im in the middle of putting a spacer lift on my 99 taco. there is absolutely no way the springs are goin back in with the spacers on top. i got one side in but then i couldnt get the 3 holes lined up where the strut bolts into the coil bucket. im about to take off the lower a-arm and i was wondering what the little metal plates were with the little marks in it that are behind the bolt. are they some sort of adjustment and do i have to put them back on exactly the way they were before? please answer ASAP because im in the middle of this crap and the truck is my DD. thanks.

They are alignment shims and yes they need to go back exactly as they come out. I use a very long pry bar to push the lower A arm down low enough to get the bottom strut bolt in; it will take two people on some trucks. I have done 5 of these lifts and never had to remove an A arm to reassemble. Get back with me if ya have any more problems.

True, but I have removed the four ball joint bolts at the other end of that lower A arm. This doesn't affect the alignment. Just make sure to use some medium threadlocker when you re-install them.
(that comment wasn't directed to you, John, just more of a general FYI <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />)

LOL Mark, you are right though, the ball joint bolts would be the way to go if the pry bar doesn't do the trick.

well i disconnected 4 bolts holding the lower bal joint to the a-arm so nothing is connected to the lower a arm anymore. i even took the steering arm off but that didnt help. if i used a pry bar where would i pry at? cuz it seems like it would be kinda awkward. i actually got the bolt through on the right front but then the 3 bolt holes wouldnt line up to bolt the spacer to the coil bucket because it was slightly twisted. i goe pissed and hit it real hard with a rubber mallet and it helped a little but not much. sigh. if only i was old enough for a nice cold beer....... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Ok, this is how I do it.........Bolt the top 3 bolts in first and if the lower bolt hole is not lined up with the lower mount, I get a pipe wrench and rotate the strut until it lines up. It will be kind of jerky while turning with the pipe wrench but it is easy to turn. Also make sure you put the pipe wrench low on the strut near the weld so as not to damage the strut tubing. Let us know if you still have problems.

thanks for all the help im gonna try some of this stuff tomorrow mornin and if it still dont work im gonna shoot my truck and set it on fire. thanks for all the help.

I have a 99 and i unbolted the upper baljoint and the strut went in just fine

Bigwhitetaco..u got the lift that i posted on the forum rite..the ez-lift taco.If u do exactly what the directions say u wont have any trouble...jus sit back down and look at what uve already done and what the directions, it took me and my friend about an hour and 15min after we got the first spacer on then it took 5min on the other side....re-read the direction very carefully

i fugured out its easiest to bole the 3 top bolts in first and then get my dad (approx. 280 lbs) to stand on the lower a-arm while i stuck the bolt in. so problem solved. thanks guys