Shocks and Struts

I’m needing to replace my shocks and struts on my 2018 Toyota 4 runner SR5.

I want decent ones but not ones that are going to break the bank.

any suggestions?

 

5100 or eibach..

 

FB marketplace for used OEM. If you want to do a lift, we need to know what type of wheelin' you do. My ALF has the entry level Dobinson shocks and struts on it. 110,000 miles and a bunch of hard wheelin' rock crawling on them. I go to Moab every year and push my 4R to it's limits. Most of the guys I off-road with have some sort of Dobi suspension. A Dobi suspension does nothing great (ride, handling, off-road capability, etc.) but it does do everything very well. I think it is a good compromise for daily driver and weekend warrior duty. I will buy another set when (if?) the time comes.

I have my factory shocks and struts laying around here someplace.

 

Thanks for your response! I’d like to buy new so I know exactly the life they’ve had and I don’t really do any wheeling at all, if ever. Maybe a few dirt roads from time to time.

 

Do you dislike the stock shocks?
I got a set of new take offs cheap. The stock ride may not be perfect but is servicable.
These off a 2022 I think. Gives me another 50,000 miles and then I will see what is available. So far pavement and some dirt roads. Nothing rocky and no high speed dirt. Wife says ride smoother than her Honda.

 

I'd be fine with stock - I guess I can call my local Toyota and see what they're going for.

 

Got mine from classified on one of the 4 runner forums. I think $160 total for both front & back.

 

Do you by chance have link to the other forum?

 

I got a screen shot-

 

It might help your search to know 4Rs don't have struts. Coil over shocks in the front, standard in the rear.

 

Did you buy the IMS version or the yellows? When the time comes I think I may replace my IMS with the cheaper yellow Dobinsons. The IMS have given me a phenomenal ride, and seem good after 70k miles, but they’ve gone up in price quite a bit since I got mine. I think @Chris In Milwaukee has the yellow versions and seems to be happy with them.

I know IMS is rebuildable, but eh, twice as much work unless you have two sets of shocks to rotate out, so you don’t have to have downtime while they get rebuilt.

edit: to the OP’s question, buying a set of clean/newish take-offs from somebody that’s upgrading is a good idea. It eliminates the possibility of having to deal with a ride you don’t like or changes in height you don’t want. Even simple replacement suspension you buy from the tire shop can end up changing things up more than you want.

 

My biggest pet peeve is that even toyota calls the fronts “struts”. I didn’t wait all my life to have a vehicle with actual coilovers to just have Toyota take that away from me lol. I have coilovers, yo!

I think even the cheaper aftermarket replacements you’d get from a typical shop are called “quick-struts”

 

Hi everyone, not sure if this is the exact right thread, but I'm hoping for sone front coil/spring input.

I've currently got 5100's all around with a warn 8k winch and low pro bumper (added front weight). I'm wanting to level the front, with some slight rake (ideally), but not sure the best plan of attack. Between the research I've done and the shops I've called it seems the best method would be a spring lift rather than using the c clips on 5100's. Does anyone have any spring recommendations for someone looking to level the ride with some moderate front weight? I was thinking Dobinson 59-302, but shop was thinking one of the OME options, probably 2885 or 2884.

Appreciate the help.

 

The stock shocks on my 18’ are still good. I actually like the softer ride. They also perform well off-road but I drive around big rocks rather than over them.

 

I would think different springs aren’t necessary in your situation, if you’re happy with your current spring rate. If you can still add a bit more ride-height using the c-clip, that’s what I would do. Especially if you’re just talking about a little adjustment.

 

The C clips are already on 1.75" so to max them out still may not yield the desired height. I've also read that with the added weight some performance is compromised since the OEM springs are already being compressed more than standard. Thanks tho.

 

Understood, makes sense.

Dobinson coils are nice, as they don’t sag over time. They have lots of options for spring rate and coil length too. Make sure to accurately estimate your weight so you’re not oversprung or end up too high.

Dob lift estimates for each coil are based on the three-row 4runner which is much heavier especially towards the rear. So you might end up a bit higher than expected if you dont account for that. This bit me with my rear coils. I overestimated my weight needs and ended up too high.

 

Thanks, that's really good insight. If I am just doing the front springs, would the 3rd row piece of what you said above be null? The consensus seems to be the 6k winch and lo pro bumper is about 150-200lbs.

