gish

hi all, I'm new to the 4runner game, as my wife and I inherited a 1997 4wd 4runner limited from her brother recently. Needs some maintenance work, but I'm getting confused from what I am reading and researching regarding the suspension.

Specifically, does the front suspension use shocks or struts?? searching parts on tirerack and shox.com, you'd think shocks because that is what comes up for my car (i was planning on just getting tokico shocks from shox.com). threads discuss replacing the front "shocks" as well. But then i've seen other threads use the term "struts." (I am assuming everyone is using the terms properly.) More importantly, the computer at the local shop that will be doing the install states that my car requires struts in the front.

i'll be bringing in the truck later this week so they can confirm one way or the other, but would like to know beforehand so i can sound somewhat knowledgeable.

thoughts? maybe LTD and SR5s use different setups, as well as 4wd and 2wd models?

97ltd4x4

Technically they are struts up front(spring wraped around dapening componant)...shocks in rear.

I have a 97' limited 4x4 as well,I put HD bilstiens up front,truck handeled flatter around turns,way less nose-dive on stops,not as harsh as I though they would be...gives it that euro feel..they are great! I also put an addco bar up front after the struts and made it even better handeling..

Keep in mind, my vehical does not go offroad if I can help it,lol

hross14

I used the edlebrock shocks out back and like them alot also--i do believe they have struts for the front also though.

I give it a two thumbs up rating

GSGALLANT

If you're trying to keep the terminology correct, 3rd gen 4Runners don't have struts, they have coil-over shocks.

A strut combines the primary function of a shock absorber (as a damper), with the ability to support sideways loads, and eliminates the need for an upper suspension arm. This means that a strut must have a more rugged design, with mounting points near its middle. Struts are typically only used on vehicles with unibody design.

3rd gen 4Runners have double wishbone suspension, with coil-over shocks.

...and your assumption of everyone using the terms correctly is wrong. Struts are a term that get used incorrectly on here all the time.

gish

cool, thanks for the info guys. just called shox.com too, they said the website will use the term "shocks" generically. so it looks like struts up front, shocks in the rear! i'll take a look at the bilsteins and edlebrocks, thought about the addco sway bar too. we'll see, i do enough modding on my other car....

GSGALLANT

They might use the term shock generically, but in the case of a IFS 4Runners, they are correct in calling them shocks and not struts. I explained that above.

gish

"Coil-overs" - that's the key. Thanks. Makes sense now, apparently coil-overs look like struts but are indeed shocks. See last description:

http://www.hitachi-hap-la.com/Tokico...cts/index.html

gish

a ha, "coil-overs," that's the key. now I understood. and according to tokico's website, coil-overs look like struts, so I guess that's where the confusion comes from.

http://www.hitachi-hap-la.com/TokicoGasShocks/products/

thanks for the clarification, this certainly helps a lot!

SoCalPaul

I had this same discussion with the "tech" that did my front Bilsteins. I called them coil-overs & he called them struts. Of course he also installed them incorrectly