front strut removal help

[Elton]

im getting new shocks and would like to cut down the install price by bringing the shop the hole strut the back seems pretty simple now for the front i was looking at it theres 1 bolt for the shock its self in the middle and 3 around it on top and the bottom looks pretty easy just one bolt now which bolts do i remove i dont wanna take the wrong ones out and have the spring come flying out which would not be cool

[Seanz0rz]

take the 3 off at the top around that much bigger center nut. DO NOT REMOVE THE CENTER NUT holding the shock in place. remove the bottom bolt.

ive found it easier to remove the bottom nut(19mm) then to remove the bolt, push down on the hub/rotor and then you should be able to pull the bolt out. then remove the top 3 nuts(14mm) the center nut on the shock should be 17mm, do not remove this.

then it will drop out, be careful its heavy and in an awakard spot.

[MTL_4runner]

^^^^^ Ditto.

Never remove the bolt on the top of the strut stud until you have compressed the springs.
Failing to do so can throw parts with enough force to do serious damage to you.

This is a pretty good writeup on how to change the fronts and what bolts to remove:
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/projects/blackbean/ome/

[Seanz0rz]

http://www.4rnr.net/suspension.html

just for a bit more information on the whole thing.

[Elton]

thanks alot pics really helped

[p nut]

When I did mine, I sprayed the top three nuts and the bottom bolt in PB and soaked it overnight. I don't know if it made any difference or not, but they came off with relative ease.

BTW, I personally thought that taking off the springs were pretty easy. I just rented a spring compressor from Autozone and did it myself. I laid the assembly down on its side, made sure it was pointing in a safe direction, had a friend cover the assembly with a slab of carpet, then proceeded to undo the top nut. All went well with no issues, and it was pretty safe, I thought.

[gpcollen]

How the hell did you get the spring compressed and back on then??

[Seanz0rz]

How the hell did you get the spring compressed and back on then??

how do you mean?

i think you are thinking of something different, the whole strut assembly, consisting of the shock, top plate and a spring sandwiched in between comes out as one unit. you compress the spring with spring compressors, releasing the pressure on the shock's top nut. then you can remove the top nut, which allows the whole assembly to come apart with the spring still in high compression. if swapping shocks, then you remove the old shock, put the new one in just like the old one came out, slowly back of the spring compressors until theres enough pressure on the top plate to make sure the face of the hole for the bottom bolt is parallel with the plane of two of the studs on the top plate. then back off the spring compressors completely, and you are done! no need to have the compressors in the wheel well of the truck!

[Elton]

man i cant wait tell that shocks get here just have to track down some tools

[gpcollen]

[/quote]

When I did mine, I sprayed the top three nuts and the bottom bolt in PB and soaked it overnight. I don't know if it made any difference or not, but they came off with relative ease.

BTW, I personally thought that taking off the springs were pretty easy. I just rented a spring compressor from Autozone and did it myself. I laid the assembly down on its side, made sure it was pointing in a safe direction, had a friend cover the assembly with a slab of carpet, then proceeded to undo the top nut. All went well with no issues, and it was pretty safe, I thought.

My first read - toward the end it sounded like he was covering with carpet and not compressing the spring - Just letting it fly. Reread indicates a spring compressor. Just not sure why all the hocus pocus if you have a decent compressor. Success nonetheless.