Shocks And Struts For Toyota Tundra

We are going to take a look at the best shocks and struts for your Toyota Tundra. There are several options for you to consider depending on how you use your Toyota Tundra on a daily basis.

With that being said, how do you drive your Tundra? Do you use it for daily commutes to and from work? Do you use it for regular towing and hauling work?

Or is it used regularly on rough, off-road trails through mud holes and potholes? Is it just a weekend truck designated for fun rides or hunting trips? These are important questions to ask yourself when determining the best option for shocks and struts on your Toyota Tundra beauty.

What is your primary and secondary use of your Toyota Tundra?

Is it your daily commuter vehicle?

Is it mostly for interstate/highway rides?

Do you regularly haul heavy duty materials?

Do you use it to regularly tow boats, farm equipment or other vehicles?

Is it used strictly for off-road trails and mud holes?

Is it the family vehicle?

Is it strictly a back country truck?

You should also ask yourself these questions:

What is your budget for new shocks or struts?

Are you planning on keeping the Tundra for a few more years?

Are you planning on selling the Tundra?

Are you want to install the shocks and struts yourself?

Now that you have these questions in mind, do you know how to check for worn or failing shocks and struts? Most people generally know that the shocks on their vehicle have gone bad when their rides are no longer smooth.

With every inch of movement, it feels like a bouncy ride in an old, wooden wagon. However, many people are unsure in how to check the shocks and struts. If you’re one of those folks, there are ways to know that it’s definitely time to change your shocks and struts. Take a look at these signs for bad shocks and struts:

Cupping on tires is a big sign that your shocks and struts are going bad. This is especially true if you’ve had a routine tire rotation, but the wear and tear is still increasing at uncommon rates. Pay attention to your tires; especially after you’ve had the routine tire rotation.

Oil leakage. If there’s constant oil leaking onto parts from the shock shaft, then that is a tell-tale sign of bad shocks or struts. A good practice is to check again after another 50 miles or so to see if there’s still a leak from the shock shaft. If it’s still leaking oil, then it’s safe to say that you may need to replace your shocks and struts.

Bushings problems. If the bushings are broken, then yes, that’s also a tell-tale sign that your shocks or struts need changed. The ride will not improve with broken bushings. It’s time to change the shocks out and replace the broken bushings while you’re at it.

Swaying after turns. This can feel like you’re on a boat, and that’s not pleasant.

Nose-diving when you hit the brakes. (That’s not always a nice feeling.)

You can feel the Tundra bottoming out when you go up or down a hill. (That’s actually the suspension lowering underneath the body of the Tundra.)The shocks need changed out quickly. When this is going on, take the time to get them replaced so that you don’t damage anything else on your truck.

Bouncing as your ride. This is the most obvious sign. If your Tundra is bouncing up and down while driving down the road, and it continues to do this after it has come to a stop, then that’s a major clue to replace the shocks or struts.

Because at this point, the Tundra is literally riding on the springs that support the truck and it is no longer muted by the shocks. You don’t want to feel like you’re riding on a horse. You want to feel like you’re riding in a truck!

Commuting/Highway/Street

For a person that uses their vehicle to regularly commute to work (or anywhere on a daily basis), a good, high quality shock or strut should last for the vehicle’s lifetime. Typically, they last the entire time with little to no problems.

However, if you regularly drive over large speed bumps, potholes and railroad tracks, this may complicate a shock that came from the manufacturer. (Budget shocks are especially affected by disturbances like potholes and speed bumps.)

However, it’s great to know that a thicker shock body provides excellent quality and assurance for the lifetime of many vehicles. This is largely due to the low shock pressure while maintaining tremendous cooling capacities.

Unfortunately, if you’re riding on standard factory shocks and continuously run over speed bumps and railroad tracks at unreasonable speeds, your shocks will definitely wear out much faster than they were originally intended to do.

