What is going on back there?

So, at 18,500 miles my right rear shock decided to puke out most of the fluid that was inside it. After replacing both rear shocks, I noticed some significant rub marks on both sides. Actually, the driver's side was worse so far as the rub goes. What would cause this? The roughest terrain it's been on is maybe a total of 10 miles on rutted (dry) gravel road at low speed (below 25 mph). Otherwise it's been a street queen/highway cruiser. Pulled a 6x10 utility trailer with brush on it a total of 40 miles (20 miles empty, 20 loaded). Once I did drive it 900 miles with maybe 4 or 500 lbs in the bed plus me, the wife, and luggage up front. What I'm trying to say is, as trucks go, this one has been very lightly used, so I'm not sure why I'm seeing this, or if it's even something to be concerned with?

Driver side:


Leaking Pass. side:


Leaking Pass Side 2nd mark:

 

Is your truck stock ? Lifted ? Larger tires ?

 

Same year, same shock! I did notice any rubbing on my shocks but I'll check new ones just to be sure.

 

The rubbing is from that plastic sleeve. That sleeve flexes and moves.

 

It is stock, no lift. They did put TSS wheels and Goodyear Duratracs on before it hit the dealer lot.

 

I hadn't thought about that sleeve making the marks. But I can't think of anything else that would be making contact either.

 

The sleeve marking is fairly normal. As for leaks, the black shocks are the cheapest ones that Toyota uses. Their average life is about 35K miles.

 

That is one thing that surprises me, as the rest of the truck (and Toyotas in general) are built for the long haul. The shocks on our 4R made 50k before they turned to mush, but I figured that was more from me overloading it a few times when going camping than age/mileage.

I went with a pair of KYB Gas A Just in the back (Bilsteins were all out of stock in my area, and I needed it fixed quick). They seem a tad firmer than stock, but hard to tell for sure, as the old DS shock I took off was pretty soft, and PS was obviously junk. We'll see how these new ones hold up.

 

I had my rear right shock leak at 5000 mile. I was dumbfounded how a lightly used truck can have a leaking shock already. Toyota was going to replace it with the same shock for free under warranty but I opted out and just installed Bilstein 5160 in the rear.

 

I was surprised to see how many others have had the same experience. I figured I just happened to get the odd bad one that broke.

The wife was giving me a little stink-eye for not trying to get it fixed under warranty, but I imagine they'd only replace the leaking one (and not the pair) - with another cheap, crappy shock. Headache and inconvenience of scheduling a time, drop off, and pick up just wasn't worth it to me for this particular part. The dealer I bought from is 45 mins to an hour away, and I don't trust the closest Toyota dealer to me (10 minutes from home) after they botched the airbag recall fix in our 4R. I wouldn't let them change the oil in my lawn mower. Anyway, rears are easy to change and it gave me an excuse to get out in the garage and wrench a little.

 

Agreed. I didn't want to waste my time at the dealership for another crappy shock. Hopefully your new shocks won't give you any issues!