and the right size wrenches/sockets. I took mine to my uncles shop and borrowed his tools. Only took about an hour total with the rear shocks replaced too. I have the non-TRD model so I bought the TRD struts and shocks off of ebay and converted. All you do is loosen the 3 nuts on top of the tower and the bolt on the lower control arm (after taking off the wheel of course), remove the old assembly, compress the springs, take off the "keeper" on top, put the springs on the new struts and replace everything. Its hard to explain but to me it was pretty straight-forward.

BTW, a shop wouldn't charge but like $40 to do it and they could do it much faster, I just prefer to do the work on my truck myself.

Good Luck

[KLS]

You MUST know how to use the spring compressors. If you make a mistake, you might remodel your face. They can be very dangerous if not used correctly.


Ken

[iamiles]

it's a 4WD TRD. the front springs are pretty stiff. i did tried using a couple cheap spring compressors loaned from pepboys, they weren't able to compress the front springs. the spring compressor shaft curve, didn't want it to fail, and pay for broken spring compressor. so i stopped trying...

yeah, i like to work on it myself. i replaced the rear struts already and were very easy.

[dyogim]

If you don't feel comfortable, take them to a shop and have them compress the spring and replace the shock.

[TundrastruckDave]

Originally Posted by iamiles

it's a 4WD TRD. the front springs are pretty stiff. i did tried using a couple cheap spring compressors loaned from pepboys, they weren't able to compress the front springs. the spring compressor shaft curve, didn't want it to fail, and pay for broken spring compressor. so i stopped trying...

yeah, i like to work on it myself. i replaced the rear struts already and were very easy.

Hey iamiles,

BELIEVE ME! You CAN compress the stock springs with the "rented" spring commpressor you had from Pepboys... I PROMISE. I just recently switched out my stock OEM TRD coils, for a set of Wheeler's coils. Truth is... I knew ABSOLUTELY NOTHING... about a spring compressor when I decided to do this mod myself, with the help of another TS.com member. If you think the "stock" coils are a bitch to compress... try compressing a set of those Wheeler's coils! The MAIN THING IS... BE CAREFUL!!!

Let me ask you 2 quick questions, regarding your attempt at using the rented spring compressor, before I go any further. 1st. Did you get the correct "model" of spring compressor? There are 2 different types. Just a thought... . O.K., assuming that you did get the "right" one, my 2nd question is... DID YOU REMEMBER TO "LUBE" THE THREADS ON THE SPRING COMPRESSOR? I didn't and had one HELL OF A TIME getting the driver's side coil compressed! ESPECAILLY considering that the driver's side Wheeler's coil, is stiffer and taller than the Wheeler's passenger side coil! Not to mention the obvious... that both Wheeler's coils are stiffer and taller than the OEM stock coils! Thank God, I remembered the lube before we started on the passenger side! Take a look at my WRITE-UP. Hopefully it may help you, even though you're not planning on changing out the stock coils with something stiffer and taller as I did. The stock coils are actually... a "breeze"... to compress in comparison!

So if a "rented" spring compressor from Advance Auto can do the job, I'm fairly CERTAIN the one you used from Pepboys, is just as capable! And "yes" the thread bolts of the compressor WILL bow as did the one I used...



Keep in mind... that's the Wheeler's coil the compressor is attached too. And TRUST ME... these coils are a LOT harder to compress than the stock coils are!

I actually spoke with a TS.com member, who's been a Toyota Master Tech for 25 years before I began my project and he acutally recommended the manual spring compressor (like you were using) over a pneumatic one. He actually said they were a little "safer" too.

I certainly can understand your apprehensiveness in watching that bolt bow, but that's how these spring compressors are designed. In my case, hind sight being 20/20, I probably would have taken my coils to a shop and had them "swtiched" out, but PRIMARILY because... of just how bad I buggered-up the powder-coated finish on the Wheeler's coils! I was also trying to save a little money as well... .

The BOTTOM LINE is... just as (dyogim) said...

Originally Posted by dyogim

If you don't feel comfortable, take them to a shop and have them compress the spring and replace the shock.

I just wanted you to know that another "novice" like yourself, was able to tackled the job himself and to offer you a few words of encouragement.

Dave

[MOREPOWER]

i did the same thing as TundrastruckDave i used the free compresor from outozone had the same problem as dave lube does help, never want to do it again, if i do ill order the coils and shocks preasembled from wheelers and then i wont need spacers to lift, i also had to seperate the upper ball joint cant remember why

[splice57]

I put the coil spacers on my truck and had a time with the manual compressors, but it worked out. My questions are:

1. At what mileage do you think the shocks should be replaced. I have non-TRD shocks and the ride seems to have gotten a little soft since I bought it.

2. How much is the ride changed with TRD shocks??

Thanks.

[MOREPOWER]

Originally Posted by splice57

I put the coil spacers on my truck and had a time with the manual compressors, but it worked out. My questions are:

1. At what mileage do you think the shocks should be replaced. I have non-TRD shocks and the ride seems to have gotten a little soft since I bought it.

2. How much is the ride changed with TRD shocks??

Thanks.

you dont replace shocks at a given mileage you do it when they go out you will bounce, a guy that jumps hill in the dessert will wear his out much faster that said, i changed my stock softy takico blacks at 17k miles and there was nothing wrong with them. i got sick of the suspension bottoming out on speed bumps even thought i liked the ride.
i changed to the factory yellow bilstiens they still give a great ride but wont bottom out on speed bumps im happy at the same time i put in 2 inch pacer lift, the parts guy told me i would like these, he said i would not like the red bilstiens he said nobody does unless your hardcore offroading

[iamiles]

aaaahhh...i finally got my lazy arse to change the front struts on my 2000 4wd trd tundra over the weekend! i got the pair of clamps as pictured in TundraStruckDave's post from AutoZone (thanks, Morepower!).

after a few trials and errors, some rest in between i was able to finished the work relatively easily. thanks in large part to the good tips from Dave. not sure the lube worked tho...just needed a good amount of elbow grease and leverage to get the job done. and only one finger got bruised.

thanks everyone!

[jbeavin]

Originally Posted by iamiles

Has anyone successfully changed their 2000 tundra front struts? I need some help, tips, advice...etc. Thanks!

I found it to be pretty simple - I took it to the dealer .