Toytec Boss Aluma Coilover FAILURE

Hey just a heads up for anyone running these coilovers. I had some really annoying squeaking that was coming from front shocks that I couldn't identify. Recently i started to hear some clunking going over speed bumps. I crawled under only to find the shaft had completely broken off on the drivers side shock and the shock was bending and rubbing against something else.

I just reached out to Toytec for a response. But I'm pretty concerned w/the reliability of these.

I've had them for about 3.5 years and use it as my daily driver and only occasionally ride fire roads and gravel - so no hard off roading. I searched on the web and saw a few people who had the same issue on the Tundra forums with these shocks.

Anyone else see this before? I might be going w/another brand to replace these as it's just not worth the risk safety wise.

 

You should call & ask to speak with hugo. When did you buy them? I have boss products before they started changing to these. I'd ask if these are from the start of the aluma product line aka manufacture date or something

 

Toytech and icon are both junk garbage when it comes to suspension just google it and you’ll find way more failures on them than everyone else.

 

I will call Monday.. looks like Hugo H is the guys name on my order. This was in March of 2021 so 3.5 years I've had them.

What brand would you guys recommend replacing with that has really good reliability?

I only have 50K miles on it and want to run this for a while. Should I replace the Alumina rear shocks as well? I have the Toytec 2.0 Aluma Series IFP Rear shocks and bump stop kits. Thanks!

 

any of the big names except icon all have great reputation, kings, fox, even the bilstein higher end stuff is really good and of course the budget bilstein like the 6112s are extremely popular dobinson is underrated I have their rear coil spring and have been pleased

 

I havent lifted my 4runner yet but I bought for my taco. They came with 620 lbs eibach springs. Its been over 5 years and 40k miles. FYI they dont come with 620 eibach springs anymore. They don't sell there old boss shocks, which are my rears. No you just need new front coilovers. I'd go eibach because there always at a great price point. When you buy some new ones, try to do it locally for pick up (save on shipping) and wait for the black friday sale

 

appreciate the advice! I'd like to go with King or Fox - if I can find them in stock somewhere. But I was concerned about driving it like this.. was going to drive to a shop carefully but that's it. I didn't think it was safe to drive.. (although I've been driving it for a few months! yikes!) The shock is bending and rubbing against the guard/housing... what do you think?

 

Are they rubbing on your tower buckets? If so I would absolutely not drive it

 

yea they are rubbing against the tower buckets... not good. only plan to drive it few miles slowly to a shop.

 

The guys name is Hugo... Boss???

 

Dont drive it. It will break something else

 

ya I can see them fucking up your buckets best case scenario it will scratch the hell out of it worst case you’ll need a fabricator to hammer and weld

 

I have eibach now for 2 years. Flawless performance at both th Toyota Jamboree and Moab.

 

time for a Bilstein set up or OME BP51 if you can afford it.

 

dont drive it. Too risky

 

Damn. Mine is about the same age, and started squeaking in the front real bad a couple months ago. Took it in, and was told I need a whole new suspension, which seemed insane with only 3 years / 30k miles on it and 95% pavement daily driving.

Was going to get a second opinion, but now you got me thinking he was telling me the truth and I need to get this replaced sooner than later. I literally have the same exact setup.

 

Dobinsons

https://exitoffroad.com/product/dob...VSBOvWWwxIYCqHXCG54pP2OiT7zssqskfsooi74tw2SEd

 

As far as I know Toytec Aluma is made by Elka. I wonder if Elka would have same problem too? Or this can happen to any shock if you don't run extended bump stops?

 

Concerned about this as well as I'm running the Elka 2.0 IFP's, which I believe are the equivalent of these!

 

How much lift were you running?

The only time I've seen this type of shock failure is if you're over-extending your shocks constantly.

 

Tacoma user with same problem: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/busted-toytec-struts-need-replacement-recommendations.844362/
This means avoid Toytec, Dirt King, and Elka. Elkas are also known for frequently cracking lower heim bearings.

I've had front & rear Icons for 7 years on my previous Tacoma and 5 years on my current Tacoma, and I've beat the shit out of both off road enough to get into the TacomaWorld calendar. Over this time I've cracked a rim, bent my plate bumper, tore a tire sidewall, and twice dented my engine skid plate severely enough to require straightening in a press. However, the shocks have been dead reliable. For this reason I went with Icons on my 4Runner.

My friend with Fox 2.5" coilovers had the resi hose fittings leak out of the box. Once tightened they've been problem-free. My off road club's founder ran Fox 2.0"s front and rear for a couple of years and they've held up - this is the same abusive driver that twisted his frame about half inch out of square.

Kings are known to suffer from broken coil springs and pitted shafts (more of a problem on rear shocks). Unlike others that use nitrided shafts, King uses chrome plating which can crack and chip when struck by stones.

 

I had a 2.5" lift front, 2 Rear - installed just as they came from Toytec. They won't warranty anything, which I understand, but geez they should last more than 35K miles. I just dropped it off at a 4x4 place that does a lot of lifts and he's going to look at it and get back to me..and try to see why it failed and get new suspension installed. He said he only did Toytec once and didn't have good experience w/them. I'm leaning towards Bilstein 6112 and he said same thing.. so I'll post back where I end up. For me personally I want something that prioritizes reliability vs a high performance race shock that will require service every 30K miles... but again all depends on how you plan to use the truck and your priorities and budget. I found this video pretty helpful and spot on. Wish I would have found this before I got my current setup. https://youtu.be/Th5zUBqgjnE also lots of good info in the comments.

 

What’s folks thoughts on Ironman shocks?

 

Correct do not get Elka they are just as bad, when I was getting my suspension I called all the major Toyota truck shops in SoCal and literally every single one of them told me absolutely not to get toytech or elka and none of them even sold them. I was highly considering elka at the time and they told me about the failure rates if you search on tacomaworld you’ll see the same

 

ive only run Bilsteins on all 3 on my 4runners and have had zero issues. If $ wasnt an issue, I’d get OME BP-51 set up

 

If Bilstien have more reliability the Bilstien 8112 DSA could be do it all tool for both on road and offroad.

 

Cheap chineseium.

 

what issues have people been running into with the 8112?

 

I meant to say Bilstien seems to be more reliable option per the comments and 8112 with dual adjusters seems to be pretty fancy.

 

my bad, i read it wrong.