L300 Shocks Options

daisy

daisy

New Member
Hey all. I've had a tough time fitting shocks to my stock height L300 that are not the Pro Comp 9000 or 3000 series.

I was most interested in fitting Bilstein 4600 series. I've felt the difference they can make in a small Toyota pickup and would love to find some that fit these smaller vans. After much research, I was able to track down the updated part numbers for Bilstein 4600 series that fit the L300 stock height.

Front: Bilstein B46-1332 (24-013321)
Rear: Bilstein B46-1467 (24-014670)

4wheelparts was able to source the fronts in their newer catalog (24-013321) but not the rears. They contacted Bilstein UK for me and discovered that the model that fits the rear has been out of production for 4 years now.

So… Now I have a set of front Bilsteins waiting for me, but I would like to source something else that fits the rears and gives a similar ride quality. (not Pro Comps).

My next best idea is to find some ARB Old Man Emu that fit the rears. Does anyone have or know where to find a part number for those?

OR

Even better… Does anyone have measurements on hand that a 4x4 shop could do some matching with?

Cheers,
Cody
 
I'm really enjoying the Monroe MA708 air adjustables. Handling-wise they're nothing special (firmer than the worn-out ProComps I had before though) but the adjustability works for me. I use my Delica for everything from shopping in town (no weight in the back) to hauling a caravan (variable weight in the back) to picking up freshly cut firewood (drives like a beached whale). My writeup on fitting MA708 on Delica.ca

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Don't overtighten the lower pins on your Monroes. See here for a tale of woe.

I've just fitted a set of Rancho RS9000Xl shocks to the front, but they required a bit more fettling and I don't consider them a proven option just yet. RS9000XL fronts on Delica.ca

Edit: Don't bother with the Ranchos, they're too soft. Just fit the Bilsteins, you won't regret it.
 
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Excellent writup on the air shocks! Thanks Growlerbearnz, super informative.

I suppose I should consider the future use of the van. Right now I'm building out a camper setup with z-bed and drawers. I don't expect the finished build, fully loaded with gear to be all that much heavier than the original bench and captains seats. But I don't know for certain.

Any experiences with a bed platform and drawers all loaded up, sagging the rear end more than expected?
 
Member YogaSlackerSam has a camperised L300 with the Monroes, and likes them so far, though he's also had new springs made because like all L300s his rear suspension had sagged.

TL;DR: as you add weight the rear end will only sag so far, but the ride quality will get worse.

Not sure if I mentioned it in the writeup, but the lowest leaf (the short, fat one) is an override leaf, it's purely there to take the occasional extra heavy load, and under normal use should not be touching the leaves above it. When the springs get old and tired, they sag until the override leaf is in play all the time. If your leaves have sagged to this point, adding weight won't compress them noticeably much further (that override leaf is *strong*) but it will put extra pressure on the spring eyes, and it'll make the ride increasingly awful.

The nice thing about the Monroes is you can load all your beer... err, *camping supplies* and then just pump them up until that override leaf is just clear of the leaves above. On my van the springs had sagged, but 30psi in the shocks is enough to make it ride like new again (80-90psi when it's towing, and I had them up to 120psi last week when it was full of wet firewood!).
 
Growler! Welcome to the US Forum. Do you have a quick and easy way of checking ride height in the back or do you crawl under, level a string between the two leaf eyes and measure from there? Also have you had any problems with the air system leaking?
 
Since it's just about the relationship between the front and rear heights, I just measure from the ground to the beltline moulding. On mine the overload leaf is clear of the springs when the back of the van is 20-30mm higher than the front (measured at the wheels). Like so:

Front.jpg Rear.jpg

(For your amusement I even managed to find a tape measure that's in centimetres *and* furlongs.)

The Monroe shocks leaked very early on, when I hadn't tightened one of the plastic junctions enough (leak discovered by using soapy water and watching for the bubbles). Once the leak was fixed they were surprisingly reliable, considering how shitty the plastic connectors are. When I added the onboard compressor I replaced the connectors with proper push-fit pneumatic fittings Here on Delica.ca but as you'll see, I had to fabricate an adaptor for the weird Monroe fittings.
 
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Growlerbearnz said:
I'm really enjoying the Monroe MA708 air adjustables. Handling-wise they're nothing special (firmer than the worn-out ProComps I had before though) but the adjustability works for me. I use my Delica for everything from shopping in town (no weight in the back) to hauling a caravan (variable weight in the back) to picking up freshly cut firewood (drives like a beached whale). My writeup on fitting MA708 on Delica.ca

I've just fitted a set of Rancho RS9000Xl shocks to the front, but they required a bit more fettling and I don't consider them a proven option just yet. RS9000XL fronts on Delica.ca
Click to expand...

I'm getting tired of barking up the OME/ARB tree and Growlerbearnz's Monroe install is golden. Going to start looking for similar for my van.
 
