DIY Suspension install ?

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See my instructions here http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...l=1#post363592

[stripedtomato Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close stripedtomato]

Thanks for the link

[karthik2588 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close karthik2588]

hi guys,

i have read through this thread and was confident that i was confident to do the suspension install.

I have almost done evrything but my strut is stuck in place even after removing the top 3 nuts and the lower nut. the strut does not drop and looks llike it stuck at the top.

any ideas?

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Presumably you have levered the lower control arm down so the bottom of the strut is free?

If you have done that it should drop, might just need a bit or a wriggle an a bit more force, hard to say as mine have always come out easily.

Cheers Andrew

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Been txting Karthik and the top hat is well and truly stuck. He has now undone the Stut nut and removed the strut assembly with the top hat still stuck in place?

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Time to get a bigger hammer maybe! With the strut removed you should be able to knock the cap out by hitting it from the top.

I might suspect you will find rust could be the cause.

Cheers Andrew

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Still stuck

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

When most things are stuck 3 options come to mind, lubrication, pressure and heat. Some combination of those three are about all you can try.

I would look at getting something through the centre hole that can be pulled down, something like an eye bolt with a ratchet strap down to the chassis or something. Add pressure with that the strike the studs with nuts screwed on with a brass drift and a hammer working around them.

Cheers Andrew

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I had the same issue. It eventually came unstuck with a big bang, but there was no evidence of anything that would make it stick so well.

If there's nothing else obviously wrong, then leave the strut top there and add the new spring and strut.

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

If there's nothing else obviously wrong, then leave the strut top there and add the new spring and strut.

In this case this seems to be the best option. Just shot over to karthik's joint and yeh, both top hats are solidly fixed. Tried to hammer from top, tried to pry bar with no success. AJ120's suggestion would most likely work (downward force and love taps but havent the tools on us so wI think Karthik will go for amts suggestion and keep the originals...(they're certainly not going anywhere....)

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Check for cracks on the strut top. There's a couple of cases on PP where the strut top has failed.

But for now, to get the Prado going again, you would have to put everything together without removing the strut top.

[karthik2588 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close karthik2588]

Hi All,

Thanks for the suggestions. Thanks for craig again for coming over to have a look.

Looks like reuse the strut top the way to go.

will keep updated if something else strikes my mind in the interim.

[karthik2588 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close karthik2588]

Hi all,

Did my install yesterday for the front suspension with the factory struts been stuck in the same place. Basically removed the new strut hats from the assembled struts using a spring compressor and installed the coils and strut into the factory strut mount. It's a hard fight though but finally got it in there.

The suspension stuff guys from slacks creek were kind enough to give me refund for the unused strut mounts. Next is to get the alignment done as the wheels are badly out of alignment.

Hope the rear should be easier without any dramas.

Thanks you all for the suggestions.

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Rear would be a walk in the park compared to the front.

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Well done Karthik for persisting and having a go yourself....