Strut disassembly - you can do it!

So I have some Bili 5100s waiting to go on the 4runner. And I have been in no particular rush to install them...
I want to keep my stockers intact in case I decide to go back for some reason. Plus it will minimize down time. So I found a set on Offer Up for $25 but they had 1 1/2 inch spacers on them and also came with 2 inch rear spacers. I was able to sell those for $20 locally on Offer Up so I'm only $5 into parts.
My plan has been to disassemble and transfer to the Bilis. I got some compressor clamps from Autozone but the safety pins would not clear the springs so I decided to not proceed with those. I have an acquaintance that does a lot of fab work that would assemble for $60. But I really wanted to try it myself so after much analysis paralysis I finally sent off to Bezosworld for a cheapy heavy duty clamp set. (Oxymoron, I know)
So here we go...

The subject shocks to be disassembled. Please note that one shock appears more tightly wound than the other. I had not noticed this before. It also appears to have been acquainted with UCA on the previous owners setup.



The aforementioned and oxymoronic "cheapy heavy duty compressor set" and my 19 mm socket. The instructions included no info whatsoever on the semi-circular device so I winged it. It required a 6mm Allen BTW.



All lined up and ready to go.
I compressed back and forth with about 3 rotations each time.



After about 7 back and forths we have separation.



Then I held the shock tip with a vice grip and loosened the top nut with a 17mm .



After all that, the springs do in fact look different. I'll go do some reading but I don't think that is right. It may end up all I got was top hats for my $5 but hey, I'll take it.



Look Ma! I still have ten fingers.

With all the YT vids out there about how this job is certain death, I just wanted to show that if your careful and methodical and sober you can do this. Took me just shy of an hour going carefully and double/triple checking everything and using hand tools only.
Admittedly I still need to get the new assemblies together on the Bilsteins and that will require more compression than the disassembly did. But it was 108° out today and I still need to see what's what with these asymmetric springs so I think that's enough for today.

Happy wrenching.

 

Well done. I must say, I tried doing this 5 yrs ago when I wanted to put a pre-collar lift on the FOX trd suspension and boy this was a workout. I was a bit worried things were going to snap and hit me in the face. Looks like you got it!

 

Yeah. I haven't decided where I want to set the Bilstein perch yet but I'm going to have to squish those springs down a good bit more for anything above zero, so we'll see how that goes. More to come.

 

Sort of looks like those two springs have different spring rates. I still have my stock (assembled) struts in a box on a shelf. I can see if the springs look different like those... although mine is a '23 so there may be a difference in strut models.

 

Thanks. I see the actual struts have the same part # but the springs have different paint markings so maybe Toyota did something for unequal weight up front or to address the driver side lean that I'm not aware of. I'll be interested to see what you come up with.

 

Hmmm.
48131-35650 RH spring
48131-35720 RH Limited

48131-35620 LH spring
48131-35650 LH Trail Package (TRD OffRoad) & stabilizer KDSS
48131-35730 LH Limited

Curious...same lt and rt spring part # on the Off Road only, which I got.

 

Well done

I've thought about attempting this but I rather drive about 5 minutes to a nearby car shop, bring a cold 12 pack, and watch them do the work

 

Yes, it turns out the SR5 has 2 different springs, a 7 coil and 8 coil. The TRD gets 8 and 8 regardless of KDSS. This was pretty easy to find and wish I had looked into it sooner... But c'est la vie, 65 y/o and still learning. Guess I'll have to figure out what I do next.

 

Mine look the same as yours. I'm assuming it's because of the driver lean thing.

I have an Off Road Premium.

 

Cool. So the 8 and 8 coil thing I read doesn't seem to pan out. I think I may just throw these things together and see what I get.

Edit: and good on ya to mark 'em for me so I know where they go.

 

Job well done, i like the initiative you took. For me, I take them to my local shop, they take them off and swap to the new ones for $20. To me its two things, first safety then also i want to make sure they were assembled correctly. I dont like doing jobs twice.

 

Job well done!

Here's a copy paste from my build thread. Went from 730# springs to 650's.
I did not have all the correct tools and had to get creative. Still, had all my fingers afterward as well


Disconnected the LCA from the spindle and dropped the coilover out from the bottom.



Disassembled with spring compressors.



Realized the spring compressor I had would not work with the new springs… so I improvised. I’ll admit, this was about as sketchy as it looked. But it worked like a charm.



Got the coilovers reinstalled and went on a test drive!



The ride was much better after this swap. Saved at least $300 by doing it myself and got as picky as I needed to when adjusting preload to correct the Toyota lean.

Another plus is being able to put anti seize on the locking collars and LCA bolts while I was there. These are steps a lot of shops won't take. Also torqued everything to spec unlike certain shops just using an impact... Some shops are better than others of course. But at this point I'd rather do the job myself. I know it was done right and I learn a little more on each new job.