Trouble with front strut replacement

Hey all, bit of a taco newbie here. I recently bought a 2003 PreRunner, and have started to replace some of the suspension components. A couple days ago I tried to replace my front struts using the strut compressor free, jack-under-the-LCA method, but ran into a bit of a problem. When I went to undo the top nut, I found that it was recessed (see image), preventing me from getting a wrench on it. It's also too recessed to get one of my sockets on it, although I figure a deep socket could do the job if I bought one. I'm a bit confused, since this doesn't seem to be a problem in any of the youtube tutorials I've watched. I thought that maybe I hadn't jacked the LCA up enough, but when I did so the top nut remained recessed, and the front just started to rise off of the jack stand I'd placed. Anyone have a suggestion for how to proceed?

 

I may be wrong on this but don't mess with that nut. Unless you are trying to disassemble the coilover on the truck. It holds the coil spring to the shock. Hope somebody smarter than me will jump in here.

 

The trouble is (for this method) you also need to hold the stem with a wrench while removing the nut (w/ deep socket) ideally you need to use an impact wrench on that nut but may not be room in there while still installed. Be careful, it can be done but it’s a little nerve wracking, much better off removing those three smaller nuts, remove the entire coilover, then rent/borrow a coil compressor

 

Only IF you are replacing the strut, I usually just put vise grips right on the shaft to hold it while taking off that nut.

 

Just to clarify, I'm trying to install new bilstein shocks into my current front strut assemblies. I'm obviously no expert, but I was trying to follow the steps outlined in this video https://youtu.be/vkVLBOnAifc (modified slightly for first-gen) - I see people claiming that it's unsafe, but also an equal number of people on the forum claiming that it's just as safe as using spring compressors so long as you follow the steps (shrug?)

I figured that I might have to rent a spring compressor anyway, but wanted to see if there was some obvious fix that I was missing.

 

What kind of Suspension do you have that has struts ?

I have Coil Springs over Shocks .

All the Front Shocks I changed it is much easier for me to service with the complete assembly removed.

Maybe your Strut suspension is different .

 

I highly recommend getting a spring compressor or renting one from O'Reillys/Autozone... undo the three outer bolts, take the whole coilover assembly out and then disassemble your coilovers (not struts) with a spring compressor. Use one of the spring compressors with the dual threaded rod + clamp design, so that you are compressing the spring equally on both sides. Do not use one of the V shaped single action compressors that only compresses one side of the spring.

 

Apologies for my wrong terminology - I also have coil springs over shocks. Thanks everyone for your input - I think I'll try to rent a spring compressor tomorrow and give it another shot

 

If you are friendly with the repair shop in your area, ask how much it would cost you for them to swap out the shocks if you bring them the whole assemblies. This way you do not have to rent a spring compressor and you know it should? Be done right and no danger to you if done incorrectly.

 

Must have a spacer in it to be setting that low in the tower