Shocks and struts for a city slicker like me?

I can't confirm or deny if the 1st gen Tacoma 4600 and 5100 front shocks share the same valving, but I have seen the question asked of Bilstein for a different application, and the response at that time was that they were valved the same (for that application). Obviously that doesn't mean it's true of all vehicle applications. Oftentimes Bilstein CS, in regards to these basic shocks, is rather generic with their responses, saying if it's lifted use X if it's not use Y. Not really addressing any use case or performance differences.

The article in the link was just too vague and had straight up inaccuracies. Hard to put much value on the information in it. Random specs (valving) without clear context is pretty worthless.

 

The guys at Shock Surplus seem to think they are different, but they don't provide any specifics. The 4600's are fine for a stock truck that spends most of its time on the road.

 

This information was directly from Bilstein and does not pertain to OE equipment Bilstein shocks.
The 5100 is for lifted trucks. The 4600 for stock ride height. Both valved the same (digressive).

 

Let’s say, hypothetically of course, someone were to go the Monroe Quick Strut route and later realize the error of his ways and decide to go with 4600’s. Would that person be able to use the springs and top mounts from the Monroe’s or would they be better off finding coilovers in a salvage yard or ponying up for new springs? You know…. Hypothetically…

 

My TRD sport came with I thought were 4600's from the factory but they are a smaller cheaper bilstein. If the shock you currently have are factory then I doubt they are 4600's. I bought real 4600's and there is no comparison.

Now if you installed 4600's way back bilstein does have a lifetime warranty of their shocks. If you think they are bad you can get then repaired.

https://offroad.bilstein.com/en-us/warranty/

I find the ride with the 4600's well controlled with just the right level of firmness.
very smooth on the highways. Had them on my older mustang LX 5.0 and even my Minivan.

This is a real 4600 rear compared to the factory "bilsteins". 4600's larger in diameter.




and this is a new 4600 strut with takeoff TRD sport springs and new strut mounts ready to be install in the spring.

 

Even though you're talking non-1st gen parts, this is a well known and documented topic. The factory equipped bilsteins have a smaller diameter body than standard 4600s. That's most posts you'll see are along the lines of "the closest you'll get to factory are 4600s".

 

You'd have to find out what length and spring rate the Monroe products use to determine if you could reuse the coil spring, and compare that against stock. I am not sure if the hardware swaps over. It seems like folks are having good luck getting 4600s pre assembled with moog springs from suspension lifts, so you may just want to price that out as an option. IMO, I wouldn't even consider reusing any garbage off a Monroe product.

 

But the original poster didn't seem to know that so I was pointing out the error..


"Should I go with another set of Bilstein 4600's (what came with the truck)"

...Since it didn't

And from previous posting the OEM shock maybe twin tube.
But whatever they are they are not the monotube 4600 series

..

 

Salvage yard I'd say nope. You won't know their condition and even if you got close there's still cleaning up and re-painting, all that fiddling about to save a few bucks.
Top mounts I'd always replace new, but suppose you could if they're not cracking.
As for the monroe's, I'd say "maybe" if you could get the specs on them and compare them to stock. If it's close, I'd still put new tophats and bushings (4600's come with bushings.)