The Coachbuilder TRD Pro

sounds like its the bushings manufacturer, and the new bushings play a big role in the whole quieter ride thing, David said he had shackles on the shelf waiting to go

 

I placed my order on 10/23 and received it on 11/4. It looks like I just missed the delay on the bushings. I’ve had them on my truck for a month now and it rides so much better. If you are going to install them yourself, I suggest buying/renting a ball joint press. It will make the install so much easier. I hammered the stock busing out using a 27mm deep socket. It took awhile and it wasn’t easy, but it’s doable. Also, if you plan to mount a 35” tire, make sure the bolt head is on the inside and the lock nut is on the outside. Just thought I would share a couple of learning lessons from my install.

 

Man those RW wheels look just about perfect on this setup.

 

Just finished the pro kit. Ride quality and steering is noticeably better! Back end handles better over bumps w/ the shackles - I really like it!


I paired the CB kit with -
OZ RR +30 wheel offset w/ 295/70/r18 Baja Boss AT, Icon delta joint UCAs and Mev tech LP inner tie rods.

Thx to all on this forum for the info about this setup. I would have never found out about it as no off-road shops around here push this one.

 

I have the boss coilovers and rear shocks, the diff drop kit and new JBA UCAs waiting to go...

 

So I just got my Westcott kit, two questions: why did it come with shims? Thought it was just a preload collar kit and does anyone know what those 4 washers are for? Appreciate the help.

 

The shims work in conjunction with the collar to give approximately 1.5”-2” of lift. The four washers are your bump-stop extenders.

 

got the shackles, everything is ready to go on.

 

Well, I got the shackles, made the appt for the install, had them installed and had some issues with the install shop.
#1 they scratched my truck
#2 they failed to tighten the nut in the collar at the top of the passenger side coilover
and #3 they did not replace the friggin bushings in the rear leaf springs when they put the new coachbuilder shackles on.

I don't understand... I had the friggin instructions printed out for them.

 

That sucks man, a lot of this boils down to laziness and not liking being told what to do by the customer. In their defense, those bushings aren't for the faint of heart...but if it were part of the deal and you were clear up front about wanting them installed, I'd bitch about it. Sounds like I'd just demand a partial refund though and do it myself if they were THAT incompetent. Sorry they scratched your truck man!

 

it was part of the deal, obviously can't take it back to them and have a hard time talking to incompetent people, going to send a registered letter demanding a refund.

 

so I call them, tell them they didn't install the bushings, the shop manager tells me they did and he watched them do it, turns out they didnt change the rear leaf spring eyelet bushings, they replaced the frame bushings, I called Ekstrom design and they were nice enough to call the shop and tell them they had messed up. then I called the shop and asked for a full refund , made an appt with another shop to fix their mistakes.

 

That sucks. I have a hard time trusting anyone to do anything on my vehicles or work on my house. I always say “If you want something done right, you better just do it yourself.”
I did the shackle install myself. Sprayed the leaf spring eyelet bushings four times with Blaster PB starting two days prior to my install. Then used a ball joint press and impact wrench to remove them. It took a little trial and error to get it set up right in order to push against the metal sleeve (used a series of different sized sockets) but once I got that figured out they came right out with no issues. Install of new bushings and shackles was super easy. Took me probably an hour or hour and a half (including clean up) to do the job.

 

Out of curiosity, has anyone installed this kit and not installed the steering components. According to Ekstrom, the steering stuff is the reason wheel spacers are required.

 

You don’t have to install the steering kit. Many just buy the strut shims and shackles and run with those.

 

This is what I plan on doing..shims and shackles

 

So I'm considering the TRD Pro kit, or even just shims and shackles, and the site says this for wheel fitment:
** Requires +30 mm / +25 mm / +20mm / +18 mm offsets if using 18" wheels
The wheels I am considering are 18x9 +12. Tire sizes are a toss up between 285/75/18 because I just loved the Duratracs on my 4runner or if necessary, I'll run 295/70s

Will this work together?

Also, should I wait for any anticipated black Friday deals? I just know the later into the season I wait, the more miserable I'll be installing it in the colder temps

 

Every truck is different but I would that that would work. For reference, I have a TRD pro on stock fox suspension with 285/75/18 ridge grapplers.. and had to cut a good bit of the inner fender liner and use wheel spacers

that being said, I think the duratracs run a tad smaller because I’ve seen other pro users with that tire and size on stock suspensipn and no rub at all

 

I have a brand new in box full Trd Pro Coachbuilder kit for sale! $700.00 DM me if interested. I will be putting it up in the for sale thread next week!

 

Hello. Does anybody know if this tool: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/apt-7865

is adequate for removing the leaf spring bushings?

TIA!

 

@a_double Thats what i used, along with PB blasting them, a little heat from a torch, and because toyota uses these metal sleeved bushing I had to bring out the sawzall. I also had a rubber mallet, channel locks to grab and turn the sleeve once it pops out some. And I had a piece of pipe the diameter as the sleeve that I jammed into the leaf so that I could smack it with the rubber mallet. One side came out in 5 min, the other in 20.

 

I rented this same tool from my local auto parts store. Worked well. It wasn't as much of a PITA as I thought it would be.

 

That tool doesn’t have a fitting that sizes up against the sleeve, thus allowing it to be pushed out with the clamp?

 

I don’t understand the way you worded that. If you don’t have the sizing correct you’ll find that once the sleeve does come out you’ll max out the tool before the bushing is all the way out and you’ll have to pound the rest of it out.

Grab a buddy, and a good impact gun before you start to drive the tool. The vibration helps

 

I guess you’re saying the tool isn’t adequate? In other words, additional tools/techniques are needed.

 

The tool is adequate, in fact i don’t see how you would possible do it without the tool short of removing the whole leaf and using a press. But yes, you will need additional tools unless you’re very lucky and they slide right out. I have yet to see a post of someone who’s done it and had no issues.

 

I used the ball joint press, a socket (I don’t remember the size) that mated against the metal sleeve of the bushing, and impact wrench and they came out relatively easy. My truck was less than a year old when I did it so there wasn’t much if any corrosion and I also used PB Blaster for two days on the bushings before I did the job to help loosen ‘em up.

 

Had to make a few mods to fit these but totally worth it

 

Anyone have any hub to fender measurements post install?

 

I just installed my +2 CB shackles and durobump stops on my 21 Pro. It looks great with the rake IMO. It feels a lot better too, the rear feels less restricted.

The aforementioned tool worked but you do need a socket or something else of a slightly less diameter than the bushing sleeve, to use on the tool plunger/drive side.

Gotta take her in for an alignment.

@COTundra23 I can get you the rear if you're interested in the results after a +2 CB shackle install. I don't have the front CB shim/steering setup.