Let’s take a look at the best shocks and struts for toyota tundra that work great for daily commuting and regular highway rides:

We aim to show you accurate product information. Manufacturers, suppliers, and others provide what you see here, and we have not verified it. See our disclaimer.

Bilstein 4600 Series

The Bilstein 4600 Series is popular with Toyota. They’re smart to install these trucks with this series of shocks and struts because they provide smooth rides through most driving conditions.

In fact, these shocks and struts even provide smooth rides in trail roading as well. So what else is great about the Bilstein 4600 Series? It’s a monotube gas shock, which perform better than twin tube shocks.

Here are some pros and cons for the Bilstein 4600 Series:

Bilstein 4600 Series Shock Absorbers For Toyota Tundra 4WD 2007-14 - Includes Front Struts # 24-186230 & Rear Shocks # 24-186247

• Includes front and rear 4600 Series Bilstein Shock Absorbers.
• compatible with stock height Tundra 4WD 2007-14.
• Monotube gas pressure technology provides improved control and stability, precise handling, ultimate performance, and incredible comfort.
• Easy to install; direct bolt-on; no modification required.
• Lifetime Warranty

$360.68

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Given the excellent feedback from other users, and the affordable cost, the Bilstein 4600 Series is highly recommended!

Bilstein 5100 Series

Bilstein has designed and built this incredible shock particularly for off-road and trail-road performances. In addition to the undeniable comfort for off-road performances, the Bilstein 5100 Series also offers smooth riding for highway driving as well.

If you’re looking for a set of shocks and struts that offer the best of both worlds, you may want to consider the Bilstein 5100. It’s no wonder that this particular series is among the most favorite for our consumers.

This kit fits Toyota Tundra 4WD 2007-14 and comes with a front ride height adjustable coil spring collar. Folks can have the factory height with their Tundra and even go up to about 2.3” of height and lift using the coil springs. Overall, it gives you an adjustable height from about .875 to 2.3” of lift.

It also comes with a matching rear shock absorbers that allows for up to 1” of height and lift.

Bilstein off-road shock absorbers feature zinc or nickel plated coatings. This high performance finish prevents oxidation of the protected metal, increases durability and expands the lifetime of the shock.

Here’s a list of pros and cons for the Bilstein 5100 Series:

Bilstein 5100 Series Shock Kit for Toyota Tundra 4WD 2007-14 - Includes Front Ride Height Adjustable Shocks # 24-232173 & Rear Shocks # 24-186971 by Bilstein

• Kit includes Front Ride Height Adjustable and matching Rear 5100 Series Shock Absorbers.
• Front shocks adjustable from .875-2.3" of lift. Rear accomodate up to 1" of lift.
• Kit compatible with Tundra 4WD 2007-14.
• Easy to install; direct bolt-on; no modification required.
• Lifetime Warranty

$448.32 -$0.32 $448.00

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KYB KG9026

The KYB KG9026 strut is super friendly to the wallet. If you use your Toyota Tundra for regular driving scenarios, then this provides an inexpensive way to smooth riding again.

With the monotube gas technology, this strut adds nearly 25% softening performance than your traditional shocks. So, if mileage and longevity are important for your situation, we highly recommend this inexpensive option for your choice in shocks and struts.

They always outperform twin tube designs and offer the ultimate comfort. This is possible due to the hydraulic unit that produces an air-free functionality to totally eliminate any flaw in smooth riding.

Listed below are some pros and cons that you may find useful:

KYB KG9026 Gas-a-Just Gas Strut

• Adds up to 25% more damping performance over original equipment shocks
• Gas-a-Just reacts to load changes and adds instant responsiveness on Toyota Tundras
• High gas pressure design is perfect for hauling heavy loads
• monotube design outperforms all other standard shock absorbers
• Unique, air-free, hydraulic unit eliminates performance fade

$74.11

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Even better? The KYB KG9026 model works through a high gas pressure mechanism that allows for hauling heavy loads for a smoother and more comfortable ride.

