Tokico Green Shocks/Struts Nut Question

[Erich_870]

So I'm planning to replace my stock shocks later this spring and Bob was kind enough to show me where he got his Tokico Green Shocks/Struts. There is some information on the net that there was a serious problem with the front strut nut ( :laugh:) sent from the factory. Here's a very informative thread on the "other forum" http://www.yotatech.com/f2/tokico-top-nut-stripped-off-108293/ (I decided to post it since Sean and Schaefer are well respected on this forum)

Does anyone know if the problem is long gone and of little concern these days?

I just wondered if I need to intensely inspect the nuts when I get these shocks.

Erich

[Seanz0rz]

i dont know about well respected, but ok... :spit:

yeah they put a 1/2" nut on an m12 thread, so about 30% of the thread was in contact with the nut, and the nut failed, leaving behind its threads.

as for if they fixed it, i am unsure. if you do not have a FLAPS close to you, i would advise picking up those nuts ahead of time just to be sure. take the shock with you and have them match the nut to the threads.

if they havent fixed it, you will notice the nut feels loose on the stud (because it is), so dont use it. when i did mine, one of them felt much worse than the other, so i replaced the one that felt really bad, but i should have replaced both...

here is the toyota part number for the nut: 94184-01241 (from the TOF thread)

i believe its a m12x1.5 but i am not positive on the 1.5 part.

[Erich_870]

What's a "FLAPS"?

I'll just pick up a m12 bolt when I get them and double check. I'm sure there would be more talk about these shocks if there was still a problem.

Erich

[Seanz0rz]

friendly local auto parts store. sorry ive been spending too much time on the samba.

i have one down the street and around the corner, so if i need parts while working, its no major thing to jump in one of the other vehicles and take a trip down there.

on the other hand, if you live far away from one, or dont have access to another vehicle, it would be very nice to have everything you need before you start.

[Erich_870]

Gotcha. I'll have to plan ahead, that's for sure. I'm not sure who has a spring compressor in this town, but I have time to do some research.

Around here, the parts stores won't overwhelm you with friendliness or selection/inventory...

Erich

[4x4mike]

I replaced my factory '99 shocks with Tokico Trekmasters last year. I have a thread on here somewhere but I used an eBay seller Avi (I think it was him) suggested. IIRC the 4 shocks were $230 or so delivered.

These are what showed up

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_6hyBcEQWF14/TFuNo1N3oWI/AAAAAAAAXnY/u5uUYUgEuk0/s800/DSC08111.JPG

I referenced the part numbers and these were the shocks that SS sold with his Tundra lift for 4Runners. He will no longer sell these shocks with that lift because of problems discovered but I don't have that lift so I was ok. My nuts looked ok and fit fine so I'm thinking they fixed the problem. You can only tighten them down so much because the shaft spins but you'll see it's tight enough. I've had a lot of miles on them and they are going strong so I'd give what you have a go.

I used HF spring compressors for the front and they were easy. The rear shocks were a bear to take off so read up on that. The top pockets off the frame were full of sand and mud so my top nuts were rusted.

[4x4mike]

Here is the thread that mentions the ebay seller. It was Fenrisx that told me about him. Shipping was free and fast.

http://www.ultimateyota.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=9130.0

[Seanz0rz]

mike, there should be a flat spot on the stud to put a wrench on to hold while you tighten. typically the nuts will bottom out before they really start to compress the rubber cushions.

i believe the reason steve stopped using them with the tundra coils is because to achieve the desired height, a top out spacer was needed. but the full extension of the shock was causing excessive droop and consequently CV joint failure.

as for spring compressors, i too started with the harbor freight compressors. it did not end well...
http://www.yotatech.com/f2/my-lift-98715/

if you have to, spend the 50 bucks to buy good ones from sears, or rent them at an autozone, etc if you can.

[Erich_870]

It's still a ways down the road, but I just called my local Les Schwab Tire Center and they will swap my springs onto the new shocks for $25 each, so I'm not even going to mess with it myself, hehehe.

Erich

[4x4mike]

I was reinstalling my '99 coils so the HF compressors worked fine. A taller and stiffer spring doesn't seem like it would end well for the HF unit.

Sean, I remember the spud, it's a small guy. I used them and it's all good.

Steve told me the shocks weren't designed for a taller spring and the shocks would fail. Most with that lift claimed a harsh ride and Steve said the stock was not meant to be driven in the portion of travel the tundra spring put it at. The new lift has the bilstiens like you've got and the trekmasters are only available in the '99 coil lift.

[fenrisx]

I've recommended that seller to a few people. I'll be installing mine either this weekend, or next. I'm going to be in GA, and have my brother help me install them. I'm hoping the problem is fixed, but worst case scenario we can drive to the store and get the nuts we need.

I'm installing them on PP 1" lift springs, which is probably going to be about 2" of lift on my 4Runner. I know Steve has said they will fail on a taller spring, but I've read several posts from people on TOF that are happy with their PP/Tokico setup after switching out the Billies that came with them originally. I'm guessing the PP isn't tall enough to cause problems.

Hopefully we can rent some compressors from AZ. I might have my brother ask a guy he works with (I used to work there too) if he has a good set since he was a mechanic for a lonnng time.

It's cool you posted this thread when you did because I was wondering the same thing about the nuts on the Tokicos.

[TheDurk]

I got mine at shox.com about 8 months ago for $209 (free shipping) for all four. I was aware of the nut reports and checked carefully before I decided to use them. They were tight as the proverbial frog pu$$y. I think the problem is long gone.

[fenrisx]

My brother (mostly) and I installed these today.

I don't know if anyone else had this problem, but the new bushings for the rear upper shock bolt were too thick. There was no way to get the nut threaded on.

We made the mistake of fulling compressing the shock in an attempt to put pressure on the bushings to flatten them enough to thread the bolt. In the process of doing that a small amount of gas leaked out. The shock seemed to have a *tiny* bit of play up&down after that. Just a bit though. (We ended up just using the old upper bushings for the rear shocks.)

[Seanz0rz]

cody, its been so long since i did mine the first time, i cant remember if i had problems with the bushings or not.

glad you got it all put back together.

[fenrisx]

Yeah, it wasn't too big of a deal... just a slight pita.

As far as the nuts go.. the fronts fit good, as did the rear.

[TheDurk]

My brother (mostly) and I installed these today.

I don't know if anyone else had this problem, but the new bushings for the rear upper shock bolt were too thick. There was no way to get the nut threaded on.

We made the mistake of fulling compressing the shock in an attempt to put pressure on the bushings to flatten them enough to thread the bolt. In the process of doing that a small amount of gas leaked out. The shock seemed to have a *tiny* bit of play up&down after that. Just a bit though. (We ended up just using the old upper bushings for the rear shocks.)


Those bushings are designed to fit in two different sized holes. If you try to put the fat ends in the hole it won't fit. Turn them upside down and the narrow end goes further into the mount. This could possibly have been your problem. I could not get the nut to thread until I turned the bushing over.