Installation of the front Bilstein 5100 shock WITHOUT the use of a spring compressor and WITHOUT removing the four upper strut nuts.
Tools required:
To block the back wheels and raise the floor jack, use short pieces of 2×4 or 4×4.
The night before, spray and soak the following bolts on the driver’s and passenger’s side with Liquid Wrench or WD40:
1. eccentric cam bolts for LCAs (lower control arms)
Second, lower shock nut
3. It is secured to the spindle by two LCA bottom and upside-down bolts.
4. Lower bolt for front sway bar
Starting the installation:
1. Block the back wheels and loosen the lug nuts on the front wheels.
2. Place jack stands under the frame and jack up the front end. A jack can also be positioned at the cross member’s middle.
Take off the front wheels.
4. Using a 19mm socket wrench, separate the front sway bar’s lower bolt from the lower control arm.
5. Mark the eccentric cam bolts of the LCA (lower control arm) with alignment marks on both sides.
6. Use a floor jack and a 2×4 or 4×4 piece of wood to support LCA from underneath.
7. To allow the LCA to rotate a complete 180 degrees, loosen but do not remove the eccentric cam bolts on both sides. It will only drop 2 to 3 inches without removing the LCA eccentric cam bolts, leaving insufficient room for the removal and installation of shock. To get to one of the bolts, the skid plate might need to be removed.
8. Use a 22 mm socket wrench to loosen the lower shock nut. Do not remove the lower shock bolt; leave it in place.
9. If an impact wrench is not available, remove the two LCA bolts holding it to the spindle using a 22 mm socket wrench mounted on a 25 breaker bar. The bolts are located at the bottom and backwards.
10. Lift the LCA with a floor jack to compress the spring and shock. Remove upper shock nut, washer, and rubber bushing after spring has been compressed.
11. To release spring tension, slowly lower the floor jack.
12. After the spring has fully decompressed, slip the lower shock bolt out and remove it.
13. Remove the shock and coil spring assembly from the LCA. With one hand, pull the coil spring toward the brake assembly with the other hand pulling the shock downward. Shock washer should be kept.
Reuse the washer from the old shock with the new shock and assemble the coil spring.
15. Slide the replacement shock and coil spring assembly onto the bottom mount while the LCA is still supported by the floor jack.
16. Align the shock’s bottom with the mount, then insert the bolt. To help, use a rubber mallet.
17. Slowly raise the floor jack until the shock’s top threaded portion is inside the aperture, then guide the shock and set the coil spring in place.
18. Reuse and install the rubber bushing, washer, and new 19mm nut on the new shock once the top threaded portion of the shock has been inserted into the aperture.
19. To prevent the threaded component from turning, begin tightening the upper shock nut using a 19mm open end wrench and an allen wrench. If at all feasible, tighten the upper shock nut to 23 ft/lbs.
20. Use a 22 mm socket wrench to reattach the two LCA bolts that secure it to the spindle and tighten them to 221 ft lbs. In fact, 221 ft/lbs!
21. Reattach the lower shock nut and tighten it to 144 ft/lbs using a 22 mm socket wrench.
22. To reattach the lower bolt on the front sway bar, use a 19mm socket wrench and tighten the bolt to 89 ft/lbs.
23. Using the earlier-made markings, realign the LCA eccentric cam bolts, and torque each bolt to 100 ft/lbs.
24. Reinstall the front wheels, and using a 22mm or 7/8 socket wrench, hand-tighten the lug nuts.
25. Lower the floor jack and lift the truck’s jack stands out from under it.
26. For steel wheels, torque all lug nuts to 154 ft/lbs or 97 ft/lbs.
27. Drive the truck to an alignment shop sober and ask them to modify the alignment based on the following diagrams:
Caster = can be as low as +1.2 and as high as +2.3, not just within factory specifications.
In This Article...
Do Toyota Tundras have struts or shocks?
Although the Toyota Tundra’s shock absorber and strut assembly both serve as motion-dampeners, the shocks themselves are independent of other suspension elements like springs, housing, etc. Struts, on the other hand, combine all of these components of suspension into a single piece.
What is the price of installing shocks on a tundra?
Cost estimation for replacing the shocks or struts in a Toyota Tundra. Replacement shocks or struts for the Toyota Tundra’s suspension typically cost between $558 and $636. While parts are priced between $389 and $422, labor costs are predicted to range between $169 and $213.
When should OEM shocks be replaced?
Have you experienced this? When you visit your regular shop for a routine oil change, the mechanic remarks, “By the way, you might want to consider getting some new shocks and/or struts.
Your initial reaction is undoubtedly “Really? I’m curious how much that will cost. The question “How do I know if I actually DO need new shocks/struts?” might be your next one. The majority of us have no idea how long shocks or struts should last, therefore this is a really good question.
How Long Do Shocks/Struts Last?
Many different things affect this. Shocks or struts can be compared to tennis shoes. They will last a lot longer if you only use them on the weekends to go shopping than if you ride a skateboard, wear them every day, and constantly use the brakes on your shoes!
This means that if you drive less frequently, on smoother roads, don’t drive aggressively, and don’t haul a lot of weight in your car, your shocks or struts will last longer.
If your car has been well-taken care of, you may anticipate that the shocks/struts will survive for roughly 10 years. Five years is probably the maximum you can hope for if you’ve really treated your automobile like a workhorse. This indicates that the typical driver may expect the shocks and struts to last a maximum of 7 or 8 years.
How Do I Know If My Car Has Shocks or Struts?
The majority of automobiles and SUVs on the road today have shock absorbers in the back and struts on the front wheels. Your car might have four wheel struts or, if it’s an extremely ancient car, four shocks, but this is less usual.