We definitely recommend this strut for the everyday use of your Toyota Tundra with the benefit of heavy duty hauling as well.

Tow/Haul/Heavy Duty

Now that we’ve checked out the best shocks and struts for daily commuting and highway performances, let’s look into the best ones for towing, hauling and heavy duty performances. As you already know, it’s really important to have a balanced, steady ride while hauling heavy duty materials or trailers.

This is why it’s so crucial to choose the best supportive shocks for such scenarios. However, shocks alone cannot always provide the most balanced tow and haul.

It would be wise to first look into weight distributions systems that would create the best scenario for your vehicle to tow the maximum weight without compromise going over the allotted weight limit. It’s our recommendation to first research this before shopping for shocks.

With that being said, gas pressurized shocks are wonderful in handling the heavy trail loads and balancing out the weight without compromising the stability.

Listed below are some shocks and struts that work great for towing and hauling heavy duty materials and trailers. Take a peek.

Fox 2.0 Performance

The Fox 2.0 Performance shocks are awesome for heavy duty tows and hauls. These shocks are the monotube gas design that are encased in aluminum to provide incredible performance.

If you regularly tow heavy trailers with heavy duty equipment, the Fox 2.0 shocks are something for you to consider. This particular kit comes with two rear pair shocks for trucks that are at factory standard height.

They are a great price for what they offer. However, they don’t come with the shock hardware or the mounting plates. But the kit does come with the necessary bushings, clamps, washers and nuts.

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons for the Fox 2.0 Performance shocks:

Fox 2.0 Performance Shocks w/Reservoir Rear Pair for 07-18 Tundra 4WD RWD

• Part Number 985-24-115
• Rear pair of 2 shocks for vehicles at factory height or w/0-1" rear lift; Rear shock hardware not included, original factory rubber bushings and steel washers are reused for installation
• Fits 2WD & 4WD vehicles
• Shock boots & Roost Shields sold separately. All necessary washers, bushings, reservoir clamps, and nuts included. Factory shock mounting bolts are reused for installation. Mounting plates sold separately.
• Fox's limited one (1) year warranty protects against defects and premature failure.

$515.59

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If you’re one of those folks that uses your Tundra strictly for off-road trails, mud riding and weekend fun, then you’ll want to choose the best quality struts that will withstand the ride. Let’s face it: it’s a waste of time to buys shocks or struts that aren’t designed for off-roading. It wouldn’t be too long before you’d have to replace those.

We have pulled together a list of struts that work great for these weekend fun times and off-roading experiences. Take a look below:

Bilstein 6112 Struts and Coils

The Bilstein 6112 Struts and Coils are high quality and very efficient in the use of off-roading and trail riding. Although they’re significantly higher priced from our previous choices, they offer a lot for the need.

They come with two front struts and springs as well as two rear shocks. The adjustable height coil spring collar allows for five different lift settings from the standard factory height to 2.5”.

In fact, the front lift adjustment is modified by the coil spring collar settings enabling the truck to rise as high as 2.5”. However, keep in mind that you’ll need a coil spring compressor for the installation process.

The package does not come with the compressor or the rear shock hardware. In other words, the strut and spring sets are not already assembled. However, this isn’t a problem if you’re a pro with working on trucks.

Let’s take a look at some pros and cons for the Bilstein 6112 Struts and Coils:

BILSTEIN Shocks compatible with 07-16 TUNDRA 4WD

• Front Pair of Struts & Springs + Rear Pair of Shocks - compatible with 07-17 TUNDRA 2WD 4WD
• Strut & spring not assembled; coil-spring compressor required for installation. Front height adjustment is achieved by 5 coil-spring collar settings, lifting the vehicle up to 2.5".
• Front 6112 Strut & Springs: Thick 60mm shock body provides more fluid capacity than 5100 and 4600 series, allowing for more aggressive driving and improved durability. Comparable to TRD offroad suspension package. Rear 5100 Shocks: Monotube gas charged for longevity, durability, and performance.
• All necessary washers, bushings, and nuts included. Factory shock mounting bolts are reused for installation.
• Bilstein's Limited Lifetime manufacturer's Warranty protects against defects and premature failure.

