I have read a few of the threads about these. I have a 2001 Limited 4X4.

My son replaced these with after market Monroe Monroe 901446. These things send the hatch up way too fast, are dangerous and have to go.

I looked into OEM and using the VIN # at the dealer came up with two options. They are strangely based on the battery type or some kind of silver label. I no longer have the original battery or the supports. I don't know what the differences are, but they are two different part #'s.

These two are based on some "silver label" Right and left.
68908-35010
68907-35010

These two are based on battery 95D31L (27F)
68907-35020
68908-35020

Any ideas? Maybe cold weather/warm weather?

I get this off of TOYODIY.COM for the right one, left is similar. So if your Frame/Body Type (see door info plate) has 185 in it use the bottom ones. (020 at the end) Otherwise, use the 010 ones. How slow was your parts guy not to figure that out? I'm pretty sure he was looking at the same listing (except for the price in Euros).

I really can't fathom the battery/label stuff, though. Does anybody know the difference between VZN185 and, say, VZN180? I think it may be 2wd/4wd with 185=4wd. I'm a VZN185. 4wd 5sp V6 SR5 16" wheels.

Thanks for the reply. The parts guy was pretty lame. I should have tried a different dealership.

It says VZN185L

It is 01 Limited 4X4 V6 Automatic 16" wheels

It is strange that using the VIN # doesn't pull up the only option. And what is the difference anyway? I can see the Limited has the spoiler on the hatch needing more lift?

I'd love to know the answer to both those questions. The spoiler is one difference, but it is mounted right at the hinge so it would seem to be a very minor difference. All I can say is, my OEM ones never went up the last three inches from day 1. Want to trade one of mine for one of your Monroes? Or sell one to me when you are done? (I'm thinking two of those may be too much, but maybe one is just right).

As far as the VIN, lots of times there is more than one listing to allow for dealer options, or stuff installed in North America. Wheel size is one. Changes during the model year are another. Example: Both the 'tall' and 'short' springs are listed for my '99; the database does not know which mine were built with. I assume it just decodes the VIN, it does not drill back to the production order/bill of materials for that individual build. And not all the individual characteristics can be decoded from the VIN.

Exactly. The VIN does engine, tranny, build location, etc. It doesn't do the RPO or BOM...just not enough numbers.

P/N's for the hatch shocks for a 2001 T4R Limited 4WD are:

Left: 68908-35010
Right: 68907-35010

So I was wrong? What kind of DB did you get that off of and did it show the PN's ending in 020 at all? I hate to give bad advice but it seemed to make sense to go by the frame codes.

want to sell them?

I work for a company that makes collision repair software for body shops / insurance. The numbers I entered were from our latest data.

That said, OEMs don't always give us the latest data. They like to keep the aftermarket parts guys on their toes!

I didn't see 020...just 010. The parts counter at Toyota "should" have the very latest data in most cases.

How about one for me, and one for you? See my post above...

Thanks for all the advice and replies. Keep em coming. It still is confusing?

I will definitely be getting rid of the current ones so you guys are in line.

Same here.... Waited over a month for them, and they are totally annoying. You have to pop the gate and then hurry and catch it as it boosts into the sky. If you don't, it feels like it's going to lift the rear tires of the ground.

Don't buy Monroe for these lift supports....

LOL! That's funny and not funny at the same time. I know exactly what you are experiencing. Thanks for the reply I was starting to think I was the only one?

I wasn't able to check with a different dealer today. Maybe tomorrow?

Any additional thoughts on the part # differences?

I ordered from Rock Auto the best I found. Made by Strongarm. They were rated highest quality.
1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Lift Support

Great link. Thank you

How do the strong arms work?

I'll try the partznet.