AmongGiants
01-30-2012, 08:21 PM
Installed Bilstein 5100s (set at 0.5") and rear OME 60020 this weekend. Leveled out the truck and noticeably improved the ride. The bouncy, vague stock ride is gone, replaced with a sportier feel. The truck feels planted through the corners and handles bumps well.
The front installation went as expected. I've replaced front coils on a 4Runner previously, so I was familiar with the process. Hate using those "widow-maker" coil spring compressors, but local shop quoted me $100 to swap the coils and top plats over. A good set of metric ratcheting box wrenches would have simplified the process slightly, mainly for the shock pin and top plate nuts. I made sure to watch the upper ball joint and the drive axle boots. Having my 260-lb neighbor stand on the hub helped lower the lower control arm enough to get the bottom bolt in - still took a little massaging with a BFH.
I was a little concerned about the rear shocks - specifically the upper mounts. A good dose of PB Blaster and a ratcheting 17mm box wrench worked really well. A little tip for those of you who decide to tackle this - get a smalll set of vice grips. Use the vice grips to grip the spot between the top of the shock body and the bottom washer (below the bushing). Once you start cranking away on that top nut, it'll spin the shock body to the point that the vice grip eventually contacts something solid, giving you the resistance to break lose the nut.
Overall, good experience. Always nice to have a good weekend of wrenching that results in something noticeable (i.e., other than oil/fluid changes).
Bilstein 5100s set at 0.5"
82692
Reassembly of the front shocks using the widow-makers (coil spring compressors)
82693
Final assembly of the front
82694
Stock tires for now. Future plans involve OME coils for the front (perhaps), some semi-aggressive ATs, and stock LC 100-series rear coils
.
The front installation went as expected. I've replaced front coils on a 4Runner previously, so I was familiar with the process. Hate using those "widow-maker" coil spring compressors, but local shop quoted me $100 to swap the coils and top plats over. A good set of metric ratcheting box wrenches would have simplified the process slightly, mainly for the shock pin and top plate nuts. I made sure to watch the upper ball joint and the drive axle boots. Having my 260-lb neighbor stand on the hub helped lower the lower control arm enough to get the bottom bolt in - still took a little massaging with a BFH.
I was a little concerned about the rear shocks - specifically the upper mounts. A good dose of PB Blaster and a ratcheting 17mm box wrench worked really well. A little tip for those of you who decide to tackle this - get a smalll set of vice grips. Use the vice grips to grip the spot between the top of the shock body and the bottom washer (below the bushing). Once you start cranking away on that top nut, it'll spin the shock body to the point that the vice grip eventually contacts something solid, giving you the resistance to break lose the nut.
Overall, good experience. Always nice to have a good weekend of wrenching that results in something noticeable (i.e., other than oil/fluid changes).
Bilstein 5100s set at 0.5"
82692
Reassembly of the front shocks using the widow-makers (coil spring compressors)
82693
Final assembly of the front
82694
Stock tires for now. Future plans involve OME coils for the front (perhaps), some semi-aggressive ATs, and stock LC 100-series rear coils
.