Just wondering if all the front struts are the same. I have a '99 2.7L 2WD 4runner and I am looking at buying new front strut assemblies. Right now looking at moog. I have seen some assemblies say they are for the v6 engine or 4WD and others that just list '96-'02. I've seen nothing say they are for 2WD or 2.7L. Specifically the Moog parts I'm looking at ST8595R ST8595L say they are for 4WD / 3.4L V6. Are these really different than what are on my 2WD 2.7L 4Cyl?
Are all front struts the same? 4Cyl. and V6.
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St Runner
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The difference is weight bearing, they all fit the same. Your 4runner is a couple hundred pounds lighter up front than a 3.4 4wd, so the strut for a 3.4 4wd will make your runner sit a little higher. Be prepared to change out the rear springs too. Just an fyi, you get what you pay for with springs and shocks so if you are looking for a specific ride do your research
Thanks Underfire. That's what I was assuming but didn't want to order online only to find out they don't fit for some stupid reason.
As a 2WD 4CYL it's a pavement cruiser not an off road beast. Norther Ohio salt shakers have taken their toll. After 17 years I'm not sure how much longer it will last so I'm not dumping premium parts into it. I'm just looking for something to replace the worn out struts so the front end doesn't bounce and I don't get funky tire wear. I replaced the rear shocks a year or two ago and have no intention of replacing springs even if the front rides a little high. I was looking for a complete drop in replacement since I'm sure everything is shot. If someone has a cost efficient alternative to the complete assemblies from moog or monroe I'm open to suggestions.
As a 2WD 4CYL it's a pavement cruiser not an off road beast. Norther Ohio salt shakers have taken their toll. After 17 years I'm not sure how much longer it will last so I'm not dumping premium parts into it. I'm just looking for something to replace the worn out struts so the front end doesn't bounce and I don't get funky tire wear. I replaced the rear shocks a year or two ago and have no intention of replacing springs even if the front rides a little high. I was looking for a complete drop in replacement since I'm sure everything is shot. If someone has a cost efficient alternative to the complete assemblies from moog or monroe I'm open to suggestions.
I found the moog part numbers for the front springs. They all have the same spring rate (595 lbs/in) and only differ in length by an inch or so.
Universal Coil Spring Specifications | Moog Suspension Parts
Part 81094 is for the 2.7L RWD and is 13.18" long
Used in various other 4runner configs are:
Part 81088 14.31" long
Part 81090 14.0" long
Part 81092 13.43" long
Looks like I'm gonna piece an assembly together instead of just buying a complete assembly. I'm buying a monroe strut, moog spring (81094), and gabriel strut mount. Hopefully that and a spring compressor is all I need to put together a complete strut assembly.
Universal Coil Spring Specifications | Moog Suspension Parts
Part 81094 is for the 2.7L RWD and is 13.18" long
Used in various other 4runner configs are:
Part 81088 14.31" long
Part 81090 14.0" long
Part 81092 13.43" long
Looks like I'm gonna piece an assembly together instead of just buying a complete assembly. I'm buying a monroe strut, moog spring (81094), and gabriel strut mount. Hopefully that and a spring compressor is all I need to put together a complete strut assembly.
white_n_slow
Senior Member
I've read on the forums that moog springs ride like crap. No personal experience. Might be worth looking into before you buy.
LOL I'm used to driving a car so for me any truck rides like crap so not sure I'd really notice the difference 
Thanks for the input but my experience with Moog's complete assemblies has been very good. I replaced all 4 struts on one of my cars last year. It made that old beater feel like a new car. In all fairness I did also replace front control arms/ball joints, tie rods, one axle/half shaft, all 4 wheel bearings/hubs and the entire brake system after the master cylinder... so that probably also contributed to the ride improvement.
I ordered the Moog springs with new monroe "sensa-trac" struts and Gabriel strut mounts (hopefully all I need to make a complete strut assembly). I'll post the results when I get it all put together.
Thanks for the input but my experience with Moog's complete assemblies has been very good. I replaced all 4 struts on one of my cars last year. It made that old beater feel like a new car. In all fairness I did also replace front control arms/ball joints, tie rods, one axle/half shaft, all 4 wheel bearings/hubs and the entire brake system after the master cylinder... so that probably also contributed to the ride improvement.
I ordered the Moog springs with new monroe "sensa-trac" struts and Gabriel strut mounts (hopefully all I need to make a complete strut assembly). I'll post the results when I get it all put together.
