Eibach/toytec coil issue. Opinions??????

[bsdoig]

Just installed a pair of eibach coils. After install I noticed that the passenger coil had some what of a bend/curve to it. So I removed the entire assembly and disassembled to check for and misalignment. I then rotated everything 180deg. And re-installed but the bend still seems to be there (bend followed the rotated spring). Is this somewhat normal? I'm running the tundra billies on the 1st perch. Everything appears to be seated/centered and assembled correctly.

I've contacted toytec about the issue as well, but I'm afraid I'll get the run around. Anyone else experience this?

 

[Yoter]

I had the same problem recently and after contacting both Eibach and Toytec, they both said it was normal. I returned the springs (the original springs were from wheelers, they were extremely accommodating and understanding about the return) and ordered another set directly from Toytec. The second pair was less bent/bowed but still very clearly not straight.
It really is not what I would expect from a good quality product and I have never seen these inconsistencies from any other springs I purchased.

This was the response I received from Toytec:

"These springs look alright to me to be used. They will be compressed onto the shock and will work with no issues. No coil will be 100% straight. This will not affect anything.
Thank You for sending the pictures.
Thank You "

 

[Tam4511]

They are right, it will run fine. But it is disappointing quality control

 

[Yoter]

Maybe its just stupid paranoia but what bothered me about them was that by not being centered on the strut that they might cause stanchion wear and premature failure of the shock.

 

[ToyTec Lifts]

Just installed a pair of eibach coils. After install I noticed that the passenger coil had some what of a bend/curve to it. So I removed the entire assembly and disassembled to check for and misalignment. I then rotated everything 180deg. And re-installed but the bend still seems to be there (bend followed the rotated spring). Is this somewhat normal? I'm running the tundra billies on the 1st perch. Everything appears to be seated/centered and assembled correctly.

I've contacted toytec about the issue as well, but I'm afraid I'll get the run around. Anyone else experience this?

The bowing of the coil doesnt look too drastic to me. That is not poor quality control as we did not sell a tundra bilstein for the 3rd gen 4runner assembled. That is pre-load and it will settle after some time. You are using Tundra Bilsteins on a 3rd gen 4Runner which we do not recommend here. We have 5100's specifically for your truck.

 

[bsdoig]

The bowing of the coil doesnt look too drastic to me. That is not poor quality control as we did not sell a tundra bilstein for the 3rd gen 4runner assembled. That is pre-load and it will settle after some time. You are using Tundra Bilsteins on a 3rd gen 4Runner which we do not recommend here. We have 5100's specifically for your truck.

I wasn't questioning toytecs quality control with this post. I was just concerned that this condition may in some way negatively effect suspension life or performance. I understand I'm using the tundra billies, however I don't see how this could have a big effect. Even with the coil disassembled you can see the slight bend.

 

[sn0wrunner]

I'm fairly sure Toytec doesn't have a quality control department. But if there was something visibly off with the spring while they were boxing it up for you I'm sure they would have caught it before shipping it out. If not I'm sure they'd ship you a new set if you got a pair that had a manufacturing defect. If both Toytec and Eibach say there is no issue I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[JayRolla]

I'm fairly sure Toytec doesn't have a quality control department. But if there was something visibly off with the spring while they were boxing it up for you I'm sure they would have caught it before shipping it out. If not I'm sure they'd ship you a new set if you got a pair that had a manufacturing defect. If both Toytec and Eibach say there is no issue I wouldn't worry about it.

Im pretty sure OP is questioning Eibachs quality control. Not toytecs.

 

[sn0wrunner]

Im pretty sure OP is questioning Eibachs quality control. Not toytecs.

The quality control portion of my post was more directed towards the Toytec Lifts rep, not the OP. I had to re-read Toytec's post a couple more times, but I was struggling to figure out what they could possibly have QC'd here. I mean besides a visual inspection to the spring, all they are doing is re-boxing and shipping them. I think what they are saying is if they had assembled the coilover it would be their QC problem, but since they didn't it's not on them. I found the idea of having a "QC department" for re-boxing products to be somewhat humorous. You're correct, all the QC should be done on Eibach's end.

