Shock Replacement

Hey Guys
Toyota have to install a new frame on my 06 due to a perforation found in the frame after inspection for the rust recall on the 06 and I need some educated opinions on the following.
I spoke with the dealership and they were keen to point out that I could have anything else replaced at the time of the frame replacement and that it would only cost me the price of the parts.They seemed particularly focused on the shocks and I like to ask you guys "why the shocks".I have my own opinion but I'd like to hear it from someone else,before I tell them no thanks to the shock replacement.
Thanks in advance.
PS - 06 Tacoma,141,000 K original shocks I believe.

 

Bilsteins 5100 are very popular both front and back...and normally 50k miles is about the life of a shock absorber.

 

I read somewhere that you should replace your shocks every 80k, I don't know how true that is.. I usually run them until they start leaking or not controlling bounce lol

Why not replace them? Gotta think, they're 8 years old. 8 years of terrible temperature changes in BC is going to take its toll on them!!

Personally, if the option is there, and its only going to cost you the parts.. Why not! It'll probably ride nicer!

 

get a set with the lifetime replacement warenty then noi worries

 

shocks are designed to fail...sooner or later they will lose fluid, fail a seal, rust out and the like. Luckily, the struts our trucks use are cheap and easy to swap, and even easier to rebuild.

 

A set of back springs, OEM, is about 1,400, plus ubolts. I doubt they will not allow the use of non-oem parts, but I bet if you supply them, they will install them at your risk.

Howard

 

50,000 mile shock replacement interval? Is this true?

Certainly your road conditions and driving habits should affect the lifespan of shocks absorbers, right?

 

IMO they don't want to mess with the old ones. Much easier to put new parts on a new frame then remove old parts and install them.

Lifespan depends on many variables. There is no average lifespan to suspension because it all depends on variable conditions. One could find an average, but the curve would be crazy.

Only thing I can think of is that dealers charge triple what he could buy them for on the street thus free labor can = paying for labor

Please tell me how one rebuilds a Billstein 5100 or B56 OE shock? I threw mine away because they are not serviceable so if you have a trick no one knows about I'm all ears.

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yep also what you haul.

 

"Please tell me how one rebuilds a Billstein 5100 or B56 OE shock? I threw mine away because they are not serviceable so if you have a trick no one knows about I'm all ears."

The individual shock is NOT rebuildable...the STRUT can be removed from the vehicle and the be rebuilt by replacing the shock absorber assembly.

On the OTHER hand, most motorcycle shocks ARE rebuildable....

 

Thanks guys
My logic was that they would probably have to replace the fronts anyway at their cost,due to the fact that they will probably have to use heat to get to get the bottom bolt out of the sleeve.
They have offered to do any other work as well at labor charge only,provided it was some thing they had to remove anyway.They also said I could supply my own parts.

In the meantime I decided to have them order the shocks as I'd hate to be wrong and get it back with the old shocks installed.

Thanks to all.

 

There's a frame rust recall on 2006's ????? hmm I have a 2006 TRD .my frame been rusting mostly at the front corners cab mounts. no holes yet but I've been treating my with Eastwood copulating rust paint.. is there a link to this recall?

 

www.eastwood.com

They sell a wide variety of auto restoration supplies and materials...there is also the POR-15 chassis paints which are pretty good.

Howard

 

LOL sorry about that spell check auto corrected LOL

"encapsulating" is want I meant to say...

FYI it worked great.. so far no returning rust ...

 

lol..

 

Used to be recommended by some shock manufacturers that OEM shocks be replaced as early as 3,000 miles. The claim was the OEM shocks were of light duty and designed to give the ride a little more bounce to allow the new springs and suspension to settle into the factory ride height. Those manufacturers recommended "Heavy Duty" replacement shocks to replace the OEM ones. Though this thought made sense to me it also seemed a ploy to get more shock absorbers sold early on in a vehicles service life. I look for leaking shocks and do a bounce test or if the vehicle is handling poorly, lots of bounce when going over rough roads, body sway in turns likely is an indicator of a faulty shock. Shocks were never designed to do suspension work only to control suspensions oscillations, there are exceptions like air shocks which will provide lift to a vehicle or overload spring shocks etc. Remember a leaking shock can show up as an oil stain, wet looking, on the outside of the shock cylinder.

From 1968 to 1970 I studied vocational automotive in high school. The trick in those days was to buy some AC Delco air shocks, install them on the vehicles rear, put the air to them so it looked you were driving downhill and painting the gas tank and rear end white mostly. Things sure have changed.

 

Thanks for all the input guys.
Toyota replaced the frame in late March and I had them install new Billsteins as well as front wheel bearings.There were at least 3 Tacoma frames and 2 Tundra frames in the dealership waiting to be fitted,so its not that unusual I guess.
They replaced a whole load of stuff along with the frame,new top and bottom arms,bushings,brake
lines etc.The truck has 140,000 km on it (I,m the second owner) with a new frame with 15 year warranty and all I paid was
$2000 for shocks and bearings.The truck drives like new.
I don't understand why everyone, regardless of location is not being given this opportunity.

 

My Tacoma is a 2007 and i should have had those shocks replaced like you when they replaced my frame in February.
My Tacoma is now with 96,000 kilometers,and shoping for shocks right now.
It will cost me around 500 just for the work and alignement.
You made the right decision for sure.
You like those Bilstein 5100?
Thanks

 

Damn they got you!!!!! 2000 dollars that's ridiculous