2WD / RWD specific Bilsteins - front won't fit - spring pad too wide?

Hi there -

Hoping someone has had this issue or knows the fix - this is a RWD base not the 4WD so I believe it's slightly different.

I ordered a set of 4600 Bilstein's off Amazon - Rears went in fine, and the fronts were mounted by Mavis Tire (remind me never to go back) the wrong way. They had the L on the right, and the R on the left.. and also had somehow left the brake lines without screwing them onto the mount. Until the manager saw the work. Thankfully he checked it before giving it back to me.

The struts I bought were the correct ones for the RWD according to the Bilstein website (

$85 24-185066 Monotube Shock Absorber, Front, Right, 36mm , Yellow

24-185066 &

$85 24-185042 Monotube Shock Absorber, Front, Left, 36mm,Yellow

24-185042).

The mechanics are now saying the spring pad is way too wide - after mounting them and trying to give me the truck back. Maybe amazon sent the wrong one? Does bilstein stamp the code on the strut? I cannot tell now because the mechanic has the damn truck!

In a scramble I've gone with using the rears and Monroe quick struts which I really didn't want to do - so now I have some front 4600's with the apparently wrong spring pad.

Can these spring pads/perches can be purchased separately? Has anyone with the RWD truck swapped these in? They are wider than the stock struts.


Anyone know more about this? Any help would be awesome!

Cheers,
Chris

 

Is it a 5 lug or 6 lug truck?

 

▲ I'm sure this is where the problem lies. 5 lug shocks on a 6 lug truck or vice versa.

 

Yeap

 

It’s a 5 lugger. I think the issue is most online stuff is for the 6? Even against the VIN the tire shop managed to get the wrong shocks.
They’ve used KYB’s and I finally have it back and in action! Reused the springs.

I’ll keep trying to find the correct spring perch for the 4600’s I bought and keep them for the next job.

It seems there is far more clearance on the upper control arm on the 6 lug. So I must also have the perch for the 6 lug.

If anyone knows if the perch can be purchased by itself I’d love to hear. The 4600 otherwise works.

Besides that case closed I guess. Just happy to not have those guys working on it. I picked it up and the whole top hat hadn’t been tightened down. Another reason I’ll be doing my own work next time!

 

The 5 lug and 6 lug are completely different suspensions. You can't mix parts.

 

I understand however the 4600's I had bought originally were indeed the Bilstien recommend shocks for the RWD/2WD (according to their website) which is why I wonder if I was simply sent the wrong size spring perch?

$85 Bilstein 24-185042 Monotube Shock Absorber, Front, Left, 36mm,Yellow

Bilstein 24-185042 and

$85 24-185066 Monotube Shock Absorber, Front, Right, 36mm , Yellow

24-185066

Appreciate all the help. I have been looking all over for the bilstein perch but have nearly given up. The KYB's are in. It's just a shame that now have these brand new 4600 front shocks sitting here!

My question is can any spring perch of the same diameter swap in? Or only a Bilstein one. Is it a propriety system

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-lifting-your-5-lug-guide.518620/page-6#post-18303044