Rear Shocks

Hey guys, I was looking into getting some new rear shocks and was looking at either Bilstein 5125's or Icon 2" VS Series. I have a 2004 Tacoma and I do a lot of driving on roads but also do a lot of off road driving in mud through different fields as I use this truck on the farm, just wondering if the Icon's would be worth the extra money for what I use my truck for. Thanks!

 

Honestly, On my third set after trying some others, very underrated.

$78 for the pair.

 

Sweet, thanks!

 

Icons are better but double the price. Ive run 5125s for a while and im happy with them. If im gona spend big money on shocks id get longer ones and relocate mounts.

 

Thanks for the input guys

 

5125 and relocated and its also a farm/daily/offroader

 

if im not mistaken..... those shocks are upside down....

 

http://www.truckspring.com/blog/post/2014/05/28/can-i-mount-bilstein-shocks-upside-down

 

Nope.

 

so im not mistaken? kk

 

Depending on how the writing is on the shock determines which way is rightside up

 

from what i understand, the casing(reservoir) holdes all of the oil of a shock. and the other end is the shaft that has the plate that travels through the oil. the reservoir is supposed to be at the bottom to hold all the oil there so the shaft can immediately come in contact with it. other way around, the shock goes into an air pocket where it's less effective. or something to that affect.

 

Not really a problem on most nitrogen charged or gas cell shocks.

 

Exactly now if they were hydraulic shocks then yes it might be a problem

 

My truck is an 04 though but still a 1st gen with Bilsteins

 

Yep my boots are on top on both of my shocks.

 

Mine look like this. The exact opposite

 

huh.... another weird thing about having the boots on the bottom, regardless of functionality, is the potential damage that can occur. when I lost a leaf on my rear springs, the broken off part swung out and crushed the shock just above the weld of the cylinder. having the boot on the bottom exposes a more sensitive part to hazards.

http://www.truckspring.com/blog/post/2014/05/28/can-i-mount-bilstein-shocks-upside-down

and coming from a parts specialist and apprentice machinist, don't take Fords example as a good example of anything. they have some of the stupidest ideas and lots of problems....

 

This has nothing to do with ford its coming from bilstein and with gas shocks it doesnt really matter which way but if you like your labels rightside up thats how you install them and since this has nothing to do with what the op is asking i think bilstein shocks are a good bang for the buck.

 

Interestingly my 5125s came with the labels facing opposite directions. . Soo I mounted them shaft down. My previous 5100s I mounted boot up and it collected alot of rusty water and in the course of a year or so the shaft seal suffered.