[Istoppucks]

I had my truck in to shop for a wheel bearing replacement . Had excessive tire noise and vibration which lead me to believe it was a bearing issue which it was. Along with that the mechanic said he felt it had shock and strut issues because of tire cupping and and continued tire noise( bearing replacement solved vibration but not noise ). The question I have is with what manufacturer shocks and struts to replace the oe stuff with . It is a Trd off road access cab with 170,000 kms. The garage gave me a price of 2000 K using KYB shocks and struts. I can only imagine what Toyota oe stuff costs. Does anyone recomend other shocks and struts they have used without a lift that had good results or are KYB ok. I probably will do the work myself and then get an alignment at garage.

 

[Splicer]

Hands-down preferred replacement shocks are Bilstein 5100s. I haven't heard of any others that are as highly recommended. And no, I don't have them...... yet.

 

[Fitz235]

I agree. I'm on my second set. Also, if you want to lift the front, these will give you the option to.

This is where I've ordered both sets from, with the lowest prices I know of:

http://downsouthmotorsports.com/i-1...adjustable-shocks-w-optional-rear-shocks.html

 

[Istoppucks]

Thanks, I have seen mention on here about the 5100 s but thought they were only if you had a lift.

 

[Splicer]

They can be installed at zero lift (stock height) or up to 2.5" lift according to Fitz's link.

 

[Slimtv]

Correct. I have the 5100's. I don't have a lift and they are set at zero height. I have been very pleased with them over the 50,000 miles.

 

[05Moose]

I've got 95k miles on my 5100s and still very happy with them. Already they've outlasted the OEM shocks (SR5).

 

[Taco'09]

I have a set of the 5100s waiting to go on, so I am mistreating the existing 4600's to speed the timing (And no, the yellow/blue shocks that come new on the TRD OR are not the same as the aftermarket 4600s. In fact they are not 4600's at all. The aftermarket 4600's are much, much beefier and better).

You are going to hate me for this but last Christmas the site Jet was heavily promoting itself with daily discounts and discounts upon discounts, etc., and the vendor was offering additional discount on top of all that. In the end I got a set of 5100's for a paltry $126 delivered. It was one of those one-time, one shot events that I could not pass.

 

[Istoppucks]

I went with the 5100 s . I did the rear shocks myself with little issue and they seem to be fine. I had a mechanic do the front shocks and was surprised to find that the front of the truck lifted up 2 plus inches on the lowest setting . They are the correct shocks on the correct setting according to the instructions . Not sure why they lifted the truck. The truck looks very strange with the front lifted so high . I now have two options. Either buy different leaf springs for the rear to lift it up an inch in the back to level the truck out or pull the 5100 s out and swap with something else. On the performance side of the 5100 s the truck has an extremely stiff ride but also corners like its on rails.

 

[Splicer]

I went with the 5100 s . I did the rear shocks myself with little issue and they seem to be fine. I had a mechanic do the front shocks and was surprised to find that the front of the truck lifted up 2 plus inches on the lowest setting . They are the correct shocks on the correct setting according to the instructions . Not sure why they lifted the truck. The truck looks very strange with the front lifted so high . I now have two options. Either buy different leaf springs for the rear to lift it up an inch in the back to level the truck out or pull the 5100 s out and swap with something else. On the performance side of the 5100 s the truck has an extremely stiff ride but also corners like its on rails.

It's possible the spring cups may have been installed upside down. Can't tell you much more but others should jump in to help. I just remembered reading about it in this old thread -- sorry the pics are gone from it but it may give you something to look for. http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/6...-5100-s-ome-dakar-combo-somethings-wrong.html

Whatever the problem turns out to be, please post it here. It might save someone else the trouble! Thanks and good luck.

 

[ozarkie]

I went with the 5100 s . I did the rear shocks myself with little issue and they seem to be fine. I had a mechanic do the front shocks and was surprised to find that the front of the truck lifted up 2 plus inches on the lowest setting . They are the correct shocks on the correct setting according to the instructions . Not sure why they lifted the truck. The truck looks very strange with the front lifted so high . I now have two options. Either buy different leaf springs for the rear to lift it up an inch in the back to level the truck out or pull the 5100 s out and swap with something else. On the performance side of the 5100 s the truck has an extremely stiff ride but also corners like its on rails.

The cups are most likely upside down. Same thing happened to me.

I had mine replaced with Bilsteins a few years ago. Took the truck in to my shadetree repair shop I had been using for years. When I picked the truck up, it looked a bit higher in front but I thought maybe it was just because my old shock/struts were sagging. Got home and took a closer look and the d*mn cups were upside down. I took pictures of the newly installed ones and a picture from Bilstein and other sites showing the correct position. Went back to the shop and showed them to the owner. He agreed and we went back into the shop and showed it to the "ASE Certified" mechanic who installed them. The guy didn't say a word. I asked him if "he didn't know how to install shocks/struts, couldn't he do something so simple as lay the old ones out on the workbench and then assemble the new ones the same way??" Again, no comment. The shop owner had the shocks/struts reinstalled correctly, no charge of course. That was the last time I went to that repair shop.

 

[Taco'09]

I went with the 5100 s . I did the rear shocks myself with little issue and they seem to be fine. I had a mechanic do the front shocks and was surprised to find that the front of the truck lifted up 2 plus inches on the lowest setting . They are the correct shocks on the correct setting according to the instructions . Not sure why they lifted the truck. The truck looks very strange with the front lifted so high . I now have two options. Either buy different leaf springs for the rear to lift it up an inch in the back to level the truck out or pull the 5100 s out and swap with something else. On the performance side of the 5100 s the truck has an extremely stiff ride but also corners like its on rails.

Its possible that happened. There is a tread on TW that states the 0.85 setting raised it 1.5 inches.

The spring seat is easy to get upside down and even the pros do it, so check that.

Also if all the bolts are fist loosened during the job and tightened while the jacked is up it will load the bushings in a new position and when tightened will cause rather permanent lift as well. I've seen this done a number of times, and yeah, I've done it too.

 

[Istoppucks]

I think you guys are right about the cups. I compared other pictures I found of the struts and it appears the cups are on upside down . It didn t even cross my mind to look at that. Im sure thats the problem , and will take it back to the garage. Thank you all for your responses.

 

[ozarkie]

I think you guys are right about the cups. I compared other pictures I found of the struts and it appears the cups are on upside down . It didn t even cross my mind to look at that. Im sure thats the problem , and will take it back to the garage. Thank you all for your responses.

Here are some pictures of the bottom of the springs and the cup. The picture with the black cup showing has the cup upside down (my wrong installation from the shop). The picture with the cup barely showing at the bottom of the spring is correct. You can see in the correct installation, the end of the spring nestles in a lip on the cup bottom.

 

[Istoppucks]

Going by your pics mine are installed wrong . Thanks.