First Gen Strut Mount Advice/Suggestions - KYB SM5184's?

Hey guys, I've read through all the posts here about which strut mounts to use on the 1st gen Tacomas. I have a 2001 4x4 Ext Cab w/ 230k miles with the original struts I'm pretty sure... Truck has been in my possession for 2.5 years now and since I can finally afford it I'm going to give it an overhaul.

I do 3 to 4 months of offloading for work every year where I'm on some pretty gnarly sand/rock trails. Honestly surprised the suspension/balljoints/rack have survived this long.

Current Suspension Project/Work:

• Bilstein 5100's Second Perch
• New Stock Coils
• KYB SM5184'? or Rebuilt Stock?

• Ball Joints - OEM
• Streeing Rack & Pinion
• CV Axles

• Bilstein 5100's In back
• Firestone RideRite's
• AllPro Expo ~400lbs at all times + when offroading

I decided to go with

$38 KYB SM5184 - Strut mount

KYB SM5184's, through all my reading it looks like Monroes, Sachs, and Gabriel are the cheaper lower end, with MOOG being closer to a medium/higher end part (design like OEM). I saw KYB's being praised as far as a brand, and the SM5184's being recommended on many posts... but I haven't seen anyone actually give any experience review of them. Also, since they're no longer available on RockAuto, Wheelers, Summmit etc... I have my doubts.

I'm not sold on them. The only reviews I can see are on Amazon.. and I don't trust the few that are there. I also think the SM5184's are made for sedans, not 4x4 trucks. I also get the feeling they may have dropped in quality considering they are no longer available on the mentioned sites.

I bought the Stem Cushion and Washer Kit (bushing/washer kit) from Wheelers and an extra KYB Strut mount insulator to rebuild my original strut mount using the original top hat just in case the SM5184's fall apart or for 30 - 60K miles down the road (if she lasts that long).

Does anyone have any experience or a review to share of KYB SM5184's? Also take a look at them on Amazon.. some poor fella installed them with no top bushing or washer and uploaded a picture of the pain.

TLDR: Are KYB SM5184's trash today? Can they keep up with 4x4'ing? Would rebuild of Stock tophat/strut mount be better?

Thanks

CZ

 

I installed the

$38 KYB SM5184 - Strut mount

KYB SM5184's last March as part of my suspension refresh, purchased off Amazon for $33.59/ea. I've done only mild off-roading at my land in the year since, but I haven't had any issues with them or any of my other new suspension components. The mounts I removed were rusted and worn, but the KYBs seem comparable to the OE mounts from what I could tell.

 

Thanks Taco Critter. That's a sweet set up you got there.
Been using the site for years, but finally decided to sign up.

Thanks CrustyTaco. What Coil/Shock set up did you end up going with?
I can see some surface rust on the OEM plate, and I'm sure the hardware is going to need replacing.

 

Old Man Emu 2881 and Bilstein 5100 shocks on the bottom ring.

 

Reviving this thread because I need some advice with the

$38 KYB SM5184 - Strut mount

KYB SM5184 shock mounts. This is my first time assembling front struts. I’ve assembled my new Bilstein 4600’s with the KYB mounts, but they look different than my stocks and only have the stud nut supplied by Bilstein holding the mount on. Am I missing a bushing or washer?

 

Did your Billies come with washers and bushings? They should have. There should be, coming from the top of the center bolt, nut then washer then bushing then shock mount top. At least that's how I remember it. Here's what mine look like installed, just realize that they're in the vehicles strut mount so that's why it may look different at first glance.

 

Here's the order for 5100's, I'd imagine it's the same for 4600's. The strut mount top pictured in this I think is for a Second Gen Tacoma. I'm only using it to demonstrate the top components. I'll dig around for the lower half as well.

 

Your missing the bushings and washers that go on the shock rod. They come with the shocks tupically

 

Yeah you're missing bushings: This was me last fall:

 

This should be the order here.

 

Thanks for the quick replies. Neither the Bilstein kit or the KYB mount came with the bushings and washers. I appreciate the pictures, it’s a huge help. Currently trying to locate the washer and bushing kit.

 

Napa usually has a solid selection of bushing kits for shocks around here. May be worth a shot for you

 

Awesome! Thanks

 

I think went with the set that's on Wheelers that someone linked on this thread.

 

Here is Gen 1 - Wondering why everyone has that isolator under the spring support? I don't see it on the parts diagram, is that Toyota OE or aftermarket?
Maybe I had it but chucked it during a shock install.

Edit - Ok I think I get it, the KYB's are the replacement strut mounts. Whats the benefit over stock? The Amazon reviews on these are terrible.

 

My mounts were pretty rusted, 21 yr old truck life on the foggy coast. Typically when I do an overhaul I like to do it 100%. Stock ones probably would have held up fine if it hit it with a wire brush and some spray paint. The reviewers on Amazon page themselves are terrible, there's a guy on there saying "it didn't last 3 months," but in the photo you can see he didn't use the bushings or washers @scole3112 is asking about. Dude probably went out hard wheeling looking like @0xDEADBEEF 's photo. No bushing, no wonder it failed. I've had them on since September of '20 and been through the Mojave more times than I can count. They're holding up fine. I've got my stock ones just incase they fail some how.

Probably some people also don't want to take the old struts apart with a spring compressor and use the vehicle weight method with all new coils, shocks, and mounts, wouldn't recommend it but it's possible.