Rear Shocks?

[SanteeRunner]

Hi, I've searched for about a day on this forum and couldnt find answer to my problem so decided to just register and ask...(Iusually just lurk..sorry!)
Here goes it; I have a 95 Runner, 4WD 3.slow, 4-5" Superlift.
I ordered some Bilstein 5100 series SS gas shocks from ORW about a week ago. Got them home yesterday and installed the fronts (Part Number BS-24-185745).
Now, I removed one rear and low and behold the ones they ordered for me do not fit (Part Number BS-24-100144)! I did an application chart search on the rear PN and of course a 95 4Runner was nowhere listed. I'm wondering where this genius parts guy at ORW got the info that these would fit.
Now I know there are some alternative shocks that I can put on there, such as ProComps,SkyJackers, Superlift's Superrides etc but these are all white bodied. Im pretty pissed that there are no actual Bilstein 5100 series SS shock that is made for the rear of a 95 4Runner. Now I have two SS shocks up front and am forced to put a white body shock in the rear?! :gun4: at the parts guy!
Do you guys know of any alternatives that I could still find in a stainless steel body? maybe a bilstein 5100 that is not made for the 95 4Runner but another make or model?
Any help would be appreciated! I'd love to have 4 matching shocks
Thanks!!

 

[SV_Dude]

If you're handy with a welder or know anyone who is you can easily build or buy a shock mount set and have them welded on. It's a pretty easy task and will allow you to have the shocks that you want.

 

[cometobanks]

Did you call tech at the manufacturer or the retailer?

 

[Darrie]

If you were praying, you are lucky as there is a God looking after both of us ! I too have the same issue, but here's my research findings all the way from across the world from Australia that may help.

Contact ORW and see if you can get an exchange credit for returning the rears for alternate models. Presuming you have a 95 generation 2, then look at these two alternative front shocks sold for the Ford F250/350 2005-2011 4wd models for placing on the rear of your 4runner :

1) Bilstein 24-186681 (F4-BE5-C297-H0) 5100 Series - Collapsed Length (IN): 16.33 Extended Length (IN): 26.61 Travel Length (IN): 10.28 Lower Mount: Eye 14.4mm Upper Mount: Stem. You may want to confirm it is silver with them.

Or one step better...
2) Bilstein 25-177435 5160 model compressed/extended =15.9" / 27.0", 11.1" Travel, piggyback or remote reservoir shocks shock. Very, very bling and great travel specs.

The only issue I can see with these shock alternatives are
1) Valving - These shocks may or may not be valved to your liking or setup, so contact your local Bilstein agent and see who can revalve them locally. Thats so if you fit them and find they are not dampening right for your setup, you can have them changed - normally get them to change them to the standard HD 4runner rear setup, unless you are running seriously big tyres and weight.
2) Bottom eye Hourglass centre hole size. The lower shock mount pin size on the Ford possibly will be a different size. Any good suspension shop can deal with this - either they will provide a sleeve to match the 4runner lower mount that fits nicely in the hourglass bush, or it will be a case of removing the bush and pressing in an appropriate sized one. The shock eyeglass bush should be sleeved and you want to keep that arrangement in the rear.
3) The remote fitting on the 5160 model may take a bit of fabrication to locate it, but if you do it right it can look very impressive

All very do-able, and aren't you glad ou asked on this forum.

Let me know how you go. Cheers, Darrie

 

[The Desert Rat]

Since I do a lot of off roading with larger rigs such as my former 90 Bronco, 76 Blazer, and current 78 F150, I've had to do a lot of research on shock options. I am a huge Bilstein fan and have run their 5150 shocks for as long as they have had them. If you go to shockwarehouse.com, and choose the 5150 series instead of by vehicle, you can see that they list all the specs for each 5150 shock including as Darrie said, extended and collapsed lengths (Bilstein Truck Shocks - Shockwarehouse.com). They also do this for the 5125 series Bilstein 5125 Offroad Shocks - Shockwarehouse.com, One of the things I like about the 5150 series is that you can modify the top to match the style of top mount on your rig. They come standard with the hourglass bushing but can be changed to a post or crossbar mount on top.

What I have done is to measure my vehicle at resting to see the length of the shock at mid-point. Then I have lifted the vehicle front or back to see the maximum extended length. To be accurate, you should also compress one side to see collapsed length. But, I usually take the static measurement, then the maximum length and figure out from there what the collapsed length would be. Then I buy a shock that has the top and bottom configuration that I need using my measurements and the chart on shockwarehouse.com. You generally want the shock sitting in the middle of collapse/extension, although many will debate this one but as long as you are close, you should be ok. Once you know the exact shock you need, you can use the part number from shockwarehouse.com to comparison shop at Summit Racing or other vendors.

 

[SanteeRunner]

Geez, thanks for the great info Darrie and Desert Rat!
I wish i wasnt so impatient because I bit the bullet and bought some procomp white body gas shocks (i forget the model # but it was the higher end one).
I knew there had to be a bilstein that wouldve worked and you wouldve thought that any good parts guy at an off road warehouse wouldve been able to help me out, but they were dumbfounded and couldnt think of any alternatives.
The ride is just about the same front to rear with the bilstein to the procomp so other than that fact that i have to live with SS up front and white in the back i guess ill be alright.
But thanks again for the great info. If i ever get an itch one day or blow a shock or something, I will reference this post for sure for the correct info