Yes...you will need a spring compressor. Thats about all I know. I took mine to a shop to have it done. The spring compressor made me somewhat nervous. If you are asking if you need a spring compressor...there may be more to it than what you think. Hence, the reason I farmed mine out. Good Luck!!
__________________ 2008 Silver Sky Toyota Tundra 4.7L V8 Double Cab -Spray In Bed Liner
-Truxedo Truxport Tonneau
-Llumar Window Tint
-TRD Sway Bar
Either have a shop do it or you can do it. I was always nervous when I did mine and others. Especially when you see the compressor rods bend like a fishing pole. To be safe, where eye protection. What I've done in the past was lay it on the ground or on a vice and place something flexible and durable over/around it, like carpet, welding blanket or something. Then alternate each side with the impact gun. If you take your time and stay attentative, this will be an easy swap.
My father-in-law recently helped me install Bilstein 5100's on my truck. The removal/installation of the shock/spring assembly is fairly easy; however, I would HIGHLY recommend you let a professional shop swap out the springs for you. I did not realize how stiff the springs were on these trucks until we took mine to a local Pepboys and they said they couldn't do it because their compressor was not strong enough to compress the spring.
ok, so I tried the 12.99 harbor freight spring compressor and the coils are so tight it won't fit in and I couldn't pop the lower ball joint out of the lower control arm so I grabbed a clamshell style compressor but I think I'm going to have to modify this thing to get it to work.
Anybody have any other solutions? Did ANYONE DIY? I can't believe nobody on this forum did his own shocks. That's simple stuff guys, I'm not saying we have to rebuild automatic transmission valve bodies, but I think shocks/struts, fuel filter/pump, etc is stuff most people can do with the right tools
I've done this many, many times. On mine and others. I have used the spring compressors from Autozone. with no issues. You don't have to pop the lower BJ out of the lower a-arm. There's 4 bolts at the bottom of the spindle. Remove those 4 bolts to gain more movement to remove/reinstall the spring assembly.
I havent done the Tundy but did dozens on Tacomas. Like it was said before, I rented strut compressors from VatoZone and have used air compressors or rotated different people to control the strut and one hand-crank away... very long and tiring but soldiers can do it! We tried several shops and they couldnt do it. One honda race shop almost took me out when it slipped out.. almost got a free s2000 all raced out for free! We also rented two sets so we could put 3 compressors on one strut a time to help even out the spring compressed bending.. Then tighten this one, then this one, then this one, then back to this one... etc.. I eventually decided never to purchase spacers that compresses the springs, then went with true coil overs, then hacked it for a SAS... well my friends hacked this time..
May be asking for people to scoff at me, but might as well. I have a 2004 double cab. Fairly handy, do most all of my work, but have never done shocks. When I do the coilovers in the front, do I take the entire coil/shock piece off the truck and compress after it is off, or am I supposed to compress the spring and replace the shock while its on the truck?
I have compressors, hope to get my friends impact wrench.
Shock replacement DIY
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