Bilstein 4600s vs Tokico Trekmasters

[wisco237]

What's up guys? Long time lurker. I could use some advice.

I have a '99 4Runner Limited, all stock, and I'm pretty sure my rear shocks are shot (136k miles, never been replaced). I drive 90% highway and 10% offroad, so I'm looking for the best on road ride possible.

From what I've researched the Tokico Trekmasters will give basically the OEM ride, but a little stiffer. Everybody says the Bilsteins are stiff, but are they referring to the 5100s? And are those the Tundra ones? What about the 4600s?

I know there are lot of threads on both of these shocks, but it seems almost all of them are geared towards off-roading or they're not running a stock setup (usually the ome coils).

So which shock would you choose? I can get the 4600s almost $100 cheaper it looks like, but I would rather buy just once and be satisfied.

 

[spoiler900]

I just went through the same debate, I have a 99 limited with 250,000 on the original shocks and last week went with the Monroe oespectrum. There ok, nothing fancy but better then it was. I thought about bilstein but I do all highway and was told to steer away from that because its better for off roaders

 

[Justin727]

Everyone's opinion on "stiff" is subjective. What maybe stiff for me may not be for you...

But for stock ride I went KYB gas adjusts and they were great.

About to lift it and using lc rear springs and shocks utilizing the 4600's. They did not seem stiff to me. My last setup was much stiffer and it didn't bother me at all. Actually thought it rode better on road the stock.

I know it maybe hard to find someone near by that has that setup but if you can ask for a ride in their rig.
Either way tokico or bilstein are both phenomenal shocks and you can't go wrong with either.

 

[Stgo2019]

I replaced the original shocks and springs a year ago with the 4600's and Moog springs. It's a lot stiffer than it was with the worn out shocks. It rides great on the highway and was confidence inspiring on the limited off road I've done.

 

[wisco237]

Everyone's opinion on "stiff" is subjective. What maybe stiff for me may not be for you...

Very true, that's why shopping for new suspension parts is such a pain in the ass.

Looks like I'm going to go with the 4600s because they're cheaper and have a lifetime warranty. I've heard of the Tokicos going out after 60k. I won't mind more stiffness if it improves handling and stops the bouncing, but obviously I don't want to feel every crack in the road.

Are the front and rear different parts? I assume they're the same, but on ajusa.com it shows the front and rear are different lengths, whereas 4wheelparts.com makes no mention of this?

 

[Stgo2019]

IIRC the fronts and rears are different. I ordered everything from Autozone. Pretty much the same price as on line. I think I paid around 300 for the shocks and springs.
I'm pretty happy with this set up. I even ended up with an inch of lift over the old stuff.

 

[jrm]

upgrade the coils as well

They like the shocks are tired begin to sag as a result resulting in reduction in ride quality and affecting handling.

by just replacing the shocks your just bandaging the problem but if you replace the coils and the shocks you're fixing the problem.YMMV

 

[PitbullRescuer]

I've run both the 4600's and the Trekmasters. Honestly, they weren't all that different IMO. The Bilsteins were firmer when new but both were good once broken in.

 

[wisco237]

Decided to go with the Bilstein HDs... hopefully not a bad choice.

They like the shocks are tired begin to sag as a result resulting in reduction in ride quality and affecting handling.

by just replacing the shocks your just bandaging the problem but if you replace the coils and the shocks you're fixing the problem.YMMV

Yeah, I know. I thought about upgrading the coils, but I decided I would probably just replace them with stock ones (99 talls) since I don't really want/need a lift besides aesthetics reasons, and since mine haven't started sagging yet, I'm just going to wait a little while before replacing them. Income is a little limited right now.