Top-Hats for Front Struts - Needed or No?

[Koko4]

I'm about to do the Bilstein 5100 fronts / Tundra springs, and LC 8-wraps / Bilstein 5100 rears. Been waiting awhile for the parts to come in, and they're finally here. I got to thinking that it might be a good idea to get a set of top-hats, instead of reusing my old top hats. That way, I can have two sets of fully assembled struts / shocks, without having to compress / decompress springs if I ever want to put the stock shocks back on (for whatever reason).

Anyways, to my question. Can I go with a set off of RockAuto (one of these..suggestions?)

Or do I need to go with an OEM Toyota one? (Recommendations of where to get good OEM Toyota parts like this?)

Or should I just say screw it altogether, save the $50-$80 or so, and just reuse the one that I already have?

Thanks guys.

 

[Asaspades93]

I bought mine from napa when I assembled my 5100s, no complaints so far

 

[Chuckles89]

You could re-use your old ones. My KYB ones are nice. From what I remember, the rubber cushion on my originals were dry and hard. I don't know if that makes a difference.

 

[sn0wrunner]

Makes sense to me to buy new ones and have the old set just in case. You never know.... Rock Auto ones will be just fine. No need to buy OEM for the top mounts.

 

[beer-toe]

I have some tundra isolaters for sale.....in the sale section

 

[gamefreakgc]

I'm about to do the Bilstein 5100 fronts / Tundra springs, and LC 8-wraps / Bilstein 5100 rears. Been waiting awhile for the parts to come in, and they're finally here. I got to thinking that it might be a good idea to get a set of top-hats, instead of reusing my old top hats. That way, I can have two sets of fully assembled struts / shocks, without having to compress / decompress springs if I ever want to put the stock shocks back on (for whatever reason).

Anyways, to my question. Can I go with a set off of RockAuto (one of these..suggestions?)


Or do I need to go with an OEM Toyota one? (Recommendations of where to get good OEM Toyota parts like this?)

Or should I just say screw it altogether, save the $50-$80 or so, and just reuse the one that I already have?

Thanks guys.

Why not just buy all new parts that way you eliminate any issues with the mounts? That's what I am doing, I am putting KYB's in my rig real soon and found KYB mounts brand new for $25 each on Ebay. Now I've got the complete package of coils, struts and mounts that are ready to go.

 

[csp]

I have some tundra isolaters for sale.....in the sale section

He probably already has Tundra isolators, which have the bolt spacing that's too large for a 4Runner.

No need for OEM on this part. The OEM kool-aid is strong on this site....

 

[Myrunr2010]

To revive an old thread....is there any reason to buy an expensive one over the cheapest? The KYB brand is more than twice the sensen.

 

[gamefreakgc]

I don't have any experience with other brands, I went with KYB and they've worked well. You can't do any worse than re-using the old mounts so anything new is an improvement.