How many miles before you replaced your shocks?

[Mike-in-WV]

How many miles did you have on your vehicle before you replaced your shocks and how did
you know it was time? Mike

[Robinhood4x4]

I went about 120k miles on my factory shocks. They way you can tell is when you hit a bump your truck will continue to bounce longer than it used to. It shouldn't bounce up and down more than once or twice on a speed bump.

[MTL_4runner]

I just barely broke 100k on mine and probably could have gone longer (I had one rear that looked like it was leaking oil), but I often push my stuff a bit farther than I should. The issue is really diminishing returns because you think the old shocks are fine until you see how much better the truck rides when they've been replaced. Oil on the shock is a sure sign of needing replacement as is the speed bump test (the truck should stop bouncing after one ocilation beyond the speed bump (you can do the old jump on the bumper test, but it's not as reliable as actually driving over obstacles). Like I said, shocks usually lose efffectiveness slowly so it's often hard to really know exactly when is the "right" time to change them unless there is a clear failure.

[Mike-in-WV]

Thanks guy's. This Tacoma is so much stiffer than any other truck I have owned over the years that it's hard for me to tell. Maybe I'll just go ahead and replace them anyway so I don't have to worry about it for several more years. I have around 87,000 on it now and it's a 01, extend.. cab, 4x4, SR5 Tacoma. Mike

[Elton]

mine have 148k on them

[QSVeilside]

88k on mine when the shocks were replaced. Once I had them replaced with Bilsteins - BIG difference in road feel.

[gpcollen]

I use 75k as a general rule - that is so I do it by the time I hit 80 or 85k. They wear out after a while and you do not really notice it til they are bad or you just install new ones.

[MTL_4runner]

I use 75k as a general rule - that is so I do it by the time I hit 80 or 85k. They wear out after a while and you do not really notice it til they are bad or you just install new ones.

That is pretty good advice and I agree completely. I think most people (including myself because I'm often being cheap) push it too far on old shocks and don't realize how much the ride has deteriorated over time until the new shocks go on. The 75-85k is a good rule of thumb if you want to continually maintain ride comfort over time.

[garrett]

mine have 123k on them and i would love some new ones

[Markduce]

If the orignal owner didnt replace them before he sold it at 110k. Then my orignals have 187k on them. Might be time to replace.