On the 3rd gen Tacoma the front struts are refreshingly simple: three 14 mm nuts under the hood, two 19 mm bolts at the knuckle, and the whole coil-over drops out the wheel well. Buying complete loaded assemblies (or a full aftermarket coil-over like Bilstein 5100/6112 or Fox 2.0) means you never touch a spring compressor, which is the difference between a moderate job and a dangerous one.
What varies is the part, not the tools. 2WD, 4WD, Access Cab vs Double Cab, and TRD Pro all use different front spring rates and preload, and the TRD Pro's Fox units are not interchangeable with base SR struts. The mistake people make most often is leaving the truck on the wrong bolts first: pull the two lower knuckle bolts before the upper nuts, and keep a jack under the lower control arm the whole time. The second most common mistake is skipping the alignment — toe goes out every time.
| Item | Type | |
|---|---|---|
| Floor jack 2-ton minimum, low profile Lifts the truck at the front crossmember and supports the lower control arm during reassembly. | Required | shop |
| Jack stands 3-ton pair Supports the frame rails while both front wheels are off. | Safety | shop |
| Wheel chocks Blocks the rear wheels with the truck on stands. | Safety | shop |
| Lug nut socket 21 mm 6-point, 1/2 in drive, thin wall Removes the front wheels; thin wall protects alloy wheel faces. | Required | shop |
| Breaker bar 1/2 in drive, 24 in Cracks the seized 19 mm lower strut-to-knuckle bolts loose. | Required | shop |
| Socket set 19 mm 6-point, 1/2 in drive (deep and shallow) Lower strut bracket bolts and nuts at the steering knuckle. | Required | shop |
| Combination wrench 19 mm Holds the nut side of the lower strut bolts while you turn the head. | Required | shop |
| Deep socket 14 mm 6-point, 3/8 in drive Removes the three upper strut mount nuts in the engine bay. | Required | shop |
| Ratchet and extensions 3/8 in drive, 3 in and 6 in extensions, swivel Reaches the upper mount nuts tucked under the inner fender lip. | Required | shop |
| Socket 17 mm, 3/8 in drive Sway bar end link nut, if you need extra travel to swing the knuckle out. | Recommended | shop |
| Socket 10 mm and 12 mm, 3/8 in drive Brake line and ABS wire harness brackets clipped to the strut/knuckle area. | Required | shop |
| Hex key or Torx bit set 6 mm hex / T30-T40 Some aftermarket struts (Bilstein, Fox) use a hex counterhold on the top shaft if you ever reassemble. | Recommended | shop |
| Torque wrench 1/2 in drive, 25-150 ft-lb Lower strut bolts and lug nuts must be torqued to spec. | Required | shop |
| Torque wrench 3/8 in drive, 10-80 ft-lb Upper mount nuts and small brackets. | Recommended | shop |
| Penetrating oil PB Blaster or equivalent Soak the lower strut bolts a day ahead; they corrode into the knuckle sleeve. | Consumables | shop |
| Pry bar 18-24 in Spreads the knuckle bracket and levers the new strut into place. | Required | shop |
| Dead blow or brass hammer 2-3 lb Drives the stubborn lower bolts out of the knuckle without mushrooming the threads. | Recommended | shop |
| Wire brush Cleans rust from the knuckle bolt holes so the new bolts slide in. | Consumables | shop |
| Anti-seize compound Copper or nickel Light film on the lower bolt shanks (not the threads/torque surfaces) to ease future removal. | Consumables | shop |
| Front strut assemblies Complete loaded units, pair, correct for 2WD/4WD and 2.7 vs 3.5 The replacement parts; front spring rates differ by drivetrain and by TRD trim. | Parts | shop |
| Safety glasses and gloves Rust and penetrating oil rain down while working under the fender. | Safety | shop |
| Alignment (shop service) Front toe and camber check Ride height and geometry change; toe must be reset after strut replacement. | Recommended | shop |
Fastener sizes are identical between the 2.7 L 2TR-FE and 3.5 L 2GR-FKS trucks: 21 mm lugs, 14 mm upper mount nuts, 19 mm lower strut bolts. The only practical difference is clearance — 3.5 L 4WD trucks are tighter around the wheel well, so you are more likely to need to drop the 17 mm sway bar end link. Springs differ by drivetrain and trim (SR/SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro Fox), so order by VIN, not by engine.
| Strut lower bolts/nuts to steering knuckle | 117 ft-lb (159 Nm) — verify in the service manual for your exact trim |
| Upper strut mount nuts to body (3x 14 mm) | verify in the service manual |
| Sway bar end link nut (if disconnected) | verify in the service manual |
| Brake line / ABS bracket bolts | Snug, approx. 15 ft-lb (20 Nm) — verify in the service manual |
| Wheel lug nuts | 83 ft-lb (113 Nm) |
The 21 mm lug, 14 mm upper mount, 19 mm lower bolt and 17 mm end link sizes are consistent across the 2016-2023 Tacoma line, but the lower strut bolt torque and upper mount torque should be confirmed against the Toyota service manual or your strut maker's instructions before final tightening.
The two lower strut-to-knuckle bolts take a 19 mm socket on the head and a 19 mm wrench on the nut. The three upper strut mount nuts in the engine bay are 14 mm, and the lug nuts are 21 mm.
Yes. Removing the strut disturbs front geometry and any ride height change shifts camber and toe. Get a front alignment right after the job or you will scrub the inside edges of the front tires.
Yes, the front struts are independent of the rear leaf pack. Just be aware that new front struts often sit slightly taller than worn ones, so the truck may look more nose-high until the rear is addressed or the springs settle.
Not if you buy complete loaded assemblies or full aftermarket coil-overs. You only need a spring compressor if you are reusing your factory spring on a bare shock body, and in that case use a proper wall-mount or heavy-duty compressor, not cheap clamshell hooks.