Rear shocks: easy to change?

Looking at them, it looks like there'd be nothing to it. Am I right?

Also I keep hearing the name "BILSTEIN" thrown around, are these the shocks I want? The local parts stores don't carry this brand, they carry Monroe Gasmatic, but again the Bilstein seems highly recommended. (The truck is a stock prerunner 2WD with no plans to ever lift it.)

How about an online source for said shocks?

Thanks!!!

 

Easiest job there is, as long as they aren't rusted on permanently. PB Blaster those bolts before you start.

Rock Auto (online) is a good source, and many people have a great experience with them.

Make sure the rubber bushings come with the shocks, and grease them up a little to make installation a bit easier.

 

Perfect advice!^^ Also, Wheelers Off-Road has pretty good selection on Bilstein shocks & other stuff too. Good customer service there. Good luck!

 

Yep easy as cake. Bilstein 5100s

 

mine were a fuckin PITA!!!! north country winters/salt sucks!

 

Because you have a second gen and they use a different mounting style to the frame.

OP is 1st gen 2wd, FYI.

 

yea, its still supposed to be easy in theory, 1 bolt and two nuts...

 

Okay, I think I'm gonna order some 5100's from Wheelers. Thanks for the pointers everyone!

Now as for the struts, those are a whole 'nuther question, as far as PITA factor, yes?

 

For the front I would do this- http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/211535-billstein-5100-easy-install-method.html
its not bad at all though I have to admit I do not know how your 2wd 1st gen compares to my 4wd 2nd gen.

 

Okay thanks for the help, guys! I FINALLY got my Bilsteins this afternoon (back ordered), and even got the rear ones installed before it got dark.

It was definitely not hard! AND I finally got an excuse to use the air ratchet I bought last year! Having that little trinket on hand REALLY made it easy.

One last question: I was wondering, IF I had wanted to lift the truck, how would I have done it with these shocks?? I didn't see any kind of adjustment on them.

 

Please dont do this. Maybe I did it wrong but I almost killed myself and the guy next to me. Either way, stick with spring compressors . With an air ratchet, its actually not that difficult to do.

 

You can only get height adjustment on the front shocks. Lifts in the back are usually done with blocks or add a leaf or a new leaf pack altogether.

 

AH, okay, that explains it, thanks. Like I said, I'm not lifting anything,, just curious.

StAndrew, not to worry, I'm gonna have the front ones done by a pro. If I could wait a couple months til I had the time, I might just try it myself, but these old shocks are TOAST, and I don't want to wait. They have 277K miles on them!

 

Correct. If you didn't lift the rear yet, you might want to think about taking the 5100's off. They aren't designed for stock height and you will run the risk of breaking the shocks, specially if you off road .

Dont get a pro. They are easy. Go to your regional thread and see if someone near by can help. Besides the coil compressor, its just 4 bolts to remove and one to take apart.

 

Huh, what?? Bilstein says they can accomodate 0-3" of lift. WTF?

 

For unlifted trucks you need to get the custom sized shocks (5150). With 5100's you can reach max compression without a lift, causing them to potentially fail. At least thats what I hear

 

I'm curious about this as well cuz I wanted to rock 5100's on stock height too....

 

Your info conflicts with Wheeler's page: The 5150s are remote reservoir shocks. I think both 5100 and 5150 are "custom" sized for the 1st gen Tacos, as Bilstein's vehicle selector doesn't list them.

 

Don't forget(for 1st gen at lest) the driver side rear shock is a little longer and ment only to go on driver side.
That's to fix the taco lean.

 

I had to cut the stud off the tops of the rear shocks on my 30k mile 05 so I hear you. But I put Bilsteins in my "new" 96 last week and the rears took all of 10 minutes to install. On a 250k mile new england truck too! And if the OP isn't planning on lifting the truck the regular HD's are fine. No need for 5100's if you aren't going bigger. My 96 is the 3rd 1st gen I've put Bilsteins in. They are a little stiff but they handle SO much better than stock shocks. Especially originals with 250k on them!