Installing struts in my yaris

[Toolaholic]

I tried a rubber mallet and a otc bearing and race set but couldn't get bearing to go in. BINGO! Alltrade bushing tool w/ OTC bearing and race disc as the driver.

[Toolaholic]

Next time quick struts! Alot of work. Plus I cammed out top of allen hole on top of strut tightening top plate down. Panicked and ordered another. How did this happen? Strut tends to move on picnic table. But then realized that if i pushed allen deeper it grabbed. I will bring my new drivers side strut to alignment just in case but I loosened factory nut that i used by mistake and put new kyb nut on and it held. So they should be ok to align it. The allen held up to a 17x19 craftsman deep offset and didnt slip.

[tmontague]

Great to hear it went well. I just take the extra 5 mins and take off the cowel to have better access to the engine bay. This allows me to use my impact gun on the top strut bolts which avoids using an Allen key and stripping it. I've done this 2x already and still find it easier to just ge the wiper cowel out of the way.

[Toolaholic]

Originally Posted by tmontague

Great to hear it went well. I just take the extra 5 mins and take off the cowel to have better access to the engine bay. This allows me to use my impact gun on the top strut bolts which avoids using an Allen key and stripping it. I've done this 2x already and still find it easier to just ge the wiper cowel out of the way.

I drenched them in kroil penetrating oil. The old struts came out fine. I cammed out top of Allen hole in new strut tightening nut to hold strut top plate on. My fault as I didn't engage Allen deep enough and strut moved on my picnic table. Luckily bottom of Allen hole is good. So if you push Allen all the way in your fine. I was sweating it there for awhile.

[Toolaholic]

I hope this helps some people. I'm slowly but surely learning and doing more and more projects on my vehicles. Some other helpful tips: cut the sway bar links off w/ a multi tool, hacksaw or whatever. I spent way too much time on them. Also kroil oil everything like I did a couple days ahead of time. Plus do quick struts unless you are replacing springs to lower car.

[tmontague]

keep the diy's coming, the more that are posted the more they will help people.

as for the sway bar links, I made the mistake of stripping one of them from not having the allen key in all of the way. The only way I was able to remove it (save for cutting it off) was by clamping the rubber boot that the metal ball sits in to stop it from spinning while using an air gun to get the bolt off. It worked great with enough clamping force of a vice grip, but it obviously tore the boot (not an issue if you are installing new ones.

I am usually not a fan of quick struts due to their reported cheap parts (mounts, bearings, etc), it does take a little bit of extra time but at least you can pack the bearing with more grease since you have the springs off.

[Toolaholic]

Originally Posted by tmontague

keep the diy's coming, the more that are posted the more they will help people.

as for the sway bar links, I made the mistake of stripping one of them from not having the allen key in all of the way. The only way I was able to remove it (save for cutting it off) was by clamping the rubber boot that the metal ball sits in to stop it from spinning while using an air gun to get the bolt off. It worked great with enough clamping force of a vice grip, but it obviously tore the boot (not an issue if you are installing new ones.

I am usually not a fan of quick struts due to their reported cheap parts (mounts, bearings, etc), it does take a little bit of extra time but at least you can pack the bearing with more grease since you have the springs off.

I pressed in new bearings. I used my finger and put grease in bearing hole. I'm assuming they are greased from factory. So I don't know about packing the grease in but I smeared some on the inside. KYB instructions did not mention greasing new bearings.

[Toolaholic]

Originally Posted by tmontague

keep the diy's coming, the more that are posted the more they will help people.

as for the sway bar links, I made the mistake of stripping one of them from not having the allen key in all of the way. The only way I was able to remove it (save for cutting it off) was by clamping the rubber boot that the metal ball sits in to stop it from spinning while using an air gun to get the bolt off. It worked great with enough clamping force of a vice grip, but it obviously tore the boot (not an issue if you are installing new ones.

I am usually not a fan of quick struts due to their reported cheap parts (mounts, bearings, etc), it does take a little bit of extra time but at least you can pack the bearing with more grease since you have the springs off.

I would use KYB quick struts to the tune of about $135 each next time. I have heard the monroe quick struts are not that great.

[tmontague]

very true, KYB tend to be better. I have found that the bearings tend to not need replacement they generally just need the old grease pushed out and new grease added in. They are very poorly sealed so they tend to get gritty very fast. This will save a little money by not needing bearings/mounts, although if you get a quick strut then you may just save that money in time alone

[Toolaholic]

It got its 4 wheel alignment. All systems go!