 

[Stick Figure]

Eibach would be on the hook for quality control of the part before it left, but Toytec as the seller would be the ones that should have offered a new springs to correct the problem and then taken up the issue with their supplier.

Of course if it is just a spring and shock "mismatch", then my vote goes to the All Pro coil overs as a nicely matched set for a replacement.

 

[MStudt]

I wasn't questioning toytecs quality control with this post. I was just concerned that this condition may in some way negatively effect suspension life or performance. I understand I'm using the tundra billies, however I don't see how this could have a big effect. Even with the coil disassembled you can see the slight bend.

It's just their way of saying since you installed Tundra's on a 4runner you're at fault.

There was a similar issue with Bilstein on here last month. A member ripped the eye off his shock, and tried to have it warrantied. Bilstein denied the warranty since he was using a Tacoma shock on a 4runner. Mind you this is the same Tacoma shock that Toytec sell for 4runner's, and that many of us use.

 

[sn0wrunner]

Of course if it is just a spring and shock "mismatch", then my vote goes to the All Pro coil overs as a nicely matched set for a replacement.

Is this for customer service reasons? Or do you prefer their top mount over toytec's machined aluminum version they use on their ultimate coilovers? Toytec's top mount is thicker which means it will give you more down travel, wonder if that would put any more strain on other components like the cv's, ball joints, tie rods, etc? :shrug: Or maybe their eibachs and bilsteins are better than toytec's eibachs and bilsteins? lol Just stirring the pot, you don't have to answer. :biggrin1:

 

[Stick Figure]

Is this for customer service reasons? Or do you prefer their top mount over toytec's machined aluminum version they use on their ultimate coilovers? Toytec's top mount is thicker which means it will give you more down travel, wonder if that would put any more strain on other components like the cv's, ball joints, tie rods, etc? :shrug: Or maybe their eibachs and bilsteins are better than toytec's eibachs and bilsteins? lol Just stirring the pot, you don't have to answer. :biggrin1:

You can stir, I don't mind. The short answer is customer service based, the long answer:

I made a call back in the day to Toytec trying to buy some spacers as a temporary solution for the front of my truck. They were so helpful over the phone that I ran right out and picked up some aluminum and machined my own rather than give them any money. lol

So its no surprise that when it came time for a more permanent solution my call went to All Pro, who answered my questions and took my money with out giving me the run around and telling me to just order them off the website.

Customer service is a dying art these days, so I will absolutely go out of my way to support a company that has it and avoid at all costs a company that doesn't seem to have the time to be bothered with the customer or their questions. my 2cents

 

[Yoter]

Just to clarify the bowing of these springs has nothing at all to do with the shock they are being used on. They are bowed out of the box, if anything on the Tundra shock there is less preload on these springs so they should bow less than on Tacoma 5100's.
That having been established, the springs when new out of the box placed on a flat surface have about a +/- 1/4inch variation from the middle to the top and bottom.
Again, I am not an engineer or an expert of any kind. This variation could be normal and perfectly fine.
I have installed other sets earlier production runs of the Toytec Eibach springs on Tacoma's and 4Runners and they did not have any bend in them. I have installed a few sets of OME springs and never noticed this with OME springs. I have also installed struts and springs on other vehicles I have owned, mostly sports cars and never seen a spring with a bend in it. Given that this wasn't my first time purchasing or installing these eibach/toytec springs but rather my third time buying them and installing them, I was surprised to see the difference.

 

[bsdoig]

I completely agree with you Yoter. Immediately blaming the Tundra strut based on them not selling them specifically for the 4runner is lame. I would say most people on the forum run the Tundra vs. Tacoma strut.

I wasn't blaming Toytec directly, however looking for support on this issue. That includes asking for other forum members honest opinion based on their experiences.

 

[JayRolla]

I completely agree with you Yoter. Immediately blaming the Tundra strut based on them not selling them specifically for the 4runner is lame. I would say most people on the forum run the Tundra vs. Tacoma strut.

