Eibach Fits Incorrect Lower Bushings in their 5G Pro-Truck Sport Shocks.. Thoughts?
Toyota changed the 4Runner/FJ front lower shock mount/eyelet around 2010. The 2010+ mounts are a few mm wider, and thus the Toyota lower shock bushings changed along with that. However, Eibach does not change the bushing that they use in their 4Runner/FJ shocks depending on year/generation (per their own documentation). They then claim that the ~2mm of "wiggle room" is normal and OK on 2010+ models, that results from them using the pre-2010 bushing.
When installing the assembled coil-over per Toyota instructions, one would probably not notice this because the steps direct you to tighten the top mount down before the lower bolt.. and once the top mount is tightened, the shock shaft is sort of held in place and unable to wiggle unless you really try to wiggle it with some force. But then, when you tighten the bolt/nut at the bottom, the lower mount "box" is bending closed which I believe is not what you want...
Using the Eibach front shocks on a 2010+ vehicle results in this play, until everything is tightened and *bent*:
The 4Runner in the video is mine. Now I have to decide what to do about this. Some say washers are OK? The other option would be buy new correct bushings (~$50) and have them pressed in, however that would require removing the shocks from the vehicle completely. At least I can add spacers, if that's appropriate, very easily (I think).
A bit disappointed over here, as perhaps you can imagine...
I had this same issue 3 weeks ago with the Eibach pro truck 2.0 coilovers. Only I didn't catch it at install because I had a shop do the install.
The problem you will have with the narrow bushing, if you don't use a washer, is that it will compress and bend the mount so that you will not be able to fit the correct width bushing on a different shock without out bending the mount back open (which isn't easy).
I had other issues with the coilovers and eventually gave up on them (although Eibach was responsive and helpful) and put in a 21 trd pro fox suspension (I only wanted 1 inch of lift) 2 weeks after the Eibach install. I did the install myself this time and that's when the narrow bushing bit me in the butt.
I had to use a large crescent wrench to bend the mount open enough to get some of the busing in, put a jack under the lower arrm and try to push the busing in until I could start to line up the holes. I then had to use an alignment bar to line everything up to get the lower bolt in. It was freaking time consuming and took longer to get the lower bolt to line up than doing the entire install would have if that bracket wasn't bent.
At this point, even if I wanted more lift I wouldn't put my Eibach coilovers back in. I'd go King, Icon, Fox adjustable, etc.
Definitely don't have this issue on my pro stage 1 kit, but it was a much earlier run... Like new to the market. We can blame it on Covid... Everything else is, but looks like its missing the metal sleeve that gets pressed in the bushing.Who ever installed that, was either drunk or blind.
In your other thread, I thought we were talking about the bushing under the top mount that was too small. When I installed my shocks, I got the top bolted in first, and then cranked down on the LCA until I could get that bottom bolt through. Doing this kept tension on the whole assembly so I honestly didn't notice if I have that play in the bottom eyelet. I don't have any clunks or noise in there but now I'm curious.
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"For the record, this recording was done with the top mount unbolted and dropped. Only the lower shock mount bolt was inserted, not tightened, which is when I noticed the play and took the video. The top was completely free and able to move as you'd expect."
Tighten that shit down and then video it.
Here's mine. Nothing moves because it's all bolted down. I also had a professional install it. My EPTL was installed in 2019. It works perfectly.
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2019 OR - LT285/70R17 Yokohama Geolandar MT, SPC UCA's, BMC, Eibach Pro Truck Lift, Warn VR10 Winch, Warn 100022 Winch Bumper, TRD Skid Plate, Cali Raised Light Bar, Shrockworks Sliders and Skids, LFD Ruggadized Cross Bars, Sprint Booster.
Yes you folks whom have "no problems" do have one problem, a bent LCA shock mount. When following factory shock install steps, one would probably not notice this problem, but that doesn't mean it isn't there. Mine is now bent, too, because Eibach said it was "OK" and I trusted them (before I decided to look into the issue further).
Yes you folks whom have "no problems" do have one problem, a bent UCA shock mount. When following factory shock install steps, one would probably not notice this problem, but that doesn't mean it isn't there. Mine is now bent, too, because Eibach said it was "OK" and I trusted them (before I decided to look into the issue further).
Yes you folks whom have "no problems" do have one problem, a bent LCA shock mount. When following factory shock install steps, one would probably not notice this problem, but that doesn't mean it isn't there. Mine is now bent, too, because Eibach said it was "OK" and I trusted them (before I decided to look into the issue further).
OH NO OH NO a bent LCA Shock mount!!!
OMG OMG OMG OMG
When I win the lottery and want to install a ICON Stage 28, I can afford to buy a big ****ing pry bar to bend out the mount. Maybe a BFH to go with it.
Seriously - move on with your life.
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2019 OR - LT285/70R17 Yokohama Geolandar MT, SPC UCA's, BMC, Eibach Pro Truck Lift, Warn VR10 Winch, Warn 100022 Winch Bumper, TRD Skid Plate, Cali Raised Light Bar, Shrockworks Sliders and Skids, LFD Ruggadized Cross Bars, Sprint Booster.
Dude.. I mean, I feel you. Not everyone is built the same, and I understand that I am "obsessive" over some things. For better or worse, and un-chosen (to a great extent) by myself, this is how my mind works. I see details that others do not and feel compelled to do everything in life "right." Every day, I am reminded, nearly constantly it seems, that I am very different than most.
But the truck was expensive (to me) and I also care about safety/reliability. I'm not a materials engineer, so I don't know anything about those welds there and if the added stress to the area is a concern.
At the end of the day, this is about 1) Me trying to find the best solution for my vehicle and my family's safety, and 2) Eibach is a large company that I used to respect.. so it's eye-opening and annoying to find that they've done this. I don't know if it's due to ignorance or greed, but I don't appreciate either. I would have wanted to know this (IMO, important) detail before I spent my hard-earned cash and time on Eibach's products.. and I'm sure there are others out there that will appreciate knowing this, as well. If this post isn't for you, that's fine.