2000 4Runner SR5 - Shock/strut replacement?
 

Hi all,

I have a good feeling that my shocks are done and are in need of replacement. I am showing typical symptoms of wear (steering wheel vibrating at 60mph+, etc). I have also noticed that when I hit a small pot hole it bangs and sounds pretty hard and loud.
My truck currently has 130,xxx miles, I bought it with about 70,xxx miles and I'm pretty sure the previous owner never replaced these parts.
Please let me know if you agree with my diagnosis... and if so please let me know what parts exactly should I be purchasing for this job.
I usually buy OEM parts.... but please let me know if there are any aftermarket parts worth considering.

Any and all other advise is appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Marcelo

That's really hard to diagnose via armchair. Have you ever had the ball joints (lower especially) replaced (look up lower ball joint failure)? What do the sway bar links look like? How are the a-arm bushings? Are the shocks original or have they been replaced? That's for starters...agree it's likely steering or suspension based on age/ description/ maintenance- or both.

A quick way to get you looking in the right direct is to get an alignment done, any loose or worn parts are going to make the alignment un-repeatable. Usually the shop will tell you what the issue is. Any issues with the lower ball joints will show up. Loose sway bar links will cause a noise beyond what they are. A few weeks ago the nuts on the links of my 2004 were slightly lose and it sounded as if the front of the truck was going to fall off. Re-torqueing them made it quiet.

Tires may need balancing.

That mileage for original coil over shock isn't that excessive, depending how it was used. My Taco has over 600000KM's and has had them replaced twice. If you are going to replace them go directly to Bilstein units. The 4600 series are a great OEM replacement. While you have it apart you might as well throw a new set of coils at it too, either OEM or OME. Replace the upper isolator/mount as well. Funny thing is I was talking about this today after following a guy with Rancho 5000's on his Chevy and I recalled how God awful my truck rode with these. (My 83 really rode rough!) Not that there is anything wrong with the Ranchos it's just they are horribly stiff shocks and probably work great on a heavier full size truck.

Other than the bizarre lower ball joint arrangement the front suspension on these is fairly durable, however it is a bit wishy washy.