Hey guys, I have a 96 4 runner and I am currently replacing the shock/struts with Bilsteins. I have done the back and I have the front torn apart. My only hang up is the spring rubber isolator. The bilsteins come with a strut, nut, and spring collar for the lower spring mount but there is not a rubber spring isloator for the bottom, and the ones that I took off of the truck do not transfer over. What are you all doing for the front? Are you just mounting the spring directly to the metal spring collar? Or are you doing something else for a spring isolator? Please let me know, this thing is sitting on jack stands and I am anxious to put it on the ground. Thanks.
Bilstein strut install questions
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I'm installing some bilstien struts today as well. My stock struts did not have a rubber isolator on the bottom spring seat. There is a rubber isolator that goes above the spring, and I'm replacing the used one with a new stock rubber, although I think you can easily re-use this one.
Here's a pic of my stock struts without the isolator that I think you're worried about. So basically, I wouldn't worry about it.
I'm installing some bilstien struts today as well. My stock struts did not have a rubber isolator on the bottom spring seat. There is a rubber isolator that goes above the spring, and I'm replacing the used one with a new stock rubber, although I think you can easily re-use this one.
Here's a pic of my stock struts without the isolator that I think you're worried about. So basically, I wouldn't worry about it.
Thanks guys, that's good news!
AllenL, have you done the rear yet? The left rear is TONS of fun!!
I'm just getting to it. I'm installing on a 2014, which in comparison to past experience has been great. New bolts, everything has loosened up without a problem, lack of accumulated road grit... So far so good.
Did you do the rear first?
Hey Allen, yes I did the rear first just because that side was closer to my tools:thumb: Not sure how the 2014 is set up but the top shock nut in the rears are a real pain in the a$$ to get to.
I finished up the install yesterday but I really have not had much of a chance to drive the 4runner yet.
Here is a picture of what I was talking about, the front struts say made in the USA on them but they don't have a brand stamped on them so I am sure they are really nice.
Here is the spring isolator that was under the spring on the struts I took off.
And here one side is put together with out a lower spring isolator. I did reuse the top rubber isolator along with the rubber bushing that goes on top of the strut mount before you put the nut on. Bilstein may make great suspension products but they really don't give good instructions...not that you should need that many but the instructions they send are laughable.
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That black thing on the bottom of the shock that your touching on blue shocks needs to be there. It's a grove so the strut/coil sits nice and firm on the shock. Although I'm guessing it needs to be exact one that would go on the bilstein made by bilstein. It's not a isolator, isolator is the top rubber piece.
Yeah, I'm sure it's needed on the strut that I took it off of because the lower spring perch is flat so that gives it the ridge for the spring to sit in. But with the bilstein strut the lower spring perch has the ridge built into the metal collar so the hard plastic piece that I took off of the struts that I removed will not fit on the bilsteins.
This sounds correct to me. As long as the lower perch has the knock to hold the spring in place you're good.
For the rear I had to compress the suspension to get enough of the threads exposed for the top nut on the shock but other than that everything went smooth.
JRZEE2000TR4LTD
Senior Member
Okay guys, look at the space between the nut and below it to the strut mount. What did I leave out???
Must be missing the washer and bushing underneath the tophat.
The new shocks didn't come with hardware because the washer and bushing on top is old also?
That's correct! I did not see a washer to use though. Do I need to take them back apart? I was missing the bushing under the top hat. So now my set up is strut->dust shield-> Rubber bushing-> Strut mount-> Rubber bushing->Washer-> Top nut. Do I still need to find some bottom washer to use with the bilstein's? With the bilsteins the dust cover seams to have a metal portion in the top of it. Any insight from people with bilsteins?
JRZEE2000TR4LTD
Senior Member
Look at this thread and read the "Front Shock Install" Might help you out. Kinda stupid Bilstein doesn't provide all the hardware. My 5100's had all the hardware.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...lacement-learn-my-experience.html#post1752037
I appreciate the link, that is helpful. I think a lot of my problems are because this is my first 4 runner so was not sure how the came stock, so I just copied (other than leaving out a bushing on one side) what was installed on the truck.
I realized that the bottom busing washer was built into the previous strut dust covers.
So I cut them out since I do not have washers to go under the lower bushings.
I have not done the work yet, but I plan on pulling the front struts back off and putting these washers under the lower bushings. Does anyone see a problem with me doing this?
