Advice for Pending Install

I will be installing the Bilstein 5100 front Shocks this weekend. I installed the rear yesterday.

I understand that this can be a time consuming/tedious job.

The main aspect I am concerned about is the spring compression. I really don't want to crush my 'money-makers' (Hands). I was thinking about renting the spring compressor at Autozone for this job but have heard that this may be sketchy.

Would you say that the spring compressor from Autozone will be safe enough? Should I just have a shop put the spring onto the strut for me?

I have the install instructions from Bilstein but honestly, the instructions suck. Does anyone know of a good Youtube video or better instructions.

Thanks Guys!

 

No advice?

 

Sorry, no experience here. Have you got quotes from local shops to do it for you? It may be worth the money to save you the time and hassle (and your hands) of doing it yourself.

 

Go to AutoZone and ask to see the tool. If you don't feel comfortable doing it, don't because if you aren't comfortable doing it, there is a higher chance something will go wrong.

 

I would be a little leary of anyone's rental spring compressors. That said, I've used that type of compressor before and they got the job done. For minimal time and money I would have a shop do the springs. A heavy duty, wall mounted compressor and some air tools make pretty quick work of swapping springs and I would bet it won't cost you more than $50.

 

I did 5100s on my 4runner and use the 'no springcompressor method' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo0FJSi-KYs . It was trivial to do.

 

Not exactly the same but I recently replaced the struts/shocks on my 2012 Sequoia.

I did rent/borrow a spring compressor from O'Reilly Auto Parts. I ended up using air tools to compress and de-compress, as hand tools were taking too much effort and were too slow. I did make sure to alternate sides of the compressor every inch or so to make sure the tightening was even.

Note, I could not use the compressor with the struts/shocks in place on the vehicle, which made it a pain to get the strut/shock assembly in and out. Needed to unhook the front sway bar and use a wood 2x4 to lever the lower control arm down, using a second person to help me with that step. If you go this route, make sure the end of the 2x4 is against something that is solid and can't be damaged, like transmission cooler lines, brake lines, electrical wires, etc.

The top of my shocks/struts were connected to the vehicle using four nuts. I found that the inside two nuts were easiest to access from inside the engine compartment using a long socket extension.

Whenever I do this kind of work on my vehicle, I usually buy a 2 day subscription to Toyota TIS at https://techinfo.toyota.com to download the appropriate chapter(s) from the service manual. I see they recently raised their price from $15 to $20. When I do this short term subscription, I create a list in advance of tasks I think I may do in the future and download those section(s), as well. There is no facility to download the complete manual and it would take a monumental effort to download all of the chapters one at a time.


Greg

 

I have used the cheap $30 spring compressor when I swapped springs to a set of bilsteins on my old Xterra. It got the job done and I never felt as if I was in danger. If you use common sense and are careful you should be fine, just don't stand in front of the compressed spring. If you are not comfortable doing it then just have a shop do it, save the hassle. A shop should do it pretty cheap if you take them off the truck and hand them the parts.

I used this tool by MacPherson from autozone.

 

I have also used both the rental compressors, and then the same style which I bought so that I don't have to use the beat-to-hell rentals ever again. Both times I utilized a vice and kept my moneymaker (my face) away from either end of the coil. Neither time did I crap my pants out of fear or general incontinence.

I think you'll be ok if you employ some common sense!

 

I used O'reilly's rental spring compressor earlier this year with 5100s without issue.

 

I appreciate the advice from everyone. I think I am going to go ahead and just try it with the Autozone Rental spring compressor kit. Hopefully all goes well and I get a better ride/higher ride afterward.

Chow!

 

Your face is your money-maker! Model? lol

 

Not even close!

 

FWIW I paid a local mechanic $20 for him to assemble mine, took all of 20 minutes while I waited.

 

I have used the no spring compressor method numerous times on Tacoma’s, the first couple times was a little sketchy... if you don’t feel comfortable, most shops will do it for less than $100.