Brody
May 25th, 2012, 07:11 AM
Stephanie sent a friend of hers over to me for a 3" lift install on his 2004 Tacoma. Here is the install:
ToyTec has the install instructions downloadable from their website. They do not come in a hard copy form with the kit. The instructions with the kit are for the differential drop down brackets. The extended brake lines do not come with the kit, either, but are a very good idea if you do a lift of any kind.
The install is straight forward and follows roughly the same process that you do replacing a CV axle, lower ball joint or shock assembly. The Haynes, Chiltons or FSM all cover the same stuff, with some minor variations. Standard tools, with the exception of the spring compressor, are all that you need for this.
I hosed down EVERYTHING that was going to come loose thoroughly with PB Blaster prior to starting, letting it soak in as I jacked and blocked the truck up, fired up the compressor, etc. If you can do this a day or so prior to starting the job, it works even better.
The pictures are self explanatory. The only tricky part is the coilover removal, but that, too, is straightforward. Simply compress the spring prior to removing any nuts or bolts and the whole assembly pretty much drops out. A little trick here is to jack the A arm up after the tire is removed, install the spring compressor (you usually do not need to get this more than hand tight as the spring is already 'compressed'), then lower the jack under the A arm.
You do not need the compressor for the install. You just need to push down on the bottom A arm at the same time you are pushing up on the upper arm to be able to stick the lower shock bolt in place....With just two hands, it is a bit entertaining, but relatively easy to do.
It is also a good thing to not pop the axle loose from the diff. Just saves a bit of time. Check the axle a couple of times during the install to make sure that it is still engaged and then button it up. when you are doing this, this is a good time to check the lower ball joint as well as the upper. If they show a lot of wear or play, simply replaced them.
ToyTec has the install instructions downloadable from their website. They do not come in a hard copy form with the kit. The instructions with the kit are for the differential drop down brackets. The extended brake lines do not come with the kit, either, but are a very good idea if you do a lift of any kind.
The install is straight forward and follows roughly the same process that you do replacing a CV axle, lower ball joint or shock assembly. The Haynes, Chiltons or FSM all cover the same stuff, with some minor variations. Standard tools, with the exception of the spring compressor, are all that you need for this.
I hosed down EVERYTHING that was going to come loose thoroughly with PB Blaster prior to starting, letting it soak in as I jacked and blocked the truck up, fired up the compressor, etc. If you can do this a day or so prior to starting the job, it works even better.
The pictures are self explanatory. The only tricky part is the coilover removal, but that, too, is straightforward. Simply compress the spring prior to removing any nuts or bolts and the whole assembly pretty much drops out. A little trick here is to jack the A arm up after the tire is removed, install the spring compressor (you usually do not need to get this more than hand tight as the spring is already 'compressed'), then lower the jack under the A arm.
You do not need the compressor for the install. You just need to push down on the bottom A arm at the same time you are pushing up on the upper arm to be able to stick the lower shock bolt in place....With just two hands, it is a bit entertaining, but relatively easy to do.
It is also a good thing to not pop the axle loose from the diff. Just saves a bit of time. Check the axle a couple of times during the install to make sure that it is still engaged and then button it up. when you are doing this, this is a good time to check the lower ball joint as well as the upper. If they show a lot of wear or play, simply replaced them.