I just bought a 2002 tacoma and it has 145k miles on it with the factory shocks on it. I had it inspected by a toyota dealer as i bought it out of state and couldnt inspect myself. toyota said it all checked out minus it needing front brakes. after purhasing it and bringing it to my local (and well trusted) firestone maintenance shop - they said it had the factory shocks (front and rear) on it and immediately upon pulling it into the bay saw it rebound excessively over a small bump. a test ride and they said it needed new shocks all around. toyota claims they dont need to be replaced until they leak or fail a bounce test. anyone have any info as i'm stuck in the middle between the two and dont want to pay the ridiculous $120 inspection to Toyota if they missed something!

thanks!

 

recommend replacement of automotive shocks and struts at 50,000 miles!

 

There are 2 ways vehicles parts are replaced: parts that don't give notice before failure, those are replaced with time or mileage intervals, and parts that do give notice.

A tire gives notice, by drying out or having less tread. A shock gives notice by the bounce test. Should you replace a part that didn't give you notice of failure yet? Probably not. Someone selling you the part won't agree too often though.

 

It's just shocks it won't hurt to change them.

 

thanks for the feedback guys. just frustrated that toyota says they are fine and firestone swears that they arent. trying to figure it out with toyota whether or not i pay them, or they missed something as firestone said they failed a bounce test. thanks!

 

take it to a shop that you don't have to buy the shocks from and ask them. oh and tell them your gonna put them in yourself.

 

Bounce test is the best way to check. My new shocks dampen large speed bumps on the first rebound. Where as anything over 1 and a half bounces is supposedly worn. 145k miles is a lot of miles to get away with not getting shocks

 

I replaced my original stock shocks on my '99 at 131K this summer. Bounce test was fine, no leaks, but I was pretty sure the ride had gotten rougher. The old shocks all showed good compression when compressed by hand. I replaced with Tokiko Trekmasters but I kept the original springs since there was no measurable sag.

I feel the ride is quite a lot better and handling is improved. Could I have run another 30K on the old ones? Sure. But I'm glad I upgraded. My personal belief is degraded shocks on a 4Runner can pass the bounce test because even a 280 lb guy like me can't bounce that suspension that hard--it's a truck!

 

I bought my used Taco from a dealer that "inspected" it and gave it the ok. It only had 120k on it. Within 4k, I needed to replace the struts. Within 10k it needed the steering assembly replaced because of all the damage that had been done by having bad struts. It was a good thing I took out the extended warranty when I bought it.

Put it this way: Struts are cheap, but replacing a steering assembly is about five times as much. Once those struts go, you're looking at messing up the steering and at least snapping a tie rod.

 

dont have a shop put on your shocks... they'll charge you 300 bucks when you can easily do them with a socket wrench.

 

BINGO! The money you save on installation could afford you the 'best shocks made', ya know?

 

Either of you guys ever try to assemble a set of struts?
It's a pain in the ass.

I'd reccomend having a shop assemble the struts (40-60 if you walk in with all parts). However, you can change the whole strut assembly out pretty easily.

 

Scoob, I've helped on my buddies 2000, ....you're RIGHT, it was a total PITA! lol. We got it, but it wasn't 'cake'. I agree, either way you suggested would be wise.

 

try changing them on a BMW. struts are easy if you have the right spring compressor.

 

thanks guys, they were changed, and the drivers side tie rod was shot and needed replacing. i had the shop do it simply because i'm temporarily living in NM and dont have any of my tools nor jack stands out here.

 

I guess this goes to prove that not all dealerships are "stealerships".

Fink

 

I knew it! Those tie rods are the wimpiest things ever.