UPDATE: the Rancho RS9000XL shocks got softer as they broke in, until they were as soft as the Pro-Comps they replaced, even on the stiffest setting.

I now recommend Bilstein B6 shocks, part number 24-013369. (https://www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk/products/24-013369)
They're a direct bolt-in, no modifications needed, they should suit stock height as well as suspension with 1.5"balljoint spacers. Good control and modern-car like firmness on the highway, but still smooth deflection over larger bumps/offroad.
 
Growlerbearnz said:
I now recommend Bilstein B6 shocks, part number 24-013369. (https://www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk/products/24-013369)
Click to expand...

These are for the front correct? Any suggestion for Bilstein direct fit, stock height for the rears? Thank you.


Edit:. Likely these for the rear (24-013338) Imagine?

www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk

Rear Bilstein B6 - Offroad Shock Absorber - 24-013338

Rear Bilstein B6 - Offroad Shock Absorber - 24-013338 Bilstein shocks.co.uk have thousands of Bilstein suspension products listed to purchase with FAST FREE UK DELIVERY
www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk
 
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Sputnik said:
These are for the front correct? Any suggestion for Bilstein direct fit, stock height for the rears? Thank you.


Edit:. Likely these for the rear (24-013338) Imagine?

www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk

Rear Bilstein B6 - Offroad Shock Absorber - 24-013338

Rear Bilstein B6 - Offroad Shock Absorber - 24-013338 Bilstein shocks.co.uk have thousands of Bilstein suspension products listed to purchase with FAST FREE UK DELIVERY
www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk www.bilstein-shocks.co.uk
Click to expand...
Those won't fit... you need pin bottom, eye top.
 
Part numbers for Bilstein?-
For the Montero, Rock Auto (and Growlerbear) suggests 24-013369 fronts, I've also seen 24-013321 for fronts
For the rears, Rock Auto suggests 24-13376; but a German seller (and another thread here) suggets an L300 kit with 24-014670 for rears.
Can anyone say if all four are good part numbers for a stock height van? I'd like to pull the trigger on the Rock Auto ones. Has anyone happily installed 24-013376's on the rear? it would be great to hear if anyone knows the differences on these; and lay down the "definitive" choice for a baseline, upgrade over stock.
Thanks!
 
PhilE said:
Part numbers for Bilstein?- a German seller (and another thread here) suggets an L300 kit with 24-014670 for rears.
Click to expand...


I recently went through this same search.

24-014670 are no longer made by Bilstein (but are confirmed fitters https://delicaforum.com/index.php?t...exceed-for-sale-lowered-price.1840/post-13956), so you'd need to find somewhere that warehoused old stock/surplus.

I contacted multiple Bilstein sellers and Bilstein itself to find an alternative, and they were all dead ends.

Bilstein 24-022156 (and other similar models) is a possibility, but I could not find specs (length, weight limit, etc) to compare the two models. You need a model with an eye at the top (blue sleeve is the upper part) and a pin at the bottom.

I ended up going with KYB KG5494 which was a confirmed fitter by a couple people on this forum. They work fine.
 
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That’s great info, GB and S. thank you. Do we know if 03321 is a good fit for the front; and if yes- is it superior/inferior/samsies to 013369?
 
PhilE said:
Do we know if 03321 is a good fit for the front; and if yes- is it superior/inferior/samsies to 013369?
Click to expand...

The link in my previous comment confirms 24-013321 as fitters, but I don't know how they compare to 24-013369. I have 24-013369s installed in the front of my '93 , and they went in perfectly.
 
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Ok- so here's what I understand so far from others:
Fronts: 24-013369 fits and works well; while 24-013321 fits, but is listed by Bilstein for the 2wd L300
Rears: 24-013376 does not fit and is specified for 2wd; while 24-014670 is the correct number for the rear, but is out of production and hard to find. KYB KG5494 is a recommended choice for rears.
 
Yes, that is an accurate summation.

PhilE said:
KYB KG5494 is a recommended choice for rears.
Click to expand...

They are one of many rear shock options and are widely available. Those KYBs cross-reference to 91-97 Toyota Previa (so any rear shocks that fit that vehicle *should* work for the L300 4x4 Delica.)

@Growlerbearnz uses Monroe MA708 air adjustables on the rear of his Delica for height adjustments when towing or heavy loads, and seems pleased with their performance. They require an air compressor/pump to increase their height.

FWIW, the Bilstein 24-013369s for the front
require an Allen wrench to keep the upper threaded part from rotating as you tighten the nut. (This wasn't obvious to me at first, but has to be used so you don't mess up the threads.)
 
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They are one of many rear shock options and are widely available. Those KYBs cross-reference to 91-97 Toyota Previa (so any rear shocks that fit that vehicle *should* work for the L300 4x4 Delica.)
Click to expand...
Apparently also Nissan 720 PU 80-86 per a RockAuto cross reference, in case that helps anyone out.
 
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