My 2008 with 170,000 miles need new shocks.

[JasonNadas]

I have been told by my mechanic and friend that my rear shocks are leaking and need to be replaced. Is my best option to just get 2 replacement shocks? Should I do all 4? Should I use this opportunity to upgrade suspension? If so, what should I do. I do mostly driving on pavement, but always take the gravel when I have the chance and almost never pass an opportunity to take a minimum maintenance road. Advice appreciated.

 

[CJ3Flyer]

What does your mechanic friend suggest? He probably has a better bead on how you use it, what your expectations are etc.

The fact you’re asking the question with no specific lift goals in mind and no real complaints about how your vehicle performs I’m inclined to suggest just do 4 OEM shocks. That should get you to 340k miles. I mean think about it, 170k on a set of shocks isn’t too bad...

If you don’t carry heavy loads or have a specific lift target in mind then the decision falls into the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” category in my mind.

 

[JasonNadas]

What does your mechanic friend suggest? He probably has a better bead on how you use it, what your expectations are etc.

The fact you’re asking the question with no specific lift goals in mind and no real complaints about how your vehicle performs I’m inclined to suggest just do 4 OEM shocks. That should get you to 340k miles. I mean think about it, 170k on a set of shocks isn’t too bad...

If you don’t carry heavy loads or have a specific lift target in mind then the decision falls into the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” category in my mind.

That is good advice. My friend says OEM as well. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing an obvious simple upgrade. I do carry a lot of gear and cargo but it has always done well. Not interested in a lift at all so I am probably good with stock.

 

[CJ3Flyer]

That is good advice. My friend says OEM as well. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing an obvious simple upgrade. I do carry a lot of gear and cargo but it has always done well. Not interested in a lift at all so I am probably good with stock.

If you’re not a modding nut or Baja racer wanna-be Toyota OE stuff is pretty great. I had a very mildly lifted 4Runner with OE shocks. At about 160k I put on another set of OE shocks. It drove great when I sold it at 277k miles.

 

[Reckless]

Personally, Id do performance shocks. I went with Icon with cdc and believe they are much better than stock.

 

[TeCKis300]

I'd change all 4 at that mileage.

OEM is a great option if that suits your driving style. An incremental upgrade could be OME shocks.

 

[nwfl4runner]

you can do just rears no problem, no reason to do all 4 unless you are looking to refresh. I would, however, suggest if you are doing the rears that you refresh swaybar bushings, and consider replacing the springs as well. They're cheap, and you're dropping the axle anyhow.

 

[TeCKis300]

you can do just rears no problem, no reason to do all 4 unless you are looking to refresh. I would, however, suggest if you are doing the rears that you refresh swaybar bushings, and consider replacing the springs as well. They're cheap, and you're dropping the axle anyhow.

You'll want to change all 4 and here's why...

Shocks wear from day one until they ultimately fail. Wear in the sense that damping is gradually lost until the function is no longer adequately performed. A vehicles suspension works as a system across both axles. Each axle is not really independent as they are interconnected via the chassis.

If one were to only change the rears, that axle will now be fresh with much more damping control. Motion energy will tend to propagate from the tight rear end to the looser front end, making for poor handling as the front will now tend to bob with more amplitude. The fact that the front axle now has to deal with the combined suspension energy from the front and rear, further increasing wear, will destroy it in short order.

Nevermind that at 170k, it's likely already well past its useful life.