Rebuild OLD Toytec Ultimate shocks ?

[arthurm]

My 2013 TE came with a Toytec 3-inch kit, with SPC UCA's, Bilsteins, presumably the "Ultimate" kit, as per Toytec.

Toytec tells me:

"That is a Bilstein but it's not a normal Bilstein. Those shocks Bilstein makes for us solely for the purpose of the ultimates. Your setup cant be rebuilt, that setup isn’t supported anymore."

I'd hate to swap out the entire coilover unless I can get them rebuilt. Nothing wrong with them currently, but who knows how long they'll last.

So, has anyone had any luck rebuilding these Bilsteins?

Are there shock specialty shops that can do the job?

Here's pics of the setup. Yes, the UCA's are being replaced with another brand:

Toytec

 

[comtn4x4]

My 2013 TE came with a Toytec 3-inch kit, with SPC UCA's, Bilsteins, presumably the "Ultimate" kit, as per Toytec.

Toytec tells me:

"That is a Bilstein but it's not a normal Bilstein. Those shocks Bilstein makes for us solely for the purpose of the ultimates. Your setup cant be rebuilt, that setup isn’t supported anymore."

I'd hate to swap out the entire coilover unless I can get them rebuilt. Nothing wrong with them currently, but who knows how long they'll last.

So, has anyone had any luck rebuilding these Bilsteins?

Are there shock specialty shops that can do the job?

Here's pics of the setup. Yes, the UCA's are being replaced with another brand:

Toytec

I had these on m '13 back in the day till I killed them lol.

It's really not worth the cost of rebuilding even if it was possible. Rebuilding would involve the laborof disassembly and you'd need an alignment regardless. The coil looks to be reuseable so just the shock gets replaced.
I recently priced rebuilding some Radflos here in Denver and it was about $225 just for the rebuild which didn't include disassembly. Alignment and removal/install wasn't included either . Looks to be under $300 for a couple Bilstein shocks. Bilstein shock built with coils are around $600. Might be cheaper to get a whole new built coilover.

 

[arthurm]

I hoped to just replace the UCA's and be done with it, as the rest of the setup is still good. That would give me time to decide on a complete replacement later.

So, since Toytec says these are custom Bilsteins, you're saying I can replace with other Bilsteins?

As for Bilstein coilovers for $600, can you start me off with a link?

One thing is certain, my next coilovers will include off the shelf shocks so I'm not stuck in the same position I'm now in.

 

[comtn4x4]

I hoped to just replace the UCA's and be done with it, as the rest of the setup is still good. That would give me time to decide on a complete replacement later.

So, since Toytec says these are custom Bilsteins, you're saying I can replace with other Bilsteins?

As for Bilstein coilovers for $600, can you start me off with a link?

One thing is certain, my next coilovers will include off the shelf shocks so I'm not stuck in the same position I'm now in.

There's no reason you can't just replace the UCA's. However, in order to replace the UCA you'll need to do a very similar scope of work as to replacing the UCA and the coilover. And with both you'd need an alignment. So from a time out of service and a cost perspective it'd be more advantageous to do it all at once.


Toytec saying something is "custom" doesn't mean much. Rebranded for their use would be more accurate.
Yes you can find a Billstein that will be interchangeable with what's in there now. Or almost any other brand of shock so long as the coilover seat is the same.
I did a quick search for "4Runner Bilstein Front Coilover" and got this:
Toytec/Bilstein 5100 Front Coilovers - TTAFCS-HA | Offroad Alliance
I don't know or recommend this website FWIW.

 

[Soneill]

My 2013 TE came with a Toytec 3-inch kit, with SPC UCA's, Bilsteins, presumably the "Ultimate" kit, as per Toytec.

Toytec tells me:

"That is a Bilstein but it's not a normal Bilstein. Those shocks Bilstein makes for us solely for the purpose of the ultimates. Your setup cant be rebuilt, that setup isn’t supported anymore."

I'd hate to swap out the entire coilover unless I can get them rebuilt. Nothing wrong with them currently, but who knows how long they'll last.

