New front struts, LBJs, and brakes...what order should I install them?

Yeah I didn't see the point of it on the first side, but makes sense after seeing how tight it was

 

Things were going just a little bit too smoothly tonight I guess. When I was using the torque wrench for the bottom bolts on the lower ball joint, this one kept turning instead of clicking like the other ones and I broke it. Trying to decide if I should use an easy out or cut a slot for a flathead screwdriver...

 

I got it out with some patient vise grips instead of having to use an easy out and a drill luckily.

 

I love when you at least have 2-3 threads of shank exposed, so you have a fighting chance ...

 

Yes I am very thankful that it was as easy as it was after I got the knuckle back out. The funny thing was I was already working on the broken bolt with vice grips while the knuckle was still installed, but then when I decided to pull the knuckle out the bolt was sticking out too far to let the axle slide out so I had to cut it with an angle grinder carefully....

 

I ran a spare bolt through the hole a few times to clean up the threads just in case. I'm already getting it back together now.

 

Don’t forget all the cotters!

 

We're all done with the front end work and we even got the new rear shocks on last night.

Was measuring the new ride height and it seems odd to me that the driver side front is a half inch lower than the passenger side front. What do you think would cause that? Do you think the alignment will do anything for that or is it just an old truck that doesn't sit level?

 

Look up "Tundra Lean". We all have it. They make shims to correct it if you're OCD.

 

Okay I don't know that I feel like going down a rabbit hole trying to find the explanation but I will probably not worry about a half inch lean to the left for now...

It looks good and the 2885s were not too much lift for my truck it's still I think about a half inch lower in the front overall and looks much better. Going to take a little break on upgrades and maybe just focus on fluids before I redo the rear brakes.

 

Fuel tank is on the left, drivers seat is on the left, these trucks are typically weighed down more on the left side. The lean is totally normal.

 

Yeah I didn't pick up on that at all but makes total sense. Thanks for the quick explanation

 

You can try one of these...

https://www.1stgenoffroad.com/store/p1068/1stGenOffRoad.comStrutSpacer.html#/

 

Yup, those are what I'm talking about.

It's the only time using a spacer of any type with the strut is generally fine. But it's just important to understand that, even though the passenger side typically sits lower, when you're driving by yourself, unless you weigh less than 150-200#, your ass being in the driver's seat is likely already helping to correct that lean, so adding a spacer may have you lower on the driver's side once you're in the truck.

 

It's leaning lower on driver's side empty

 

Weird. Yeah, shim on driver side would pick it up. For some reason I thought the "tundra lean" was primarily a passenger-side-low deal.

 

Somebody above mentioned the gas tank is driver side too so that made sense to me. When you spoke up I was even more confused because mine was leaning the opposite way

 

Don't forget the battery on the driver side as well! Lots of weight on driver side only