mkgarrison5

with factory regular tacoma 4x4 shocks,, how can you tell if you need new ones?? at 84k miles mine feel fine?? just askin

Ringmaster

If they have spewed oil out onto the body of the shock/axle is a sure sign their shot.

Otherwise run em.

gpcollen1

There is a difference between worn and blown. I think ringmaster was describing blown.

I would tend to believe that your are worn at 84k. How much is acceptable to you is up to you to decide. You can tell by the ride you are getting, how much lean you get on corners (to an extent), tire wear....

At 84k, I would replace them.

mkgarrison5

they dont feel bad.. feels like a damn truck haha.. the tires only have about 20k more miles on them.. the steering shakes just a tad (its a truck for godsakes) the tires wear evenly, i dont get rattles or squeaks, and the lean when i turn isnt too bad. those trucks are top heavy and lean quite a bit anyway

etan

they should be fine... but if you switched they would make a big difference. my friend changed his and boy it rides way better. its stiffer but not as bouncy and doesn't sways through corners as much anymore.

gpcollen1

I have seen your 'its a truck' reference before but to me it does not make much sense. If it makes you feel better riding around with steering wheel vibration and worn shocks that are causing premature wear on your tires and other components then that is fine. Did you have that from day 1?

I got my 4runner at 30k and it was still riding like a dream. Got some vibration in braking and replaced rotors and pads. Did the Shoes too. Started feeling a bit more bounce and stray when riding the parkway to work, so I replaced the shocks.

Yeah, you may have a truck that you can run into the ground over a long period of time but Maintenance (and PM) will get you many many miles out of that truck, and you don't just have to accept it not riding and running like new. That is why you see people replacing steering and sway bar bushings, end links, sway bars, and every other goddarn thing on these trucks.

mkgarrison5

it feels the same now at 84k miles than when i bought it at 52k miles over a year ago..... to me if feels like a truck.. trucks dont ride like cadilacs. there is little vibration in the steering. no more than when i bought it. brakes have 30% left on them and the tires about the same..........


-- what kind of shocks would be good to put on?? OEM?? i keep mine factory speced no mods at all.. what would be a good road and decent off road shock that wont break my ass?? lol