So, has anyone had any luck rebuilding these Bilsteins?

Are there shock specialty shops that can do the job?

Here's pics of the setup. Yes, the UCA's are being replaced with another brand:

Toytec

I have the Ultimate set up on my truck. Its been 70k now and they are done. Saving for a full replacement as they can't be rebuilt and finding a replacement to fit is too much trouble. The new Aluma Series can be rebuilt. If i were in your shoes are not ready to pull the trigger on an all new set up, I'd just get UCA's for now. Maybe even a cheap OEM set. You have a shit ton of rust and its going to be in your best interest to replace it all as opposed to reusing the coils and other parts. Just my opinion.

 

[arthurm]

So, UCA's for now and hope that Black Friday will push me to buy a full kit. There's nothing wrong with the rest of my setup now, just some surface rust. It should be good for a few months at least.

I saw that Bilstein setup. It appears to be a fixed 3-inch kit, not adjustable?

There's also this, like my current setup:

Toytec Ultimate Coilovers: 4Runner/FJ - TTAFCS-210 | Offroad Alliance

I don't know if the shocks are rebuildable, Toytec will say not. I'll try find a shop that tells me otherwise. I just hate throwing away good springs just because of the shocks. I put on over 150K miles on two Land Rovers without a single spring going bad.

The Aluma series is a bit pricier than this, accounting for the rebuildability.

I need to research some more...

 

[Soneill]

So, UCA's for now and hope that Black Friday will push me to buy a full kit. There's nothing wrong with the rest of my setup now, just some surface rust. It should be good for a few months at least.

I saw that Bilstein setup. It appears to be a fixed 3-inch kit, not adjustable?

There's also this, like my current setup:

Toytec Ultimate Coilovers: 4Runner/FJ - TTAFCS-210 | Offroad Alliance

I don't know if the shocks are rebuildable, Toytec will say not. I'll try find a shop that tells me otherwise. I just hate throwing away good springs just because of the shocks. I put on over 150K miles on two Land Rovers without a single spring going bad.

The Aluma series is a bit pricier than this, accounting for the rebuildability.

I need to research some more...

Always remember, buy once cry once.

 

[Offroad Alliance]

as mentioned above, buy once cry once.

We try not to push this as it sounds like salesman garbo, but in the world of shocks, you get what you pay for. Sometimes a little bit more can lead to quite a bit of savings in the future when factoring maintenance and rebuilds.

The Toytec ultimate is 15yr old technology at this point which has been rebranded and fixed up 3 or 4 times but is the same core parts. It is a Bilstein 5100 (throw away) shock that is 100% not rebuildable and will cost nearly twice the labor cost to replace that shock when it goes out than the cost of the replacement shock itself. Higher end coilovers will need to be rebuilt which can range from 150-300/shock depending on where you are, but can be done over and over without replacing more than seals and oils.

Toytecs Aluma series, Elka shocks, Icon, ADS, King, Fox 2.5 series are all rebuildable. Give us a shout if you need some help or have any questions about valving or one mfg over anothers details. Elkas are made in CAN so for northern customers or those experiencing snow and salty roads, those shocks are made with much more gaskets and other protection (coatings) to resist the road debris whereas competitors use steel bodied shocks that will surface rust or not have gaskets/seals protecting the heims from road grime.

 

[arthurm]

I see you guys are in Bockton; I'm in Boston.

I can't say I'm confident in my installer; not enough offroad knowledge. Can you recommend other(s) in the area?

 

[comtn4x4]

Something to remember about rebuilding shocks, you'll need to be able to take your vehicle out of service while the shocks are rebuilt, which is generally a couple weeks depending on the situation. If you don't daily your rig that's not a big deal. You could also have a second set of shocks to use in the interim.

Also consider the rebuild cycle, race shocks like King and Fox need rebuilt about ever 15K miles or on average once a year. My Radflo shocks are every 20K to 25K and my Dobinson's claim not to have a rebuild cycle, seems like mine will need rebuilt at around 30K miles.