Toyota Front Strut Assembly Instructions with Dobinsons parts, from Exitoffroad.com

This video is to provide specific details of how and why you would assemble Dobinsons front twin tube struts, coils and new strut top mounts together and the correct order of the bushings and washers as well as how far to tighten down the top nylock nut to ensure it doesn't move. The twin tube struts and parts shown in this vehicle relate to all Toyota 3rd, 4th and 5th Gen 4Runners, FJ Cruisers, Toyota Tacomas of all years, Lexus GX470 and GX460, Landcruiser 200 series, Prado 90 120 and 150, Hilux, Fortuner, SW4, Hilux Surf, Hilux Vigo, Hilux Revo, and any other possible IFS Toyota I've missed from the 90's onwards.
I have assembled hundreds of twin tube and monotube struts and have never had an issue with this method. It is extremely common though for people who assemble then at home, or even for some shops, to not assemble them correctly, so I've made this video to break down the process for clarification.
I have the most common instructions and diagrams listed here too, so if you need to see specifically how the mounts for your vehicle work, follow this link: exitoffroad.co...
Exit Offroad sells the full range of Dobinsons suspension for all vehicle makes and models, not limited to just Toyota, so feel free to reach out with any questions you may have, send an email to [e-mail]

[@kcole2990]

I installed the ins front 2 inch back in may and got the rear today. Took it down a rough back road pretty fast . It rides alot better especially in curves over stock. I just wish they had instructions for the back with the extra washers I thought I did it wrong.

[@MKxpl]

excellent video, super helpful

[@ExitOffroad]

Thanks for watching.

[@carloscubas2824]

Great content. However, I know for a fact that having a nut tighten against a thread stop will damage the nut thread. The correct way should be torque settings + clocking. That way we dont increase our chances of a creeping nut thread failure.

[@titanpat57]

Great explanation Mike!

[@ryanbaumber7643]

Whats the worst thing that can happen when the top washer cuts into the top bushing? It seems my mechanic installed them wrong.

[@ExitOffroad]

Just have to replace the washer and bushing bushing which is not a big deal. It can be done with the strut still in place

[@benjaminsperry5562]

Y’all need to do one on the droop spacer because there is no documentation on how and where it is suppose to be installed

[@ExitOffroad]

It goes on the stud first, then everything else after it

[@davidrucci]

I’m going to be throwing on new Dobinsons coils on my IMS shocks. Do you think I need to use a new locknut and strut mounts for the new coils? Strut mounts are Dobinsons, and shocks and strut mounts are both about 6 months old.

[@ExitOffroad]

Nah. The ones you have will be fine

[@chepecho]

Great video very informative. Does the strut mount have to be install in a certain way ?

[@ExitOffroad]

The top mount can only go in one way. During assembly, the orientation of Strut mount to the lower bushing needs to be set so that it will fit into the car properly

[@chepecho]

@@ExitOffroad quick response.. Thank you so much.

[@theanythingchannel2239]

Would this be the same for the isuzu dmax? Top nut bottom out?

[@ExitOffroad]

Yes, most likely. It's the same on pretty much every strut. You can check it before assembly by putting the bushigns and washers in place and seeing how far down the nut will have to tighten until it bottoms out, which is usually tightening down to where the threads stop

[@mikeholbert1958]

Great video, thank you.

[@ExitOffroad]

Glad you liked it!

[@fmmrz5]

This video exists because the up charge for assembly is just ridiculously high. This requiring a video to justify it. Should be 30 bucks. How much time does it take? 10min per shock?

[@ExitOffroad]

I'm explaining how to do it properly yourself without paying someone. So many people get the install wrong, end up wasting time, then calling and saying later that they should have had them preassembled ready to bolt in. I made this video for the people that want to DIY, but needed the guidance on how to put it together. The time, the tools, and the know-how, plus all the repackaging is factored into the price.

[@holyspork]

Great video btw, thank you!

[@ExitOffroad]

Thanks! Tool is made by Techny Precision

[@Kypreparedness]

On the front, once it’s installed and it’s loaded from the weight of the car and there’s a gap between the nuts, do you tighten the top nut down to the lower nut?

[@ExitOffroad]

Gap between which nuts?

[@tehjosheh]

I had the IMS pre-assembled at dobinsons and installed on my 4R. It's been ~5k mi since install and I wanted to go around and torque everything down. At about 5min in this video it looks like the bushing nut should be bottomed out, is this the same for IMS? If so, while the assembly is installed, should I torque the nut until it bottoms out to retighten? Seems like the nut can be turned by tool so potentially backed out after initial install? Same question for the rear shocks.

[@ExitOffroad]

It's the same for any front strut. Yes, hold the strut shaft and tighten that center nut all the way, as this video shows. The rear shocks don't get bottomed out all the way though.

[@tehjosheh]

@@ExitOffroad thanks a ton, appreciate it!

[@SirWilliamGoes]

What’s the tool needed to keep shaft from spinning

[@ExitOffroad]

On the twin tube struts, just an adjustable wrench will hold it. It's an Allen key on IMS and MRA

[@SirWilliamGoes]

@@ExitOffroad thanks

[@josemarquez86]

Thank you for video👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@ExitOffroad]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!!

[@daallaad]

Was the strut with the notch in the stud repairable or did you replace the whole strut ?

[@ExitOffroad]

He put new bushings and strut mount and hoped for the best. It's not fixable but hadn't worn in too far

[@pinoytruckerinseattle3535]

I wonder if the ome coil springs fits to the dobinson front struts sir?

[@michaelt6759]

Yes they do

[@thatf_inguy8220]

Are these struts height adjustable?

[@ExitOffroad]

The yellow twin tube struts aren't height adjustable. Only the black IMS and MRA are height adjustable

[@millerpacers]

What is the brand name of spring compressor in the video?

[@ExitOffroad]

TECHNY EZ Strut Compressor. www.technyprecision.com/Automotive_Industry.html

[@jfriday1ify]

If anyone else is researching this, runs about 2k and I believe its likely discontinued. Better off with a Branick if your looking for a higher end one. Or use the SPC Spring compressors and it will get the job done as well. Speaking as a mobile mechanic who only does Toyota suspension installs.

[@forgottenknowledge8917]

9:29 🤣

[@ExitOffroad]

Hahah