i need to change out the front shocks, and have decided to go oem. my truck is only a 2wd, and have only been off of the pavement maybe three times in the last 113k... :P

i've searched and found many a website for billstein's, kyb's, and monroe's, but does anyone have a site for the oem shocks? rather not use ebay, and don't really want to mess with the dealer. if i've read correctly, the oem's are tokico's, right?

input and ideas are appreciated!

thanks!

Yes,the factory version is made by Tokico and you can get them here for the best price www.shox.com

thanks for the link!

i've already replaced the rears, so i only need the fronts. doesn't look like i can anything other than all four...

bookmarking the link for next time though!

a bit more info for future searches....

i've got the sr5, 2wd with 16" wheels.

toyota part number is 4851039585. it is the same part number for each side. dealership wants ~ $69 for each.

found them on toyotapartscheap.com for ~ $50 each. anyone ever order anything from that site?

=]

fwiw...

i just finished swapping out the front shocks with oem parts from cheaptoyotaparts.com, and i have good news and bad news.

bad news, is that they were a pain in the a** and i'll pay to have it done next time. the coils are soooo stiff i used 4, yes 4 coil spring clamps to get them compressed enough - and two of them broke on the first coil (cheap chinese junk - they say made in china on them ). to get the lower bolt back in on the shock i had to *bounce* on the rotor and hold on to the inner quarter panel in the engine bay, while my pops was pushing on the bolt to get it in.

good news, it rides like a totally new truck!!!! i can now go over speed bumps without the "prep cringe" and it handles and brakes better too (front end doesn't dip as much). wish i'd have done it sooner. i did the rear shocks at 105k, and my truck now has 113k. front and rear shocks were stock until i changed them.

Instead of bouncing to line up that bolt there is a trick where you use the factory jack to apply pressure from above which lines it up.

we thought about that, but i have those oversized fender flares, and didn't see a safe non-plastic point to push down from....

oh well. they're on now and rides like a new truck.

=]

I went with Monroe Reflex shocks and they are too stiff. Thanks for the heads up on the OEM manufacturer.

i've got michelin ltx tires on it (75 series i think) so that stiffened up the ride to begin with. the oem shocks make the ride much better.

for what it's worth, i searched here and on yotatech (even snuck in and trolled on some tacoma forums), and the consensus seemed to be billstiens[sic] or monroes * if you have a 4wd. otherwise, stick with oem.