 

My two cents I'd stick with IMS if I were you. I have a buddy with the Nitro Dobinsons (yellow) and the ride quality is noticeably worse. We've driven eachothers rigs a few times and he talks about upgrading to IMS each time...

 

Another opinion: 6K lb winch is arguably not enough if you're pulling up hill or out of mud. 10k minimum.
My C4 low pro and Warn 10k weighed in at 160.. But you lose 20lbs of factory weight when removing the crash bar, fasteners, and plastic. Net gain was 140 lb. Still significant since the weight is all the way out front.

If I weren't adding weight and didn't want to lift I'd have gotten some TRD Pro take-offs. They ride smooth and the front shocks are extended travel.

Since I added weight and do a decent amount of off roading I did the IMS extended travel and love it. It's not as soft riding as the stock stuff but a huge upgrade from the other shocks I have experience with (OME, Bilstein 5100)

I've boiled it down to these options in the past...
On road focus: Elka or Bilstein 6112
Off road focus: Dobinsons IMS

 

I got a set of 4600’s all around. Not planning to lift or anything, they’re solid.

 

Yes I think it’s fair to say that the third row weight is going to have a negligible impact on published ride height vs. actual for the front end. And if your front dampers have an adjustable seat height, you can further fine tune it.

One thing I’m not sure about is if dobinson front coils work on the bilstein shocks. You can talk to crickey mike at Exit Off Road and he’ll probably know.

By the way, if you decide on buying different shocks, I’ve been super happy with my IMS shocks. If the coils are well matched to your actual weight, the 4runner will ride like a heavy well-controlled luxury European touring car. They’re a joy for daily driving if you appreciate that type of ride-quality. They feel wonderful on old farm roads with dips and side to side rolling surfaces, and they absorb choppiness very nicely. Firmer than stock, but not harsh and always well controlled. I hesitate saying that “handling” is any better when referring to a lifted 4x4, but handling is also better lol.

The IMS are also fine for the medium to slow speed off road I do, good damping characteristics overall, except for fast-rebound during “rock crawling” situations. For example, if a rear tire drops off quickly (like slipping into a hole), the rebound seems to be under-damped and just kinda extends under the force of the coil with a solid thunk. It’s hard to get the circumstances just right for that to happen, but it’s annoying when it does. Not sure if other shocks are any better in this regard.

Thanks for posting this!!! I was wondering about how the yellow dobinsons compared to IMS . I was contemplating replacing my IMS when the time comes with the yellow versions, but maybe I’ll just save my pennies.

 

I'm with you on the 6k winch. I got this 4runner used and the previous owner was not the smartest. Put on the lo pro bumper and 6k winch yet changed the wheels to 20" rims...
I'm trying to correct all this now. Do you know roughly what the lo pro bumper weights? I'm seeing about 75lbs and the 6k winch is another 75lbs. Also, have you had to take the lo pro off ever? The winch I have doesn't even work and I suspect to fix the solenoids I'd need to take the front bumper off to access.

 

C4's low pro weighs 70-75lbs. My Warn VR Evo 10S weighs 75 lbs.
It's worth upgrading while your there imo. Same weight but much stronger and likely more reliable.

It should be relatively easy to unbolt the lo pro bumper and take it down. It just attaches to the frame rail with a few bolts. I've never removed it but I did the install myself in an afternoon. Did the bumper, winch and light bar all together and haven't had to remove it since.



^My father who, at the time, thought I had lost my mind for cutting up my new 4R...
He later admitted he was jealous and bought himself a 5th Gen

 

No worries! I've heard good things about Apache's AX2 shocks. Comparable to IMS but a bit cheaper.

 

How many miles do you have? Are the shocks leaking? The stock shocks seem to last a really long time.

 

when i bought my 2022 TSE, i started changing things out with <100 on it. Lol

 

I do, and I am. I have developed a clunk in the right front one, but at 110K on the vehicle, I reckon it's time. I'll put the same ones back on. Price is right and ride quality is great.

 

Blind shock testing on 3rd gen Tacoma, which has similar front suspension as the 4Runner:

Low-budget:


Mid-budget:

 

It has 79,000 miles. It's riding way more rigid than it used to, does not absorb bumps, the steering feels like I'm all over the road, and when I turn to the left, the front coilover squeaks. I would have thought this all indicated I needed the shocks and struts replaced.