You can always read your owner’s manual, which ought to indicate what features are installed in your car, or you can get on all fours and have a look. Shocks, often known as shock absorbers, resemble the shocks on the front wheels of bicycles. Struts are far more intricate designs that are enclosed inside a coil spring. This is due to the fact that struts are a crucial component of the front suspension.
Sure-Fire Signs You Need Shocks or Struts
Because they genuinely don’t recognize that their shocks or struts need to be replaced, some folks never do. How can you be sure without a doubt? Here are 5 surefire indicators.
Dipping Front End or Droopy Bottom
Does the front end of your automobile droop down like a curtsy before the queen as you pass over a speed bump or if you apply the brakes more forcefully than usual? That is a classic indication of front struts that are worn out.
Alternatively, does the back of the car bottom out when you reverse out of a driveway and the back wheel strikes the curb’s dip? Does it leave pavement scrapes? These are indications that the rear shocks have served their purpose.
Leaks
You can inspect your shocks and struts if you get a flashlight. Do you notice any liquid, often brown in color, dripping over the shock or strut’s bottom portion? This has a distinct appearance from, say, a leak elsewhere that is splashing on the shock. There shouldn’t be a splash of fluid on only one side of this leak; it should come straight down.
Be wary of dishonest mechanics who spray oil all over your shocks or struts before showing you the “leaking part.” As they drive home, ask them to wipe it off with a rag. Within a few kilometers, if it is leaking, you will see it again.
A Bouncy Ride
This is possibly the most typical of all the warning flags, but it’s simple to overlook because most individuals get used to how their automobile rides over time.
A quick test involves pushing or standing on the bumper, bouncing up and down a few times, and then hopping off (watch your step!). After another bounce, the car should come to a stop. It’s time for new shocks or struts if it happens twice or more.
A Loss of Control
When you make a curve or hit a pothole that you weren’t expecting, that is another warning indicator. It is likely that the struts are damaged if you notice any swaying or feel generally unsteady in the car.
An antiquated method to check for this is to drive the car while someone else follows behind. When shocks and struts are severely worn out, the car will readily start to bounce or sway from side to side.
Tire Wear and Vibrations
Although imbalanced wheels can sometimes cause steering wheel vibrations, worn out struts can also be to blame.
Your front struts’ condition can also be determined by looking at your tires. Tires with what is known as “cupping,” which appears as bald, circular cup marks, typically end up this way due to severely worn out struts. Although it’s less common with rear shocks, if you haven’t replaced your struts, it’s likely that the rear shocks are also worn out.
Which truck has the better Bilstein shock?
For the past ten years, the 5100 series has maintained a commanding lead among weekend warriors and offroad enthusiasts in the consumer offroad market. According to Bilstein, the 5100 zinc-plated monotube shock is better suited for lifted trucks, heavier-than-stock cars, trucks or Jeeps with bigger wheels and tires, and basically anything that has been changed and isn’t factory.
- Do not be misled; the 5100 shocks DO RIDE FIRMER than stock. In the event of larger wheels and tires (+unsprung weight), or additional offroad equipment, the 5100s are valved significantly firmer.
- The response will vary depending on the type of vehicle you drive; for example, a heavy-duty 3/4- or 1-ton vehicle will react differently to these shocks than a lighter Jeep or half-ton car.
- The 5100 Series struts can be raised or lowered by a little amount, often between 1.5 and 2.5 inches.
- Jeeps and raised trucks can use the 5100 Series, and some applications let you use it at factory height.
Which shocks come with the Tundra TRD?
Even though the TRD Pro series is fantastic, you should choose the Tundra TRD Pro if you want a large vehicle that can handle almost any off-road situation. As we examine every 2019 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Spec and feature, we’ll let you know more.
Suspension Specs for the Tundra TRD Pro
You will need a substantial suspension below you with lots of flexibility, adaptation, and strength if you want to conquer everything off-road. Fortunately for you, Toyota is aware of this and the Tundra TRD Pro is fully equipped.
The Tundra TRD Pro’s front shocks are 2.5 inches long and use sturdy 46mm pistons from Fox. The properly calibrated springs give 2 inches of lift up front for 1.5 inches more wheel travel.
Similar specifications with a second set of Fox 2.5-inch shocks can be expected in the back. With 12 bypass zones and 2.5-inch piggyback reservoirs, these rear shocks may extend the travel of the rear wheels by up to 2 inches.
Do you require an alignment after strut replacement?
Here are the responses to the query in brief
After changing shocks and struts, do you require an alignment? Yes, if the automaker advises an alignment following a replacement. Yes, if you made any modifications to your suspension that did not adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions.
What else has to be replaced when shocks are replaced?
It’s crucial for driving safety to replace your shocks and struts when they become worn out in order to avoid harming other parts of your car, such as the tires and suspension.
Various safety features are included in today’s cars to help with control, stability, and accident prevention. You are kept safe by a combination of systems including automated braking, anti-lock brakes, stability control, and traction control. In an emergency situation, your shocks and struts may not function effectively if they are in bad condition.
Getting Your Shocks & Struts Replaced
Whether you observe any of the aforementioned symptoms, get your alignment checked, or put on new tires, the best way to know when to repair your shocks and struts is to have a skilled technician check your suspension. Get your car’s suspension inspected at the very least once a year.
Replace front or rear axle shocks and struts in pairs at all times. It is even better to replace the shocks and struts on all four wheels at once. This keeps the vehicle’s handling and responsiveness on both sides uniform and dependable.
We always advise obtaining an alignment as well, following any suspension work. Wheel alignment of your car could also vary if your suspension is altered. Additionally, even little adjustments to wheel alignment can have expensive long-term effects (accelerated tire wear, more suspension problems, difficult handling).