Billies 4600's are shot. Go with KYB Max or Gas-a-just

[DaveInDenver]

Billies 4600's are shot after 8 years and 90K miles on '02 SR5 now with 255K. Expected better. Ick.

Mechanic recommended KYB Max. Looks too heavy duty (99.9% of miles are city/highway driving, never off-road.)

Thinking abut KYB Gas-a-just instead. Just want something better than OEM. Liked the 4600's... until they died an early death.

Comments and other options? Thx!

 

[RedSled]

To be honest here, 90k is not bad for a shock, and eight years is a nice stretch for the money. I think seeing how you really liked them you should put some more 4600’s on. JMHO

 

[Devbot]

How do you figure that to be an early death? 8 years is quite a while

 

[DaveInDenver]

How do you figure that to be an early death? 8 years is quite a while

Well my wallet told me that shocks that cost twice as much should last twice as long. Stupid wallet.

 

[RedSled]

Even the best needs to be re-build at about 50k, your not paying for longevity, your paying for performance, again JMHO.

 

[SaulG]

Well my wallet told me that shocks that cost twice as much should last twice as long. Stupid wallet.

Stupid wallet mention warranty ?

 

[the_welfare_wagon]

I used KYB on my subaru and was very happy. Personally id go with Bilstein 5100s but if your 4R never goes offroad they may be a bit pricey and unnecessary. Just whatever you do avoid Monroe, they suck, just my 0.02

 

[Devbot]

Well my wallet told me that shocks that cost twice as much should last twice as long. Stupid wallet.

Needless to say that was your first mistake. As someone who makes racing products for a living I can attest it very seldom works like that.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Needless to say that was your first mistake. As someone who makes racing products for a living I can attest it very seldom works like that.

Mistake? Yes.
1st mistake? Not by a mile.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Stupid wallet mention warranty ?

Wallet told me to just call Billies and everything would be just fine.
So I did and Billies told me warranty is only for actual defects or failure like loss of oil/gass; do not cover normal use over time (8 years & 90K = SOL).

Stupid wallet.

 

[phattyduck]

That's about what I got out of the 4600's I put on my 4Runner years ago when my dad still owned it.

If you want longevity, OEM will be the only way to go. Those were more like 150-200k mile life shocks.

-Charlie