Installing 6112s and shackles this weekend....any tips?

Any special tips or videos anyone would recommend? I have seen a few on YouTube and such. I just won't have any help so I assume I need to remove the lower ball joints and loosen the lower control arm cams? Doubt I can push the lower arm down for the lower coilover bolt. Also am installing jba uppers...guess I will have fun with the long bolt too.

 

If you have experience wrenching and the right tools you should be fine with help from youtube etc. There's some grunt work involved but if you work smart and in shape physically you'll be fine.

 

Well I did the same to my 04 tacoma about 10 years ago..however it was rough having to press out the ball joints on its design. So I guess I can manage

 

To make it easier have a helper that has some wrenching skills. They don't have to be ASE certified but knowing the difference between wrenches and the like helps.

 

Yeah I have no one....but I have built pole barns and storage sheds with no help....my friends don't even know what a damn screwdriver is....lol I also have more vehicles so if it sits on jack stands a few days I will survive. I can even ride my bike to work...lol I guess I am just trying to prepare how to be the least sore come Monday

 

I like the ratchet strap trick. Run a ratchet strap from LCA to LCA and tighten until they lower where you need them to get the coilover assembly in. I didn't loosen the LCA cam bolts or mess with the lower ball joint. Just undo the sway bar end links and pop loose the UCA ball joint.

 

I might try that first....I'll make it interesting lol

 

Also, make sure that you find a shop ahead of time that'll press your coils and swap out the struts. And ideally talk to the guy at the shop who's going to do the work and make sure he'll be there when you show up. I've done this 4 times and almost every time, the guy on the phone says he'll do it. Then I show up and he's already gone home for the day and everyone else is busy, so they've had to keep them overnight, adding a day to the install.

 

Just be careful undoing the straps when your done. Don't wanna lose an eye when they pop loose.

 

I have them already put together

 

Download the instructions from Toytecs site for the Boss kit and follow that. Loosening the lower cam bolt will allow the lower control arm to lower easily. The shackles will be a little more of a pain. You will want to use Jack stands under the frame near the rear doors and get the truck as high as you can (safely). You will use a floor jack to lower the rear axle for aligning the shackles. Don't forget to disconnect the brake line and abs brackets. Look at these links as well.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/installed-coachbuilder-shackles.66757/

https://www.tundras.com/threads/diy-front-coilover-install-completed-with-toytec-radflo-2-5.12941/

 

For the shackles:

• Drop spare tire
• Lift rear end and put frame in jack stands
• Put jack under rear axle towards one side. Get tension on the jack
  • Take both nuts off of the shackle and slowly start lifting the axle to find the “sweet spot” and the shackle should be able to be pulled out with relative ease..
• reverse procedures for putting together. Put top bolt in first, then try to find the sweet spot. This is where it’s nice to have a spare set of hands to pull down on the leafs to line up the bottom bolt up.

Repeat for other side.

just put my total chaos shackles in yesterday

 

Rent a ball joint press if your replacing rear shackle bushings. I tried to brute force it and was NOT successful. You'll thank me later...
I was able to get my 6112s installed with a pickle fork, long pry bar and the use of a lift. Don't forget to get your alignment done when you're finished.

 

I fought an afternoon until i realized you can just loosen the bottom LCA and drop it outta the way.
Made the 1st side take hours, 2nd minutes. Seriously drop the two bolts outta the Lower control arm and loosen assembly for access.
I have no suggestions for the upper control arm (did a buddies on his truck non-tundra) was easy enough job.
(I wouldn't hesitate to buy two new ball joint nuts in case you have issue and have to grind one loose (my truck was 6 years in new england before i tried and failed pop the upper ball joint trick. Your situation is different and you have to drop it.

good luck. lots of better mechanics then me on this forum. I 'm usually good for the don't do it this way stuff.

 

You don't need to undo the lower ball joint. Take the two bolts off the bottom holding the spindle assembly to the hub. If your struts are already assembled, this should be a cake walk. Just make sure you use red Loctite when you put these two bolts back in and torque to spec.

 

Soak your shackles and bolts in penetrating oil for like 48 hours before you remove them mine were seized up bad ended up cutting them out. It was a pain in the ass. Good luck

 

Dumb question..I thought red is for permanent, would blue loctite be better for something that has to be maybe remove again in the future?

 

Lots of good advice already, one thing worth mentioning is knowing torque values ahead of the installation. I came across a thread that a member posted all the suspension torques on one diagram. I’ll see if I can find it again.

 

I have all the torque specs I appreciate it.

 

X2 on ball press joint for leafspring eyelet bushings

 

Read my thread on installing shackles:
https://www.tundras.com/threads/installed-coachbuilder-shackles.66757/

Removing the stock leaf spring bushings can be a pain in the ass.

 

I have 3 part stores near me so I will search for the ball joint press tomorrow. If they don't have one I will get one from harbor freight

 

In addition to torque specs, I like to watch a how-to to remind myself and make a list of all the wrenches and tools I'll need. Then lay them all out the night before. Really sucks to get started and realize you don't have a 22mm socket. Ratcheting wrenches were something I wish I had the first time I did one of these.

 

I am sure the rear leaf bushings will be the worst. If something says 1 hour takes me 3....lol

 

Got everything done today....it was a bitch . The bushings in the leaf springs came out ok...only took me 2 hours.. only problem I have is the front bump stop spacer has screwed up treads. Anyway to fix these? Never used a tap and dye set or anything

 

call the company that you bought them from and have them you send a new set.

 

That would be the easiest thing...however I always like an excuse to by another tool to piss the wife off...lol

 

I’d just take a file and clean those up. It’s an incomplete thread on the lead in anyways.

 

PICS?!