What is this? and how do I return it back to stock?

I got this 99 Tacoma a year ago and it had been lowered by someone before, but it seems like a really crappy job. I want to put the original strut assemblies back in it and bring it back to normal height. So I bought a pair of strut assemblies. it says

$73 171352R Suspension Strut and Coil Spring Assembly for Toyota Tacoma

171352R on both of them (they told me they were not side specific, is that true?)
HOWEVER, the big problem is when I went to pull the old ones out, they look nothing like this and the thing where you would normally mount them, doesn't have the 3 bolts like these. WTH do I have? and what do I need to do to make make this thing normal again. I hate this crap they installed in here.

 

that because your Tacoma is a 5 lug, what the store sold you is for a 6 lug. bring those back and tell them you have a 5 lug Tacoma. I don't know much about lower trucks but is that what the original owner did, then it is possible that the springs were also cut too. you would need 2x shocks, 2x springs. I could be wrong.

 

You know you have a 5 lug right? Lol parts store gave you 6 lug

 

5 lug? I'm not talking about the wheel, I'm talking about changing the springs. the entire. Strut assembly with the shocks in it already compressed. Although now that I did a little research, it looks to me like this is what's called coilover (why the heck did they put that in this car? I don't think they come like that).

This is the part that I got (which was supposed to be what was in it originally)
http://dgzmd7u6z2by7.cloudfront.net/partimage/STS/MNSTS00072/large.JPG

 

A 6 lug Tacoma and a 5 lug have COMPLETELY different suspension. A 6 lug uses the kind of "coilovers" that you bought. A 5 lug uses the kind that's installed on your truck.

 

False. The pictured coilover is for 4WD and 2WD "PreRunner" models aka 6-lug:



You have a basic 2WD model aka 5-lug:

 

as anthony250f said the suspension in a 6 lug taco is completely different than the 5 lug.

 

Are you sure your truck was lowered? You know some of them come like this stock, right?

 

ugh... I'm starting to hate this already. So I'm basically screwed, this is gonna cost a fortune or something. I got these online, and it didn't say anything about how many lugs. So where can I find the right coils/shocks for this? I just want it back to normal height.

 

well it had lowering blocks in the back, and I pulled those out
in the front, I assumed they did something to lower that because the springs seem shorter and it is VERY low. The tires rub pretty badly when you turn.

 

so that means it was lowered. so your options would be call the place you order those coilovers and have them return and tell them you need ones for a 5 lug Tacoma.

 

why would they have lowering blocks on the rear axle if they didn't do something to lower the front?

 

Post a pic of the truck...also....make a thread on here...I'm sure someone would practically give you some shocks for free

 

pic of everything, someone with a lowride Tacoma should be able to help.

 

Rockwell springs to restore original ride height are less than $75 on Rock Auto for a pair: http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=1831008&cc=1357578&jsn=20

You may or may not need new shocks. Basic Monroe shocks are $30 on Rock Auto for a pair: http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=118117&cc=1357578&jsn=10562

 

I will take more photos at daylight but I'm really bummed I didn't ask this earlier. I just thought a 99 Tacoma is just that. but I can see how the 4x4 model might be different. Now I guess I need to sell this pair of strut assemblies because I got them on Ebay, I can't return them.

and I really appreciate the help everyone.

 

^That does look lowered. Body looks clean, though. If the frame isn't too rusty, then it seems like a good truck.

 

no rust at all, this is Arizona. very dry, no salt. Body isn't totally perfect, but not too horrible. I was really hoping to pop those strut assemblies in there and take it to an alignment because the alignment is so bad, it's eating up my tires on the inside and I need it to get to work.
So then I just have to get the springs and shocks and put them in there (hopefully without killing myself)... I did watch videos about how to use a jack to take them out without killing myself. Those springs from Rockwell do look about as short as the ones in there now, maybe the shocks are bad in this one.

 

Drop spindle? whatever the heck that is... I'll have to google it. I have no idea.