What coil overs/struts should I get for my 253k truck?

Value and quality is what I’m trying to weigh out here. Gabriel is the lowest I’m willing to go at 67 a piece. Kyb is like 123, which is pricy as hell. Are Gabriel’s junk? I just want my truck to not feel like complete shit when I hit a bump. Any insight or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I always get the best advice on this site.

 

Bilstien 4600 would be a good upgrade.

 

Man those are expensive af though. Ya I’ve put those on a blazer back in the day. I was hoping to get a deal on some from a lift fudd on marketplace, but Pickens are slim on there.

 

Better look again. Check Amazon.

 

I'd go with KYB over Gabriel or Monroe.
KYB makes pretty decent stuff.

 

Yeah, I'm seeing a set of for for $315-$365
Not too bad.

Unless OP is talking about the coil assembly?
Which includes springs and new mounting hardware?

 

I'd wait and see what deals Hotshot Off-road runs on the 5100 kits tomorrow. @memario1214

https://hotshotoffroad.com/products/5100-0-2-leveling-kit-16-22-tacoma

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/hotshot-offroad-black-friday-sales-check-em-out.846708/

 

Ty for your suggestions fellow volunteer. I will do this. Ya I’m looking for the whole assembly. I put a remanned engine in last year which has given it more life, but it’s definitely not OEM. Now I’m just looking for bargains rather than sinking tons of cash into it.

 

If you don't wheel it.
KYB will work.

The 5100 kit doesn't come with springs. So you'd need to go to 6100's.
And the are going to cost a good bit more.

Monroe isn't bad. But they are a minimum for me.
I'd rather have KYB. I ran them back in the day when I was fooling with Honda cars.
Never had an issue.

Gabriel is better than a "busted shock".
If you can't afford anything, it is "ok".
If you can afford something else, I'd suggest something else.

 

Gabriel’s are more expensive than the Monroe’s which has me confused. They are 94 where where the Monroe’s are 67
Will I have to do an alignment after I do this?

 

Maybe.
You may have to loosen the lower control arm bolts to get the assembly out. And that will affect alignment.

You might be able to pry down on the control arms enough to get them out. You’ll just have to see.

 

I just stepped on the LCA my coilover dropped right out, didn't want to mess with my alignment

 

I just went through the same thing in rebuilding a gen 1 Tacoma on a budget. I went with the KYB Gas-Adjust. No regrets.

 

If you want value and quality 6112/5160 is probably the minimum of that realm.

that is why they come stock on some vehicles and people still upgrade from there.

many vehicles nowadays come standard with shock reservoirs.

A shock without a reservoir is not going to be better than one without.

my 6112/5160 leaves stuff to be desired. But at this point I am not a software engineer at Google so I cannot justify higher than that, nor do I feel like I would get dollar for dollar smiles per dollar if I was to spend more on better. There is better.

better would probably be rear relocate and Fox 2.5 adjustable of some sort.

 

Even though sellers have grown hip to selling take-off suspension and the price has gone up, you can still find very low mile 3rd gen Tacoma take-offs for relatively cheap. Years ago when I did our 2006, I got a set of nearly brand-new take-off coilovers and shocks for $150. Even if the price has doubled (and in most cases, it has), it's not a bad deal for a budget build. Or higher end suspension often shows up in the classified section here if you're patient.

 

But third gen shocks won’t work on my second gen.

 

That might be the case if you had a 5-lug (not 100% sure). Your profile says 4x4, so you have a 6-lug. They will fit. Virtually no difference between 6-lug 2nd & 3rd-gen frames/suspension.