Shock Replacement

I have a 2007 Tacoma that is lifted slighty. I bought it that way, all stock otherwise. I do not know the brand of the lift, but it does have spacers above the front shocks. My truck still has the original Blue/Yellow bilstein shocks on it and i'd like to replace them when I do a few other things. What does everyone recommend for a good replacement? I have very basic knowledge when it comes to call of this stuff, so i'm not sure what would work with the way my truck is lifted, etc.

Thanks for the info, and for bearing with me lack of knowledge.

 

take a look at the big ones, Icon, Fox and King all three make a great shock. Make sure to read the directions when installing them

 

Are you looking just to lift the truck for the looks, or will you be doing any off-roading?

 

I'd get another set of Bilstien yellow/blue shocks. They are hard to beat.

If you are in a bind go with KYB shocks. They hold up pretty good as well.

 

It depends on the conditions you will drive the truck in. I wanted Kings or Icon's or another "tunable" brand but I live in Wyoming where the undercarriage of the truck as well as the shocks get "sandblasted" 5+ months a year. I went with OME Nitrochargers because they have a sealed shaft against the elements. After just two winters here my OME's look like they are 10 years old but still work fine. No way an open shaft shock would survive through even part of a winter here. King and Icon along with other high quality shock makers need to realize the market share they are missing by not providing a shock that will last in the frigid north where sand and salt are used 5+ months a year for daily drivers. The interstates up here are as bad as parts of the Baja 1000 during the winter. It's like off-roading at 0 degrees on serious washboard at 20 or 30 mph with sand blasting the shocks the whole way. Not every vehicle needs a shock for 100+ degree weather for the cooling. DD's don't have the time to rebuild the shocks every 6 months or up here, even less than that I would surmise.

I know ICON has a cover to protect the shafts but I highly doubt it would work where I live. The front, coil over covers, yes. But not what they make for the rears and a "wrap" around the coil over just isn't as reliable than a factory made and designed shaft seal. The last time I checked anyway. The OME's I have ride pretty stiff because they are a load carrying shock. I don't carry heavy loads so it's kind of annoying. They are working quite well after almost 2 years though. Love the OME's but it would be nice to have a better ride. OME needs to either build a shock that's tuneable for the vehicle, the climate and the road conditions or ICON, KING and others need to build a shock that is tuneable with a sealed shaft made for "up north" conditions. The average store bought shocks have just become garbage for any serious use these days. They may work in the south on a car but are worthless on anything that really abuses a shock.

 

Now that I posted my rant? Many here on the Taco forum like their Bilsteins. Many like me like our OME's. I'd go with either one if I were you if you just want to install them and forget them like most people do. The higher end stuff is for "toys". Not the average daily driver and weekend off road warrior. The higher end stuff also has the much higher cost to go along with it because the performance is so much higher. OME or Bilsteins are expensive when you compare them to the NAPA or Autozone Monroe or Gabriel shocks but as they say, you get what you pay for.

From what I have read here on this forum the vast majority of Taco owners that use their trucks for work or part-time off road play are running Bilsteins or OME for a reason. Even those who are very serious off roaders are using them. With either one you can bolt them on and forget about them.