New Front shock top mount bolts not lining up

[NJ-4Runner]

I thought I was going crazy but the new upper shock mount I bought for my new bilstein setup does not match the stock part. The studs on the mount are spaced a little farther apart and it won’t mount into the truck. I am pretty sure it is made by Gabriel, made in China. I even went to autozone to check against another brand but all they had there was the same brand. It is not off by much but it won’t make it into the 3 holes in the upper shock mount. Has this happened to anybody else?

 

[spartacus]

I thought I was going crazy but the new upper shock mount I bought for my new bilstein setup does not match the stock part. The studs on the mount are spaced a little farther apart and it won’t mount into the truck. I am pretty sure it is made by Gabriel, made in China. I even went to autozone to check against another brand but all they had there was the same brand. It is not off by much but it won’t make it into the 3 holes in the upper shock mount. Has this happened to anybody else?

you can use your old tops just use a newer insulator piece and call it a day. That's what I've done'in the past.

 

[ArmArak]

Go to NAPA and buy a new top that fits and just change them out. Keep in mind the Tundra tops wont fit, I had that same problem.

 

[NJ-4Runner]

you can use your old tops just use a newer insulator piece and call it a day. That's what I've done'in the past.

I would but the old tops are in super bad shape...totally rusted.

Go to NAPA and buy a new top that fits and just change them out. Keep in mind the Tundra tops wont fit, I had that same problem.

Do you know what brand the ones you got from NAPA were?

 

[spartacus]

I would but the old tops are in super bad shape...totally rusted.

I know kyb strut mounts fit well .Amazon.com: KYB SM5184 - Strut mount: Automotive

 

[NJ-4Runner]

I know kyb strut mounts fit well .Amazon.com: KYB SM5184 - Strut mount: Automotive

Thanks!! Just clicked that link and bought them. Some of that money should go to you for making it so easy!

 

[Dieselchessy]

Maybe you bought Tundra top plates? Pretty sure they are slightly different by the bolt pattern.

 

[NJ-4Runner]

Go to NAPA and buy a new top that fits and just change them out. Keep in mind the Tundra tops wont fit, I had that same problem.

Maybe you bought Tundra top plates? Pretty sure they are slightly different by the bolt pattern.

Good call. The ones I ordered from Rockauto were Gabriel part # 143325. This is the same part number/part that I checked out at autozone.
If you click the part number on the Rockauto site it lists the 4runnner, sequoia, tacoma, and tundra as compatible vehicles. I guess that's the issue right there.

When I look under KYB SM5184 it only lists the 1996-2002 4Runner so most likely that one will fit correctly. KYB also lists a different part number, SM5442 for the Tundra.

Lesson learned. I should have done a little bit of cross reference research before I pulled the trigger on that particular mount. Hopefully someone else comes across thread if they have the same problem. I was installing the shocks using the on-vehicle compression method and I was fitting the top plates to the truck when I found this. If I would have taken the shocks and springs somewhere to have the assembly put together before I installed it I would have flipped out when the tops wouldn't go in!