Originally Posted by
Bob98SR5
Hey Sean,
So I got the lifts last Saturday and began the process. Couple o' things if you haven't looked and assuming they're assembled the same way as my 98 4Runner:
- The bottom bracket has a pin, plastic push-type grommet bushing w/ a flange at both ends, and a snap ring. So yes, those snap rings are a pain to get off without taking off the bracket itself. That's exactly what I did when I realized:
- You need a ladder to keep the hatch up. Or a wife with one arm propped up and a beer in the other hand waiting for you to finish the job :P (j/k) But I think yours is just a window. But perhaps the same effect that a single shock can't hold the weight of the window or hatch in your case can't hold the weight up.
The bottom bracket bushing in my case was about 60% destroyed. Called a few parts dealer with no luck. I ended up buying a flange polymer bushing from igus.com:
Energy Chain Systems® and polymer plain bearings Reference no. W16-5020-1955
Pos. Number Part no. Description Price/Unit Total
1 3 JFM-0608-08 iglide® J, flange bushing (metric) 1.30 USD 3.90 USD
2 3 JFM-0608-10 iglide® J, flange bushing (metric) 1.30 USD 3.90 USD
I'll let you know if it works or not.
On the other top half (piston end), there's a different shaped flange, same type of pin, snap ring, but a large wave washer. No plastic bushing. All parts appear to still be in good shape.
If you can remove the snap rings w/o removing the brackets, I'd say that's the way to go. But I tried for nearly a half hour before I said fuggit and unbolted the 4 loctite'd bolts and finished the rest inside my place. Good thing too because the first snap ring flew off but luckily it hit something that absorbed the impact and it was obvious where it landed. Had I done that street side, this thread would've been a rant!
Oh yea, do one side at a time for reference's sake.