Radiator Replacement for 5.7

I searched the World Wide Web and found numerous people quoting a radiator replacement as a 4 hour job requiring removal of the front bumper and oil cooler. Ain't nobody got time for that. Here is the easiest way I could come up with.

Tools I used


This part is pretty important


Stock radiator

 

Ok let's get started. Make sure your truck's coolant has cooled off before you start.

Remove your radiator cap.

On the bottom of the radiator is a drain. You're gonna need a funnel to keep from making a mess.


Remove the hose from the top and bottom after the coolant is drained

 

Next I removed the fan shroud. There are two bolts.
Yes, remove this


No need to remove

Yes, remove

No need to remove

Cool, now top is loose. The bottom sits on the bottom of the radiator (I'll take more pics of that tomorrow

 

Remove this

Gives you room to access bolts

I lossened this to get a little more room to work

 

Time to remove the 4 bolts that hold the radiator to the truck
2 at the top, 2 at the bottom

This is where the extensions are used to access the lower bolts through the opening in the front bumper without removing it.

 

When the 4 bolts are removed the radiator will be free. Push the fan shroud towards the engine and lift the radiator out. Lower new radiator in. The lower bolts are tricky and can get stuck.

I grabbed the bolt with pliers and held it in place, pushed the socket and extension through the front bumper while holding the bolt in place. Tightened bolt.

 

Repeat steps with passenger side lower bolt.

Insert top radiator bolts and tighten.

Replace guard and clips.

Tighten oil cooler bolt.

Fill with coolant.

I started my truck and allowed it to remove any air from the coolant system and topped it off.

Rinse and spilled coolant on skid plate off with water.

 

No problem. If I skipped something anyone is welcome to chime in. All the directions I read made this seem like a nightmare job, but it wasn't bad. Took right at an hour. hopefully this help out someone.

 

Yeah, nice one!

 

Great write up!!! What was size of socket used n that wrench shown in pic of tools shown?

 

I believe it was either 10 or 12mm

 

Thank you for the write up! I'm sure my day will come to replace my radiator, and I will use your write up.

 

Thanks Matt, quick question. Did you squeeze the hoses to burp the air out or did you just start up the truck?

 

Great write up. This is the process I plan to use in about a week when I need to replace mine. Have a hairline crack somewhere that is causing a slow drip. Thankfully Toyota unlike some manufacturers actually made the engine bay have some room to work in it, making this possible. I'm happy it will be simple!

 

Awesome write up!

 

Not sure how many miles were on your Tundra but you might of wanted to replace the water pump. With the radiator out of the way I would think the pump would be pretty easy to get at.

 

What about removing the fan, so u can remove the fan shroud ??

 

I used this DIY about five years ago to replace the radiator in my 2008 Tundra. I just did the same job in my wife's 2013 Sequoia. One thing that worked for me on the lower bolts is to pull them out using a telescoping magnet tool (careful, they only fit out the front as they have a big washer on them that won't come through the top hole) and then use the tool to get them started again. Make sure your radiator mounting hole is linked up right by looking through the front hole. Put the magnet tool on top of the bolt head and insert into hole. Use the top hole to see the target. Reach into the bumper and turn the tool gripping it as close to the bolt as possible - if you try to turn the handle from the back the telescoping sections tend to just turn within each other down the line. I was able to just get the threads started enough to hold the bolt in place and get my socket and extension on it to finish the job. Note, it's also possible to use a shorter extension from just inside the bumper if you need to. I had to do this on the driver side of the Sequoia because the radar box for cruise control is right in the spot on the bumper grille you need to come through for the bolt.

 

Does anyone have advice for this same job on a 2.5 Gen? All the videos and guides I see are 07-13. I'm sure the process is the same, except the 14 and newer grills don't lift up with the hood. Does the grill come off or do you have to bust out a variety of socket extensions....