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white_n_slow
Senior Member
post the results either way I don't want to be spreading crappy hearsay if it's not warranted 
I don't want to be spreading crappy hearsay if it's not warranted 
Well I got one strut assembled. I ordered some obsolete Monroe Sensa-Trac struts from Rock Auto. I got two different versions of the same strut. One did not come with any washers/rubber bushings. I bought Gabriel strut mounts. Lesson learned; don't assume buying the strut mount and strut from different manufactures will get you what you need. The one strut that did come with hardware had hardware kit P1167. I assume this is obsolete too because hardware kit P1612 is what comes with the current (not discontinued) struts. I couldn't find this hardware anywhere and the guy at NAPA told me Monroe does not sell the hardware kits separatelly. I found a website that had the hardware kit but shipped it was almost $15. I ordered it since I had no alternative. Other than struggling to get it on/off the spring the Harborfreight spring compressor worked pretty well for getting things assembled.
After much swearing and grinding I finally got the old strut out after 153K+ miles. Here it is next to its replacement:
The other side went much smoother after I learned the secret to getting them out. The back nut on top is a ***** to get at. The nuts were too rusted to get a wrench on and since the stud stuck up thru the nut you would need a deep well socket which there isn't room for on the back nut. Also there is no room for to get a dremel or grinder in there to cut the top of the stud off. As you may have noticed in the picture there is a saw-zall blade. The secret to easy removal is use a saw-zall to cut the stud off above the back nut. Then you can fit a regular socket on it and remove it.
As you may have noticed the replacement springs have a much tighter spiral than the factory originals. This didn't bode well for ride quality. The new strut was also a bit longer than the original one which made getting it in a little tricky especially since I didn't want to disconnect the sway bar since doing so would likely ruin the ends. I took it on a 4 hour ride after replacing the struts and the ride is much improved! Most of the shakes and shimmies disappeared. Freeway speeds are actually pleasant now. Why didn't I do this sooner?!?!? The ride height is the same as before or if it isn't I can't tell any difference. As I suspected with the tighter spring coil the ride is more firm but not nearly as much as I was expecting. It's mostly noticeable while cornering fast where there is less body roll. Otherwise it soaks up the bumps rather well. I didn't realize how bouncy it was with the worn out shocks until I replaced them.
White_n_slow, The Moog springs don't ride like crap but they are definitely more firm than the OEM's but not nearly as much as I expected after looking at them side by side. Seeing as I couldn't find springs from anyone else that were specifically for the 2WD 2.7L it is what I went with to get the correct ride height. Over all my ride has greatly improved although that's likely due to the struts than the springs since I was riding around on worn out struts that should have been replaced 50K+ miles ago. I am curious how the moog springs compare to others stiffness wise. If I used my 4runner off-road I probably would look at something other than the moogs since I wouldn't want something stiffer than OEM for off road. Mine however is strictly a pavement cruiser so the moogs work great!
The other side went much smoother after I learned the secret to getting them out. The back nut on top is a ***** to get at. The nuts were too rusted to get a wrench on and since the stud stuck up thru the nut you would need a deep well socket which there isn't room for on the back nut. Also there is no room for to get a dremel or grinder in there to cut the top of the stud off. As you may have noticed in the picture there is a saw-zall blade. The secret to easy removal is use a saw-zall to cut the stud off above the back nut. Then you can fit a regular socket on it and remove it.
As you may have noticed the replacement springs have a much tighter spiral than the factory originals. This didn't bode well for ride quality. The new strut was also a bit longer than the original one which made getting it in a little tricky especially since I didn't want to disconnect the sway bar since doing so would likely ruin the ends. I took it on a 4 hour ride after replacing the struts and the ride is much improved! Most of the shakes and shimmies disappeared. Freeway speeds are actually pleasant now. Why didn't I do this sooner?!?!? The ride height is the same as before or if it isn't I can't tell any difference. As I suspected with the tighter spring coil the ride is more firm but not nearly as much as I was expecting. It's mostly noticeable while cornering fast where there is less body roll. Otherwise it soaks up the bumps rather well. I didn't realize how bouncy it was with the worn out shocks until I replaced them.
White_n_slow, The Moog springs don't ride like crap but they are definitely more firm than the OEM's but not nearly as much as I expected after looking at them side by side. Seeing as I couldn't find springs from anyone else that were specifically for the 2WD 2.7L it is what I went with to get the correct ride height. Over all my ride has greatly improved although that's likely due to the struts than the springs since I was riding around on worn out struts that should have been replaced 50K+ miles ago. I am curious how the moog springs compare to others stiffness wise. If I used my 4runner off-road I probably would look at something other than the moogs since I wouldn't want something stiffer than OEM for off road. Mine however is strictly a pavement cruiser so the moogs work great!
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