Need Help ASAP-Front Shock Replacement

[JMat]

Installing Bilstein 4600's on my '98 and I'm reusing the old springs.

I just pulled off the drivers side strut, compressed the spring and with less than a 1/4" clearance took the top off to release the shock... Now, as I put the new shocks on I find I have at least 1 3/4" of clearance between the top of the spring and the mount that keeps it on... If I decompress the the spring now it'll have a lot more room to expand and I concerned it'll lead to a much softer ride and lower the front end and if I flip the spring plate upside down it's just about the right height and real close to the original compression on the spring.

I know the Bilsteins are a little taller than OEM but am I doing something wrong?

 

[Js'00imited4runner]

Completely decompress the springs before making any assumptions that it wont work. Stupid question but did you get year specific shocks? If you have clearance at the top just crank the top hat down all the way and see how much tension you have. Also who knows how worn the old shocks were. The springs might have been doing a lot of the work if the shocks you replaced were that worn out? When I swapped my '99 talls I had the opposite problem. Hope it works out!

 

[alex271356]

From what I can tell you seem to be doing it right, Depending on how much time you have, I would put everything together and then see how it rides, If they are intended as OE replacement your ride height should be pretty much the same. The only issue I could see you running into is if the shock travel is considerably longer than stock. I couldn't find any information from bilstein on the travel.

 

[JMat]

Thanks so much for the responses... I really appreciate it. Like you both said... I'm just going to put everything back together and see how she looks and drives.

 

[BrianK14]

When I put my 4600’s on, I installed in a different manner that didn’t require a spring compressor and disassembly/reassembly of the hat. However, that doesn’t look right. I would at least double and triple check the part numbers on your 4600s before going to the trouble of re-installing. Could those be Tacoma or Tundra 4600s?

 

[Kanoe]

Here is something completely anecdotal but maybe related.

When I bought mine, I took out my OEM stuff and put in 99 tall springs and Bilstien 4600s. I got about 2 1/2 inches of lift in the front. Crazy I know, but it was all assembled correctly. I am wondering if some of the 4cyl 15 inch base models like mine actually came with a shorter shock? That would explain what the OP is seeing. I think they have a different OEM shock part number for 15 vs 16 inch wheels. Sadly, my OEM stuff was thrown out before I thought to compare.

Hey OP, since you've got things disassembled still, compare extended lengths of the old vs. new.

 

[TheDurk]

Here is something completely anecdotal but maybe related.

When I bought mine, I took out my OEM stuff and put in 99 tall springs and Bilstien 4600s. I got about 2 1/2 inches of lift in the front. Crazy I know, but it was all assembled correctly. I am wondering if some of the 4cyl 15 inch base models like mine actually came with a shorter shock? That would explain what the OP is seeing. I think they have a different OEM shock part number for 15 vs 16 inch wheels. Sadly, my OEM stuff was thrown out before I thought to compare.

Hey OP, since you've got things disassembled still, compare extended lengths of the old vs. new.

Bold is correct. From the listing for '99 (applies to ALL 15-inch setups)

48510 ABSORBER ASSY, SHOCK, FRONT RH
48510-39426
48510-39436 W(265/70R16 TIRE)

 

[JMat]

However, that doesn’t look right. I would at least double and triple check the part numbers on your 4600s before going to the trouble of re-installing. Could those be Tacoma or Tundra 4600s?

I checked and rechecked the part# before I bought them... Bilstein, Tire Rack and few others all came up with the same part number.

 

[JMat]

I went ahead and installed them and everything seems to be working OK. I just got about a 1.25" lift that I didn't expect but the front end seems solid now. Thanks for all your help.

 

[phattyduck]

When I bought mine, I took out my OEM stuff and put in 99 tall springs and Bilstien 4600s. I got about 2 1/2 inches of lift in the front. Crazy I know, but it was all assembled correctly. I am wondering if some of the 4cyl 15 inch base models like mine

You put springs meant for a V6 4x4 on a 4 cylinder 2WD - of course it will lift the front end! It isn't a shock issue, it is a spring issue.

As for the length of the 4600's - they are longer compared to stock (OEM) front shocks, but the spring perch is the same distance from the lower shock eye. So, more down travel, but same ride height.

-Charlie

 

[Kanoe]

You put springs meant for a V6 4x4 on a 4 cylinder 2WD - of course it will lift the front end! It isn't a shock issue, it is a spring issue.

As for the length of the 4600's - they are longer compared to stock (OEM) front shocks, but the spring perch is the same distance from the lower shock eye. So, more down travel, but same ride height.

-Charlie

You missed my point. Of course I got lift, that’s why I did it. And it’s a 4 cyl 4x4.

The point I was making is that some 3rd gens have shorter shocks than others and the 4600s are longer than my oems were, same as the op found.

And I mentioned the lift gained to illustrate that not everyone gets around 1 inch with the 99tall springs. As the op had not specified what he was working with model wise I just gave another example. I didn’t mean to imply the shocks were to blame.