SpeedyJ

Recently I installed the Bilstein HD's onto my 1998 4Runner. I did all four shocks and now at highway speed a side to side wobble occurs after a very slight road bump or steering wheel movement. This issue is worst at around 70 mph but also occurs anywhere above 50 mph. The wobble did not happen prior to the Bilstein shock install and no other modifications were made prior to the shock install.

1998 Toyota 4Runner
Front Bilstein HD shocks, PN#: F4-BE5-F332-H1
Rear Bilstein HD schocks, PN#: F4-BE5-2451-HO

I believe the cause of this issue is the front camber is off, as a result of a 'taller than intended' shock/spring assembly. My problem is I cannot figure out why the assembly is taller than the previous stock shocks. As seen in picture 5, the lower control arm must be extended about 3/4" in order to line up the lower shock mount to the lower shock eyelet. This seems odd to me, as the stock ones required only about 1/4" extension. Hopefully something stands out in my pictures as a cause to this issue.

I've attached pictures of the installed shocks and spring assembly- do these look correct? I am mainly concerned about upper bushings that mount the Bilstein to the top spring plate. Thanks in advanced for any advice.
Picture 1:


Picture 2:


Picture 3:


Picture 4:


Picture 5:


Picture 6:


Picture 7:

scuba

You need an alignment PERIOD if you change shocks/ struts/ coils on the front end.
Even you say the camber seems off. That should set off alarms in your mind telling you to go get the vehicle aligned.


Go get an alignment and then report back.

SpeedyJ

I called Bilstein and they said with the part numbers I gave them that the alignment should not change with the new shocks and therefore a new alignment adjustment should not be needed. They suspect that the shock/spring assembly is taller for some reason (they are also looking at these pictures now). I am wondering if anyone else has had this issue and found a solution?

smokey0066

Please keep us posted. I'm about to order up a set for my '00 can you tell me how difficult the job was? Can I DIY?

JWaldz

iTrader: (1)

1/4" isn't going to cause that... The problem has nothing to do with the assembly themselves and everything to do with what Scuba said. Get an alignment!! These are struts. It's not like just changing out the rears and calling it good, you're actually disassembling your whole front coils and struts which can cause some wheel misalignment at times, event if you can't see it. Everything in the pics from what I can tell looks fine. Just get an alignment see if that helps.

J2F42C

You need an alignment and a camber adjustment. I had to do the same on mine when I went all HD Billies in 2007 without any coil changes. Make sure to do it soon, or you will have to change out the CVs, or at least the boots, within the month after the inner ones rip.

Funny, my front shock was the HD 2450 HO. Once you get the adjustment, you should be OK.

SpeedyJ

@ smokey0066- The install was relatively easy. Some of the bolts were somewhat stuck after 245,000 miles! But nothing a 2 foot breaker bar couldn't handle. I rented a strut compressor (not their spring compressor) from Oreily's to assemble the front struts which worked well. Fitting the new front struts back into the swing arm required me to use the road side bottle jack to extend the control arms down. I put the jack between the upper control arm and the top of the wheel well. Seems janky but works.

I will try the alignment. Just wanted to check since I am also getting new tires and want the alignment to be good for the new (very expensive) rubber.

smokey0066

Speedy, can you tell me what if any problems you had prior that made you switch the shocks out? or was it just a preventative thing?

Not sure if you saw my post here but I'm looking to get Bilstein HDs as well on all 4 corners to correct a front end vibration.

thanks!

SpeedyJ

I had very blown rear shocks and went ahead and got all four. I have friends at an off road company in SLO and I asked them to order me the cheapest option for replacement and they got me some Bilstein HD's. The stock blown rear shocks made my rear end bounce up and down and side to side on the highway after medium sized road undulations. Turns out one of my front shocks needed replacement too, so after this alignment I think the truck should handle pretty well. I'll let you know.

SpeedyJ

Update- got new tires (Falken Rocky Mountain ATS from American Tire) and an alignment. Interestingly enough, the truck didn't wobble on the highway drive from the tire store to the alignment shop. Turns out my camber was fine but the tow was a fair amount off. Now it drives great except for a very minor wheel vibration from a slightly miss-balanced wheel. American tire will fix it the balance free of charge- great company in my opinion. The new Bilstein HDs AND tires are pretty stiff, which makes for an amazing time in corners but a slightly rougher highway ride. Overall, super happy with the set-up, and Ryan in warranty at Bilstein was a great help.