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If you didn’t already know, the Bilstein brand has always been known for providing their consumers with tremendous highway comfort and control, but now they’ve managed to design struts and coils that offer the same comfort for the off-road scenario. We recommend the Bilstein 6112 for any off-road opportunity!

Fox 2.5 Factory Coil-Over

Another great shocks and struts for your off-road Tundra is the Fox 2.5 Factory Coil-Over. We end our list of shocks and struts with the most expensive package, but it sure does offer tremendous quality!

This coil-over reservoir shock set is designed for any Toyota Tundra truck between the 2007 models to the 2017 models. With the coil already over the shocks, this set provides a super smooth ride for those back country, rocky roads.

Let’s take a look at some pros and cons for the Fox 2.5 Factory Coil-Over:

FAQ/Buyer’s Guide

Contents:

As always, we love to answer common questions from folks concerning the best shocks and struts for the Toyota Tundra. If you have a question, there’s a great likelihood that it has already been asked by someone else.

Check out our answers to some of the most common questions that are listed below:

Where are KYB shocks made?

KYB shocks were originally developed and manufactured in Tokyo, Japan around 1919. As the company grew throughout the years, it expanded to the United States and to Europe in 1959. With that being said, KYB shocks are manufactured in Japan, the United States and Europe. As they always have been, they offer excellent quality and longevity in their shocks and struts.

What is the difference between Bilstein 4600 and Bilstein 5100 shocks?

We get asked this question a lot. The Bilstein 4600 series is designed for trucks that are stock height trucks. These trucks are known for hauling and towing heavy duty trailers, heavy duty material and so on. The Bilstein 5100 series are designed and built for regular, lifted trucks. These work great for the daily commuter and highway trucks.

Which way do you install Bilstein shocks?

If you ever wonder which way to install your Bilstein shocks, you can always look at the Bilstein logo on the shock itself. If the logo is upside down, then so are your shocks. The right way to install the Bilstein shock is with the boot facing down and the label facing the right way on the bottom. Again, if the logo is upside down and not on the bottom, then the shock is upside down as well. This is an easy trick to know for sure that you’re installing the shocks in the correct way.

Are Bilstein 5100 shocks rebuildable?

Yes, you can have the Bilstein 5100 rebuilt, but honestly, it would be much cheaper to just replace it than to rebuild it. Bilstein has it to where you can order a rebuild kit, but it costs less to replace it. Your best bet would be to replace the shock. However, if you would really prefer to rebuild the Bilstein 5100, then contact Bilstein to order the rebuild kit.

What about new technologies?

If you’re a hardcore trucker and regularly haul and tow heavy duty materials, trailers or frequently operate your truck in off-road scenarios, it’s always great to keep an eye out for the latest technologies in shocks and struts. The smoother the ride, the better when it comes to rougher rides.

KYB and Fox are also excellent brands for high quality shocks and struts. These are the names to keep in mind!

Conclusion

When it comes to replacing your Toyota Tundra’s shocks and struts, we hope that this information has been useful to you. There are plenty of affordable options out there for the Toyota Tundra’s shocks and struts.

Remember to establish the main use for your truck before determining the type of shock or strut you’ll need. Do you use your Toyota Tundra for daily commuting and highway driving? Do you mainly use it for heavy duty hauling and towing?

Or do you only use your Toyota Tundra for off-road riding and backcountry roads? This is also important for determining your budget with a new set of shocks and struts. It isn’t worth purchasing the cheapest shock system out there when it best applies to an everyday, commuter vehicle while your truck is only used for heavy duty hauling and towing.