My wife and I decided we wanted a real adventure so we are replacing our AHC shocks (rusted to pieces) with new OEM shocks. A punctured hydraulic line and many, many negative thoughts later and we have completed the removal and the install with the exception of one crucial part: We cannot get the castle nut to thread onto the top of the shocks. It appears we need to find a way to compress the shocks while on the vehicle in order to get enough extension of the threads.
After much frustration we have decided to take a break and ask for help. Here are our current plans:
1) Install the shocks and wheels and see if the weight of the vehicle is able to compress them enough that we can get a good thread started on the nut.
2) Same as number one but placing a jack stand under each of the four hubs/control arms to get even more compression
3) Call Toyota and pay whatever princely sum they will ask to just get it done.
Any and all help is appreciated.
After much frustration we have decided to take a break and ask for help. Here are our current plans:
1) Install the shocks and wheels and see if the weight of the vehicle is able to compress them enough that we can get a good thread started on the nut.
2) Same as number one but placing a jack stand under each of the four hubs/control arms to get even more compression
3) Call Toyota and pay whatever princely sum they will ask to just get it done.
Any and all help is appreciated.