Front suspension questions

Ok so I measured it in the garage (level concrete) from the hub to fender. Front: 21” exact, Rear: 22” exact…so (taking in account Shifty’s earlier comment above that it’ll lift 1/2-3/4” max) that means the difference should be minimal with the new coils if I do get the 2883s?

 

I’ve seen other guys on YouTube get away with no name ones from Amazon while installing new front struts…so I think I should be able to do it with these. It’s not like I’m gonna use it more than once, at least not for a long time.

 

You can do it, sure, but I'd really recommend against it. This was my experience with the same style spring compressor.

Very bendy and didn't give much confidence, hardly fit in the gaps of the coil either. As for a better option, I'm not sure. They do make ones that sit on the floor for a couple hundred $. It really just depends how much you want to spend.

 

I bought this and it actually worked very well, it did the others ones once and will never do that again. I'd rather try zip ties

$109 Punmew Macpherson Strut Spring Compressor Tool Universal Interchangeable Fork Coil Spring Compressor Tool

https://www.amazon.com/Punmew-Compr...2&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY

 

Either way the 2883 is (I believe) the smallest lift you can get. General consensus is, people who don’t want to go overboard on lift are happy with 2883 for 2WD in AC/RC and 2884 for DC/Sequioa.

 

Update: Ok the OME springs just shipped out this morning, should get them by Thursday. The tophats should be here today. Meanwhile, I have to replace the door lock actuator on my driver door, as I have to lock it manually now… (found this out yesterday in my college parking lot, yay) so i have plenty of other work to do meantime. I might also clean the AC coil too, there’s a YT tutorial of a guy doing it on his sequoia and it looks easy .

 

Make sure it’s the actuator, not that the latch is gummed-the-fuck-up from years of use and old crusty grease.

 

No, I took it out and looked at it yesterday, latch looked fine and actuator looked hooked up properly. I already ordered a new one. I just replaced the latch itself (reused factory actuator) last august, as my driver door wouldn’t shut one day at the gas station. Looked ghetto as hell driving with the door open back home lmao. It was a PITA in 100 degree heat doing it. It’s definitely gotta be the actuator. I’m just waiting for the stealership to get the part in. I’m not dealing with Chineseum aftermarket on that, I’ve heard one case where it only lasted a couple months lol

 

Hey I am not sure if you have done the job yet but, a few months ago (December I think), I used an older version of the MADDOX Clamshell-Style Strut Spring Compressor to compress the springs I installed some Bilstein 5100s. I have had this tool for at least 15 years. I wish I had taken pictures of what we had to do to get the tool to work. I will tell you that I had to take the tool apart to get it to fit the springs. I had to clamp it to a beam in the shop to make it easier to torque the tool enough to compress the spring.
This tool is probably not rated strong enough for the job on these trucks and I will admit to sweating bullets while we did the job but, it got the job done. If I ever have to do it again, I will weld and reinforce the tool. I thought about buying the cheaper tools but I did not think it was tough enough to clamp the springs. Looks like @NickB_01TRD got his to work but that bending in the shafts like his picture was what I expected. Too much of a chance to take IMHO

My recommendation would be to take the $35 compressors back and get the $115 compressors, Hope this info helps.

 

I use ratchet strap around the compressor and spring. I’ve never had one go, but heard lots of stories. Be safe

 

You can just use your truck as the spring compressor. There are videos on you tube. I’ve done it several times, way safer.

 

The emus have arrived . On another note, as recommended by you guys, I returned the HF spring compresser and I’m getting the one user rock climber recommended. Just yesterday I got into an accident (minor fender bender) with my sequoia… but cosmetically, you can barely tell. My body is hella sore, so I’m gonna see when I get around to installing these, but just seeing these coils… I’m definitely gonna get to it soon.

 

Update: so got my struts all together. Realized that the three bolts on the top hat have to be aligned a certain way: two bolts aligned with the front, one on the back, if that makes any sense. As far as the Amazon spring compressor… it broke, luckily it didn’t when the spring was under tension. Had a shop put them together. I’m excited to put them on. Gonna get to it this weekend.

 

Make sure you post that pic and a 1-star review on scAmazon. That couldn't cost someone their life at worst, their teeth at best.

And yes, alignment is important, but you can absolutely stick something like a ratchet in the lower mounting hole and spin the shaft on most struts to get the bottom eye to line up correctly.

 

Well done! My ass puckered when I saw your picture of the broken tool... I think the heavier Maddox spring compressor would be good enough. I saw my box the other day, its not Maddox, it is Pittsburg. All HF tools, just different name. Still might reinforce mine if I ever have to use it again... Totally agree with @shifty` on the review; let 'em know.

 

Side question, does anybody know a good cheap ozone generator? I really only need to use it once, maybe twice. Returning a rental car, we’ve had it for over a month, and it smells really funky
Yes I’m gonna leave a shitty review for that spring tool. Hate to think of the injuries it could cause somebody. Funnily enough the other day, I seen an instagram reeel of this guy using a spring compressor, and it was RIGHT BETWEEN HIS LEGS. It lost grip and shot him right in the family jewels lol, poor guys gonna be sterile

 

I bought this one and I’ve been generally very happy with it: Enerzen O-555-40,000mg:

$120 Enerzen O-555-60000mg Industrial Ozone Generator O3 Air Purifier Deodorizer, Silver

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JAP733I

 

Febreeze man. It's a rental. Leave the windows open to let it air out. What have you been doing in that rental??

 

Not that it matters anymore, but I bought this compressor, and it's worked great for me. Really not expensive, either. I've used it for two coil replacement jobs, but regardless of whether I did way more work than I needed to...both times I re-compressed the springs multiple times trying to get the upper and lower bolts aligned correctly. So in reality I've used this compressor nearly a dozen times.

The place where yours broke is very thin...I'm no engineer but that seems like a pretty obvious failure point.