Is the stock front shock on my 97 4runner also called a strut? Or, is the strut a separate component. The strut is built into the shock's housing, right?

When shopping the web for new front shocks for this truck, I often see pics of shocks that don't have the strut housing...what do you do with those?

 

Yes, the fronts are struts, aka coilovers, or coilover shocks. The actual shock is in the middle of the assembly. To replace the shocks the struts have to be disassembled, which requires a spring compressor.

 

thanks for the quick reply
-so, after disasembly, I should be looking at 3 separate parts?

-coil spring
-strut
-shock

Let's say I buy new bilstein shocks for the front:
Am I replacing just the shock and re-using the original strut, or does the new shock housing have the strut built in so that I am down to 2 parts instead of 3?

 

no theres only 2 parts the spring and the strut

 

here this should give u a idea

top ones are struts

 

Thanks Elton.
I've only had this truck a few weeks and don't even have a Haynes manual or FSM for it yet. I can't seem to find any write-ups regarding strut replacement -should I assume it's the same as a lift install?

 

the fronts are a snap i done all the shocks on my truck with very basic hand tools took me around a hour to take out the struts heres a how too http://www.4rnr.net/suspension.html

 

thanks - I'll post up my results after I get my shocks & do the install.

 

It is a little confusing but it is a shock and you treat it like a strut for replacement. The diagram shows a part called suspension support. This piece is held down by the nut on the top shaft of the shock which is why you need a spring compressor to remove the shock. If you just undid the top nut the entire force of the spring would be released and that piece would disapear through your roof (or teeth). The only hard part is lining up the 3 bolts in the piece since they attach it to the truck with the lower bolt mount. If you don;t get it right then you recompress and turn the shock a little and try again. Some people have reported success with attaching the 3 top bolts and using a bar to turn the bottom into position.

 

4Runners don't have struts.

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.

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

 

Well, I did all for corners on Saturday, and it is all much clearer now. One front shock was completely shot, but the others weren't too bad. The front was pretty easy compared to the rears! The upper nut was "rust-welded" on each rear shock, but I was able to snap them clean off.