1996 Tacoma struts

[rustyrun]

Shop says struts are shot and is eating away 33" mud tires. Truck drives like crap. Has 4" body lift. As far as replacing the struts, I do not see a kit. To replace do you replace shocks, strut cap and bearing, etc or do you replace everything such as the upper control arm etc?

[ctesla]

your fronts (I take it yours is a 4x4) are the 'spring-seated' strut, meaning it comes complete as an assembly; strut casing, body, cartridge, and coil.
your rears are plain jane shocks, so any store would stock or order in some performance shocks and you could do yourself, but those fronts could take a hand or a head off.
and I do not think anyone makes a cartridge just to change out, so you'll have to buy complete;
plan on a Monroe or Gabriel top-of-the-line in the area of $60-110. each.
Edelbrock does not make an AIS or IAS strut, and there shocks for the Toyotas ('95-04) didn't make an overall sell in the market, so they are phasing out and selling through certain numbers (so even though I like there shock, wouldn't recommend, as once gone, no replacement or warranty), so maybe Bilstein or KYB might have something for your Tacoma, but would be even more expensive than the Monroe.
good luck,
hope this helps,
chris
nrt racing

[rustyrun]

Originally Posted by ctesla

your fronts (I take it yours is a 4x4) are the 'spring-seated' strut, meaning it comes complete as an assembly; strut casing, body, cartridge, and coil.
your rears are plain jane shocks, so any store would stock or order in some performance shocks and you could do yourself, but those fronts could take a hand or a head off.
and I do not think anyone makes a cartridge just to change out, so you'll have to buy complete;
plan on a Monroe or Gabriel top-of-the-line in the area of $60-110. each.
Edelbrock does not make an AIS or IAS strut, and there shocks for the Toyotas ('95-04) didn't make an overall sell in the market, so they are phasing out and selling through certain numbers (so even though I like there shock, wouldn't recommend, as once gone, no replacement or warranty), so maybe Bilstein or KYB might have something for your Tacoma, but would be even more expensive than the Monroe.
good luck,
hope this helps,
chris
nrt racing

Thanks for the help. Yes that is what I thought was the kit. When we put a 4" lift on it 2 years ago my friend had a spring compressor and we just slid new Rancho shocks in. Guess they wore out with the mudders cause the tires are aligned and are wearing badly. I will replace the hole thing. Thanks