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Suspension recommendation?

Discussion in '1st Gen Tundras (2000-2006)' started by flodahjit, Jan 31, 2023.

  1. Jan 31, 2023 at 2:02 PM
    #1
    flodahjit

    flodahjit [OP] New Member

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    Hello everybody,

    I'm starting to feel the wear and tear on my 210,000 mile suspension. Ride is getting rough, sometimes shakes when coming to a stop, etc.... I would like to get all four shocks, front springs, and ball joints upper + lower. I was wondering what the general consensus was on a good value for replacement. I checked rockauto for the bilstein 4600s, and those seemed to be the highest quality offerings. I was confused because it did not specify cab models on rockauto, and I know things get finicky between RC, AC, and DC when it comes to part numbers. Worse case I'll order OEM toyota everything, but wanted to check here first. If anyone can make a recommendation, I would appreciate it. Cheers



    tundrashocks.jpg IMG_4900.jpg
     
  2. Jan 31, 2023 at 2:40 PM
    #2
    shifty`

    shifty` Is the Gila Copter a love machine?

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    flodahjit[OP] likes this.
  3. Jan 31, 2023 at 2:45 PM
    #3
    shifty`

    shifty` Is the Gila Copter a love machine?

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    PS - @flodahjit before I forget and you screw yourself like too many others have....

    Whatever you do only buy OEM lower balljoints AND get fresh hardware.

    Aftermarket balljoints from everyone, including Moog, have been known to snap unexpectedly on the Gen1 Tundras. Likewise, torque is known to stretch/stress the bolts making re-use a risky proposition. Toyota knew this was a high-stress point and over-engineered the OEM LBJs to be beefier than required. Aftermarket didn't bother.

    For which hardware/bolts to use, check this thread for the Spiker shootout test.

    May as well just order UBJ and LBJ from Toyota.
     
    flodahjit[OP] likes this.
  4. Jan 31, 2023 at 4:01 PM
    #4
    flodahjit

    flodahjit [OP] New Member

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    @shifty` Thanks again for the wisdom! The door has been great ever since I replaced the latch, huge quality of life upgrade. I'll go ahead and order the bilsteins from rockauto and the UBJ and LBJ from the online toyota parts website. Would you consider replacing springs or just run the old ones with the new shocks? Probably not something you can gauge without seeing the truck but I would imagine the service life on that front spring is way longer than the shock. Toyota doesn't seem to have them available so it would be a random set from rockauto if I decided to order them.
     
  5. Jan 31, 2023 at 5:34 PM
    #5
    10 blue trucks

    10 blue trucks New Member

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    I think the front springs last quite a while, the rears depend on how you have loaded the bed over time. I have 300k on my stock fronts and they don't sag, and ride great. I'm in a 4wd v8 so my springs are not likely identical to yours. My rear leafs are not near as supple as they used to be, but they have carried a lot of heavy cargo.
     
    flodahjit[OP] likes this.
  6. Feb 1, 2023 at 7:46 AM
    #6
    flodahjit

    flodahjit [OP] New Member

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    @10 blue trucks that's what I was thinking. Most likely going to take the old spring/strut assembly to my local shop and have them swap the bilsteins in so I dont blow my face off trying to compress the springs myself.
     
  7. Feb 1, 2023 at 10:21 AM
    #7
    shifty`

    shifty` Is the Gila Copter a love machine?

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    Smart move. Honestly, I'm shocked (no pun intended) I still have all my teeth and a skull with less than a half dozen fractures.

    A lot of us who are older on the forum know someone who pokes a lot of fun at the younger generations or does it themselves. Stuff like, "Back in my day, I did XYZ and it didn't kill ME! Y'all are just soft! Your generation can't do nothing!"

    The reality? A lot of us were just stupid as shit for doing what we were doing, or oblivious/ignorant of what bad could happen back then, but like a leopard chasing a pack of gazelles, we were the lucky one that didn't get picked off each time.

    You have nothing to prove to anyone. Lack of confidence gets people hurt more than lack of safety concern. I've said it before here, I'll say it again: I've loaded/unloaded enough struts in my lifetime - always with the shadetree method - that I know I'm a lucky dog, and another shot is just risking that cheetah taking me out next.

    No need to do that specific work yourself, unless you have more time & experience than money.
     
    DarkMint and 1lowlife like this.
  8. Feb 1, 2023 at 10:32 AM
    #8
    Icepuddle

    Icepuddle New Member

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    So your saying don't be this guy, :) gamble.jpg
     
  9. Feb 1, 2023 at 10:38 AM
    #9
    shifty`

    shifty` Is the Gila Copter a love machine?

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  10. Feb 1, 2023 at 10:48 AM
    #10
    Icepuddle

    Icepuddle New Member

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    Damn!! He's gonna be singing a different key in the church choir
     
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  11. Feb 1, 2023 at 10:55 AM
    #11
    shifty`

    shifty` Is the Gila Copter a love machine?

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    Some say he's still squirming, holding his bag to this day... :rofl:
     
  12. Feb 1, 2023 at 1:37 PM
    #12
    flodahjit

    flodahjit [OP] New Member

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    Yup I am not afraid to take something to the shop, especially with exams coming up and a currently fractured skull from a sports injury. I'll still feel good about it if I install the struts after having my guy load the new shocks into them. That dude in the video is probably sterile after that one, great inspiration to have my guy at the shop do it.
     
    shifty` likes this.
  13. Feb 1, 2023 at 8:21 PM
    #13
    NickB_01TRD

    NickB_01TRD You don't need less cars, just more driveway.

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    Yeah don't do it yourself. I did and I probably won't do it again, at least on a truck spring anyway. By the time it got sketchy I was already in it and figured I should just get it over with.
    20211022_183933.jpg
     
    DarkMint likes this.
  14. Feb 2, 2023 at 9:48 AM
    #14
    shifty`

    shifty` Is the Gila Copter a love machine?

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    This is me just drawing a straight line off the spline on the head of the bolts. It's INSANE how much flex and stress those bolts are under.

    I typically try to clamp across at least 5-6 coils with one of those, if possible. The farther you can logically distribute the load, the less strain you're putting on the bolts.

    But if it were me, doing stuff on trucks, I'd probably just drop the coin on this kit from SPC.

    upload_2023-2-2_12-48-59.jpg
     
    des2mtn likes this.
  15. Feb 2, 2023 at 10:07 AM
    #15
    des2mtn

    des2mtn Third Member

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    shifty`[QUOTED] likes this.
  16. Feb 2, 2023 at 6:42 PM
    #16
    nickrick78

    nickrick78 New Member

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    I wonder whether the SPC or the Eastwood compressor would work better for our trucks.
     
  17. Feb 2, 2023 at 9:24 PM
    #17
    NickB_01TRD

    NickB_01TRD You don't need less cars, just more driveway.

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    Yeah it went from old strut to new strut very quickly. No lollygagging.
    If I ever do new struts again I'm doing preassembled.
    Yeah that'll probably be the last time I do that. On a truck for sure. Maybe a car one day if necessary.
     

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