I wasn't blaming Toytec directly, however looking for support on this issue. That includes asking for other forum members honest opinion based on their experiences.

This is what all companys with crap service do. They will find a way to void warranty or blame something else. They only take blame if everything falls into there criteria.

 

[Yoter]

That is not poor quality control as we did not sell a tundra bilstein for the 3rd gen 4runner assembled. That is pre-load and it will settle after some time. You are using Tundra Bilsteins on a 3rd gen 4Runner which we do not recommend here. We have 5100's specifically for your truck.

I have been a long time customer of Toytec and as I said in my previous post I have purchased 3 sets of these springs over the years. The most recent set I ordered was the only one to have this irregularity.
I apologize for being blunt and really didn't want to criticize Toytec publicly but I cant understand the relevance of the above response.
What does this have to do with Tundra shocks?
How would a Tacoma 5100 straighten these springs?
Could you please explain the adverse effects of Tundra shocks that allegedly are causing already bent springs to not straighten themselves out?

 

[ToyTec Lifts]

I have been a long time customer of Toytec and as I said in my previous post I have purchased 3 sets of these springs over the years. The most recent set I ordered was the only one to have this irregularity.
I apologize for being blunt and really didn't want to criticize Toytec publicly but I cant understand the relevance of the above response.
What does this have to do with Tundra shocks?
How would a Tacoma 5100 straighten these springs?
Could you please explain the adverse effects of Tundra shocks that allegedly are causing already bent springs to not straighten themselves out?

No I completely understand. All i was saying is that we have 5100 shocks designed for the 4 runner, we know many people do use the Tundra 5100's with no issues i was not saying thats what is causing the issue. I never said the springs were bowed from the shocks. Some springs do have a bend like this naturally. I have seen it from all companies. We even noticed it on the new Pro coil-overs. There is nothing wrong with them at all which was what i was trying to say, we didn't try to give you the run around just more explaining that there is nothing wrong with the spring.

 

[MStudt]

No I completely understand. All i was saying is that we have 5100 shocks specifically designed for the 4 runner, we know many people do use the Tundra 5100's with no issues i was not saying thats what is causing the issue. I never said the springs were bowed from the shocks. Some springs do have a bend like this naturally. I have seen it from all companies. We even noticed it on the new Pro coil-overs. There is nothing wrong with them at all which was what i was trying to say, we didn't try to give you the run around just more explaining that there is nothing wrong with the spring.

The D558 shocks you have listed for 3rd Gen's are NOT specifically for 3rd Gen's. Those shocks are designed to be used on Tacoma's, according to Bilstein. The 4runner specific 5100's are part# 24-248730 for the front. If this indeed what you're selling you need to update your site.

Just to clarify, and this came directly from Bilstein:
Many after market suppliers (like Wheelers and ToyTec) offer either Bilstein Tundra or D558 front shock for 4runners. Bilstein told me that D558 part number refers to F4-BE5-D558-TO, which was a shock they manufactured specifically for Race Car Dynamics 95-02 Tacoma lift kit. He also said, this shock should not be used for 4runners.

 

[ToyTec Lifts]

The D558 shocks you have listed for 3rd Gen's are NOT specifically for 3rd Gen's. Those shocks are designed to be used on Tacoma's, according to Bilstein. The 4runner specific 5100's are part# 24-248730 for the front. If this indeed what you're selling you need to update your site.

Just to clarify, and this came directly from Bilstein:
Many after market suppliers (like Wheelers and ToyTec) offer either Bilstein Tundra or D558 front shock for 4runners. Bilstein told me that D558 part number refers to F4-BE5-D558-TO, which was a shock they manufactured specifically for Race Car Dynamics 95-02 Tacoma lift kit. He also said, this shock should not be used for 4runners.

Correct,
The reason we dont recommend the Tundra Bilstiens for the 4runner is not because they wont fit but the fact that we have seen many people over lift and in turn over extend the shocks. The 4Runner and Tacoma are different yes, but they have the same platform and tend to be around the same weight overall.

Regarding the spring, as stated before some of them do have a slightl bend in them.