Please help me find these “strut” mount washers.

Okay so my top mount on one of my Bilstein 5100’s failed, and I believe it’s due to missing these washers. They are the ones that seat into the bottom of the upper shock mount. I can’t find them anywhere without buying a set of new stock shocks.

 

90948-02160 Toyota part number

My shocks didn't have that when a replaced mine. I just used the to cushions and washers. It's been fine for years like that.

 

Thank you!! You ROCK!!!!
Yeah I made it a couple years, then I found this.... I went ahead and pulled the other side, just to check, and it seemed to have held up ok. At this point, I’m going to fix both sides..

 

Wheelers has them, too:

 

I believe this is the same link you posted for me on a related thread, which I needed and purchased. So, thank you again for the link. Unfortunately, it did not include the center piece I’m looking for here. They talk about it on a short thread I found using the part number mechanicjon gave me.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/bilstein-5100-eibach-assembly-question.183179/

They may not even be necessary, but I’m not putting mine back together without them. Or at least buying them, and seeing how they fit with the bushings from your link.

 

haha, that was you...

glad that link worked for you at least once, lol

I see what you're talking about now... I wonder if that was just due to the rubber bushings wearing out. I don't remember that piece on mine when I did my 5100's either. I admit it has been a while, but I don't remember that piece...

If you haven't ordered the factory one yet, I bet you could use a fender washer or something.

 

I failed to transfer these from the Toyota Tokico OEM shocks when I installed the Old Man Emu (OME) suspension on my truck and had the same problem. The strut shaft moved around and wore out a notch the large circular top hat / coil retainer as well as wore down the shock shaft.

It's not to the point of failure as there is a lot of material left, but it has been clunking for a while.

I blame the OME install instructions that were photocopies about a BILLION times before I got a copy and they are barely legible. I triple check everything when I work on my truck and still missed this very important detail.

Recently, I disassembled the worn parts and installed the Toyota OEM spacer you seek and it helped a little bit with the clunking, but I know I'm just living on borrowed time before I need to replace the front struts.

 

Yep, I try my best to do everything properly, and seek out info before I work on anything. I just missed this, and I don’t think it was clear on my instructions either. (Toytec/eibach). I’m willing to bet there’s a lot of us out there without these “cushion retainer no.2” in their truck. Unfortunately, my shaft got worn to a point where I feel I should replace the shock.

 

@jbrandt @JasonLee @Dirt Sandwich @mechanicjon

hey folks. I’m pretty sure I’m in the same boat... no cushion isolator and worn top hats. I swapped out my 881’s and installed 883’s this summer and saw the worn top hats. I didn’t look for a retaining washer.

I found this thread and ordered the washers from toyota and KYB top hats from Amazon. The KYB top hats have the lower bushing built into the assembly and I don’t think I can get the washers to seat properly.

have any of you used the KYB top hats without the retaining washers? I might be able to fit them between the top hat and the upper bushing...

 

Never seen the KYB hats before. I wonder if those are designed for the KTB shocks...

The ones at Wheelers seem pretty good, though.

 

The kyb top hats have the bushing built into the top plate. I could peel the bushing out, but there is also a lip you can see in the pic below that would stop the retainer from seating properly.

I’m still waiting for the retainers to show up, so I’ll see how they all fit together on Monday.

 

Ok, so after waiting for the retainers I realized they don’t work or are for a different year or something. For me, they were too big to seat in either the factory hat or the KYB hat. I used the KYB hat with the bushing glued on as well. I’m currently running the way I was before this snafu because the retainers apparently weren’t the problem. I’m sorry I didn’t post this info sooner, it could have saved you a few bucks...

 

I’m not really sure what to make of this. The side that didn’t fail had a crack in the lower bushing, so it wasn’t far behind. I will say upon reassembly, I didn’t like how the smaller washer on the smaller bottom bushing fit, so I used the old upper larger washers on the bottom. It seemed to not deform the lower bushing as much. Time will tell. But I only got @ 25k out of the first set, so I’ll prob change theses bushings out every 20k, or at least inspect them frequently..

 

I hope I caught you before you tear up your new KYB hat, I almost did the same thing, but fortunately realized it would not have helped..
Good luck, and keep us posted..

 

So I ordered some KYB top hats as well as some MOOG top hats.

As far as I can tell, the KYB top hats come with the retainer and lower bushing installed. My own inspection and other threads seem to confirm this.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/which-rubber-strut-bushing.401481/



Underneath the bushing is a built in retainer clip. I’m not sure if it works as well as the original, but it is there.

The MOOG top hat is probably built similar to the OEM top hat and requires the separate retainer.







The inner diameter of the OEM retainer ring is about 5/8” and the KYB opening appears to be just about the same.



I’m planning to install the KYB mount because I don’t want to buy new bushings. Maybe I’m cheap, but I don’t think my bushings are shot. In my research I saw someone install extra washers just before the top but because he has run out of threads and could not torque the top nut all the way. I’m going to do the same and see if that keeps the shock stem centered.

 

That’s good info, Thanks! Might get the moogs next time, since I have the retainers already.