What are the best struts for a 1st Gen?

I’m looking into some new struts for my 2005 Tundra. Any recommendations out there????

 

Depends on what you want to do, how deep your pockets are, and how far down the rabbit hole you want to go. And they’re not actually struts, they are a coil over shock assembly. I just picked up some Bilstein 4600s for my ‘03. Will be reusing stock springs or looking for some replacements based off some recommendations on this forum. The 4600a seems to be a highly regarded regular use shock setup for 1st gens. Good luck going down the rabbit hole....it sure is fun!!!!

 

Most people here recommend bilstein 5100 or 4600s. I personally have 5100s, and they ride great, but I don't do much offroading, mostly hauling.

 

I just put 4600s all around on my ‘03 and they seem nice, very stock feeling, my truck is all stock. I’m sure they’ll last a long time too.

 

5100s if you want a lift at a cheaper price, 4600 for oem level quality

 

I’m still running the original yellow 4600 shocks and struts @ 280,000miles in my ‘04. I think it’s time for a new set, a friend recommended I go with a cheaper replacement (KYB gas-a-just) but I think I’m just going to slap on another set of 4600’s

 

Those KYB were a nice replacement to my 4600 originals replaced at 70kmiles.

4600 nice

KYB nice (plush soft ride)

5100 are nice (firm yet smooth). I put these on after the KYB with 150k miles (80k use). They tow/haul very well and as mentioned above offer a lift for the front which I choose the one notch up from stock. Gave about 3/4” frontal lift. Nicely priced and a quality.

Any of the 3 above are a good choice/value. Its a matter of what you want. If I could do it all over again I’d do the 5100 since new.

 

4600 and your original coil springs, that's the best combo for general purpose use.

Bilstein has stated that the 4600 is the smoothest riding shock they make for our trucks, and I don't believe the spring rate on the KYB is up to spec for these trucks.

The UBJ and UCA were replaced soon after this picture was taken.

 

I’m leaning towards the 4600. What about the install? Is it fairly easy to do or is it worth the few hours of labor for a mechanic to put on?

 

It took me about 4 hours with no help in a very cramped garage for all 4 corners. Not bad, but a helper would have been good. The lower front shock mount was a bit of a fight to line up, hold in place, and slide the bolt through. Needed 3 hands. It saved me about $350.00 in labor. I used a strut assembly, so no need for me to swap springs though. That will add time to the job if you go that route.

 

Bilsteins are a good choice. Install is easy.

Just in case you want to install them yourself:
Off the top of my head you will need a pair of needle nose pliers, 10 and 12 mm wrenches, 14mm socket, hammer, 14mm wrench, 19mm socket, ratchet, and 19mm wrench. Takes about 20min-1hr per side. Disconnect brake line mounts/abs sensor with 10mm and 12mm wrench. Disconnect sway bar with 14mm. Then use needle nose to pull out cotter pin on upper ball joint. Take off with 19mm socket or wrench. (Might be a 21) hit with a hammer until it breaks loose and frees up the lower control arm. Take off lower shock bolt with 19s. Pull off 3 14mm upper coilovers bolts. If you cannot finagle it out bust loose the tie rod too. May need to loosen (Do not take out) lower control arm bolts to let lower arm and spindle swing out of the way.

 

Does Toyota not make the TRD off road shocks that are supposedly tuned to give a slightly more comfortable ride that the 4600 Bilsteins or the OEM just overpriced?

 

Not sure if I will answer your question directly, but with the TRD Off-road Package my truck came with 4600’s and the heavier ‘Tuned’ TRD Coils Springs on the front.

 

Depending on what you want; 4600 for a stock ride, or 5100 for a bit firmer and the option to level or lift- I kinda wish I’d gone 5100 since I like a firmer ride, but I don’t regret 4600.

Install in my case wasn’t too bad, but I’ve done a number of shocks and struts before. I did have to do some cutting due to rust. I had to cut the tops off the rear shocks to get them out, and I had to cut the top off one of the fronts to get the spring and top mount off.

You’ll need spring compressors, a variety of sockets and wrenches, and a torque wrench.

 

I could’ve sworn the TRD shocks were designed specifically for Toyota and not available directly from Bilstein. I’ll have to look back on TS but I remember members making comparisons over the different types available.

 

Yeah. My 2002 brand new truck looked like these 4600 pics. Thats all I got for you. I did learn here that the TRD OF Package was the Heavier Spring with the Fancy Colored Dots saying so.

Was there a shmancy shock available back then? I have no idea.

 

I was under the impression that the RED & BLUE TRD shocks were 4600 Bilsteins with red paint, but then I read that the Toyota shocks have slightly different valving and a smaller piston.

I have been using 4600 series on Toyota trucks since before the Tundra was released, 1st was a 4x4 T100, then my 4x4 '02 Tundra, and also on my '07 Tundra that is 4x2. Great shocks!

 

@Rex Kramer I’ll have to read up on it. I do remember others talking about the red/blue vs. yellow/blue.

Right now I need to spend two hours on the phone with the IRS looking for a department that doesn’t exist in their phone listings. I’m hoping today will be a better day than last time.

 

The Toyota branded Bilsteins are much more supple in the ride department and the Bilstein 4600 are geared more for payload and towing. There is a crystal clear ride difference in my opinion. Both work very well but are valved differently. Call Bilstein and they will confirm this...

 

Just had a closer look at my shocks this afternoon. Still rides good but i think it’s time.

 

It's time to replace them when the rubber bushing at the bottom of the shock start to crack... you may as well replace your sway bar end link bushings while you are at it.

 

This light blue shock top is jarring me mammaries. I think I had those back in the day. Are those the TRD ‘Tuned’ Shocks?

 

TOKICO?

 

Those are the TRD off-road 4600s.

Tokico is a completely blue shock, I don’t think tundras got those

 

I just had 5100s put on in the front (3rd notch) and rear, and they're awesome. It's pretty level (maybe 0.5" or so lower in the front). I didn't change anything else, but I'm a pavement driver, so I didn't want to spend any extra $$$ on new springs, LCAs, UCAs, etc. Install was about $330, but it was worth it. The rears would be very simple, but I didn't want to mess with compressing the springs and just wanted it done. I landscape our yard and wash our cars, so I figured I save plenty of money throughout the year to justify it. Haha!

 

The folks at 1A Auto have a pretty informative video on changing the front coil overs on our trucks. There video doesn’t involve changing the springs over, but it is pretty step by step and high quality.

 

To people who don’t want to swap the springs themselves a lot of shops will do it for 20-40 bucks if you bring all the stuff

 

That's great advise, and you really should continue using your original coil springs as long as they are healthy.

 

My go to is show up at a shop near the end of the day with a 30 rack and all the parts.

I went to Sachs after my 5100s started leaking with about 25k on them. The ride is much better than it was but I'm also running OME 2885 coils.

I'll just say stay away from the Monroe quickstruts, they're cheap for a reason.

 

Op

Did you end up replacing your suspension? I went with 5100’s all the way around. Install was not bad, a few seized nuts that I had to cut off. Truck rides much better now and is level with the second notch on the front struts.