What have you done to your Tacoma today?

Well I got curious today about swapping out some 2nd gen. coils with the stock coils on my 1st gen. , more to settle a debate about this question that always comes up at some point if you wrench at all, a couple of donor front struts off a 2015 sport given to me have been staring me in the face for about a month now, just begging to be disfigured & today was the day...

First thing i had to do was compress them with no compressor....

This was done with an old very heavy ass drill press by raising/lowering table in small increments (for safety)

IMG_20180104_114540.jpg
 
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I would turn a few threads & release the pre load pressure by slowly loosening the table allowing the tension of spring to nudge the table up slightly, re tighten & loosen a few more threads, repeat until compression was gone ...

I DO NOT ENDORSE THIS METHOD !!

Compressing coils springs is no joke & one little **** up can & has maimed &/or killed before, so if not sure, just pay someone to do it, be safe...

(although out of 100 or so I've done, only a couple sketchy moments with the all thread bullshit compressors
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4wd said:
Well I got curious today about swapping out some 2nd gen. coils with the stock coils on my 1st gen. , more to settle a debate about this question that always comes up at some point if you wrench at all, a couple of donor front struts off a 2016 sport given to me have been staring me in the face for about a month now, just begging to be disfigured & today was the day...

First thing i had to do was compress them with no compressor....

This was done with an old very heavy ass drill press by raising/lowering table in small increments (for safety)

View attachment 14409
Click to expand...

That’s creative man. I figured you’d have a compressor as many as you’ve done.
 
Basic differences on first look is 2nd gen coil is about an inch longer than the progressive 1st gen coil...

But spring fits properly on perch & dia. is same
(2nd gen on right)

IMG_20180104_160915.jpg
 
Bogunn said:
That’s creative man. I figured you’d have a compressor as many as you’ve done.
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I don't use a compressor anymore if I can avoid it, I just get front off ground jack stand the frame, off the tire, let it droop , get a floor jack under the LCA (with shock still attached at bottom) remove lower ball joint, take off center nut on strut, lower jack, de compressed, done... ;)
 
EDIT: I mark the positions of the LCA adjusters front & back before I loosen, saves a lot of $$$ on alignment...

EDIT AGAIN:

Almost pointless to mark because right now out of range... anytime you lift or change geometry is a better term, you'll have to re align...
 
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4wd said:
Well I got curious today about swapping out some 2nd gen. coils with the stock coils on my 1st gen. , more to settle a debate about this question that always comes up at some point if you wrench at all, a couple of donor front struts off a 2016 sport given to me have been staring me in the face for about a month now, just begging to be disfigured & today was the day...

First thing i had to do was compress them with no compressor....

This was done with an old very heavy ass drill press by raising/lowering table in small increments (for safety)

View attachment 14409
Click to expand...
4wd said:
Basic differences on first look is 2nd gen coil is about an inch longer than the progressive 1st gen coil...

But spring fits properly on perch & dia. is same
(2nd gen on right)

View attachment 14411
Click to expand...
4wd said:
2016 2nd gen coils on a 2004 1st gen TRD....

View attachment 14412
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2nd gen sub for 3rd? 3rd gen is 1” taller yes? 2nd and 1st is the same? Am I missing something? 2016 2nd gen is throwing me off.
I’m so confused :oops:
 
4wd said:
My bad, it should've been 2015 (typo)
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Makes more since. So is the 3rd gen off road 2” taller than the 1st gen? I’ve heard the 3rd gen off-road is 1” taller than 2nd gen. If the 2nd gen sport is 1” taller then the 1st gen then the 3rd would be 2?
Who’s on first?
 
Alright, now the issue, I gained about 1.5" putting my UCA'a way out of range to even attempt getting within spec. so I'll reset the lock ring /clip down a setting & see what happens....


IMG_20180104_180559.jpg IMG_20180104_180559.jpg
OR17TRD said:
Makes more since. So is the 3rd gen off road 2” taller than the 1st gen? I’ve heard the 3rd gen off-road is 1” taller than 2nd gen. If the 2nd gen sport is 1” taller then the 1st gen then the 3rd would be 2?
Who’s on first?
Click to expand...

& what's on second....haha , I don't know but I'm thinking 2nd/3rd gens would be the same no reason to change that dimension really, but at the same time I can take 3rd gen Ubolts/hardware & use them just fine as well...
IMG_20180104_180559.jpg
 
4wd said:
Alright, now the issue, I gained about 1.5" putting my UCA'a way out of range to even attempt getting within spec. so I'll reset the lock ring /clip down a setting & see what happens....


View attachment 14413 View attachment 14413


& what's on second....haha , I don't know but I'm thinking 2nd/3rd gens would be the same no reason to change that dimension really, but at the same time I can take 3rd gen Ubolts/hardware & use them just fine as well...
View attachment 14413
Click to expand...

I love that gen one of yours. Beautiful truck man.
 
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Example of strut being released improperly, & this was off some little ricer I think, not much energy youi'd think...

 
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