94 toyota pick-up truck front shocks

[papason]

I want to replace my front shocks and because of the cost and what some shops are saying, I am wondering if there is more to it than it looks.

I am not all that dumb about mechanics but not sure of myself enough to just go ahead with this and mess up the alignment.
It looks like they just bolt on top and bottom nice and simple like the old days. shops are charging lots of money to put on and some say it will need aligned afterwards.

So, does anybody know? Thanks

[Kyle4130]

id recomend bilsteins. they are gas pressure shocks. you should be able to do it your self, they are just bolt up. lift it up on some jacks and go away at it.

[sassee]

Don't get me wrong....Bilsteins are nice, but what do you do with you're truck papason? If it's any everyday road truck, go to Advance Auto and get Monroe shocks for $15 bucks each. It'll actually ride smoother than Bilsteins. Bilsteins are great if you are going to run the Baja 500, but they are too stiff for everday driving on a truck that light! Not to mention Bilsteins will put a big dent in your wallet! Installation is as easy as it appears, nut on top, bolt on bottom. ' might want to spray them down with some WD40 first. You may wind up either wringing off the nut on top or HAVING to wring it off. I've had to cut the darn things off before on jeeps and other full-size trucks!

[Kyle4130]

Originally Posted by sassee

Don't get me wrong....Bilsteins are nice, but what do you do with you're truck papason? If it's any everyday road truck, go to Advance Auto and get Monroe shocks for $15 bucks each. It'll actually ride smoother than Bilsteins. Bilsteins are great if you are going to run the Baja 500, but they are too stiff for everday driving on a truck that light! Not to mention Bilsteins will put a big dent in your wallet! Installation is as easy as it appears, nut on top, bolt on bottom. ' might want to spray them down with some WD40 first. You may wind up either wringing off the nut on top or HAVING to wring it off. I've had to cut the darn things off before on jeeps and other full-size trucks!

ive heard those shocks are for cars and besides that paying $15 for shocks is just rediculous. why not spend the extra $40-50 and have them last for a good while and not have them blow up on you. $15 shocks...wow...

[sassee]

Don't anyone take this personally..................

If you want to spend a few hundred dollars on Bilsteins just for the priveledge of saying you have Bilsteins, then more power to you!! Without knowing much about the model of truck, there's not really anything intellegable to discuss. I'm assuming it's a 2 wheel drive everyday truck. If it's a 4x4, the shocks will cost a whopping $19.95!!! I have those on my king-cab 4x4 and they have 65000 miles on them and still rides like new. (by the way, the total mileage on the truck is 195,000). I put Monroe shocks (from Advance Auto) on my K2500 Suburban, still rides excellent. Why spend the extra money if you don't need the extra performance???

Now......if you have a 4x4 that sees a lot of 4-wheeling action, step-up and get some better shocks. I have Rancho RS5000's on my Jeep, but that's only because I abuse the crap out of it!

Yeah those shocks may crossover to a car. I bet the battery probably fits in a car too. Come to think of it, the alternator does also. Etc, Etc, Etc.

[Kyle4130]

Originally Posted by sassee

Don't anyone take this personally..................

If you want to spend a few hundred dollars on Bilsteins just for the priveledge of saying you have Bilsteins, then more power to you!! Without knowing much about the model of truck, there's not really anything intellegable to discuss. I'm assuming it's a 2 wheel drive everyday truck. If it's a 4x4, the shocks will cost a whopping $19.95!!! I have those on my king-cab 4x4 and they have 65000 miles on them and still rides like new. (by the way, the total mileage on the truck is 195,000). I put Monroe shocks (from Advance Auto) on my K2500 Suburban, still rides excellent. Why spend the extra money if you don't need the extra performance???

Now......if you have a 4x4 that sees a lot of 4-wheeling action, step-up and get some better shocks. I have Rancho RS5000's on my Jeep, but that's only because I abuse the crap out of it!

Yeah those shocks may crossover to a car. I bet the battery probably fits in a car too. Come to think of it, the alternator does also. Etc, Etc, Etc.

ya im not saying you have to run bilstiens. yes there are other shocks you can get. ranchos or pro comp, i just thought that 15 shocks seems like a bad idea. whatever works for you i guess.

[sassee]

Base your parts on your expected use. Yes, on my Jeep, I do trail rides and some rock climbing. I have high-end shocks (and other related parts) on it. I wouldn't dare use the same 19.95 shocks like on my toyota. Likewise, I have absolutley no need for high-end Ranchos on my toyota. 95% of it's usage is on the highway. The Monroe gas-charged shocks on my toyoya and my suburban exceed O.E.M. for both vehicles. Same scenario.....I have 2 Optima Gel batteries in my Jeep. Absolutley no need for a single one in my toyota. Optimas $140 each. The one in my toyota, $34.95 from wal-mart!

[papason]

I am glad both of you replied to this. Thanks.

Especialy good that the info cam out about choosing the right shockm, or any other item, for the application. I was not familiar with the blistiens but would have learned of them before buying and would have founnd for my needs the "cheap" ones would work. Others reading might not have. It is great people post on these forums. Nearly all the comments are useful.

I went with the cheap by the way and work fine. this truck occasionaly hauls a load, but not often. When I pack my motorcycle and camp gear it does ride lower than I would like.

[sassee]

Air-Shocks or stiffer leaf-springs for increased ride height (or a lift kit) Bilsteisn, Ranchos, Old Man Emu.......none of those will help with ride height under a load.