'03 T4R V8 HWY Shudder
 

At HWY speeds (50+ MPH), going over bumps produces some serious shuddering and secondary vibrations through the steering wheel, to the point where it just shakes in your hand like severely out of balance tires... but only when going over bumps or on poorly smoothed concrete surfaces. So... I know it's not the tires.

I don't recall these vibrations when it was new... or having them for more than the last 4-5 months or so.

The dealer tells me my front shocks are leaking severely (visually I can concur w/ that as oil has coated the bottom half of the spring). At 62K miles w/ no offroading or towing, only loading up w/ the occasional 25 bags of mulch, seems pretty rediculous to me they would've failed already.

I also have trouble believing new front shocks is going to solve this problem because it seems the vibration / shudder frequency is too high to be soaked up w/ shocks (as opposed to a worn shock bounding up and down at a significantly lower frequency and/or causing the vehicle to float over undulations, which it also does).

What do you think? Do any of you have similar issues w/ your 4-Runners? Is this an aging thing I'll have to live with or do you think the shocks will actually solve the problem? At $850 installed... I want to be sure...

Thx!

Do you have XREAS, or is it a SR5? Either way, that seems premature to have shock failure at your mileage. You can get a OME set-up for $725, that will raise the vehicle and replace the shocks and springs.

Maybe it's just me but I really think that $850 for shocks is a bit over the top.

Do you have XREAS shocks?

Are you still under warranty?

I agree 100%. However... the springs are part of the assembly so that complicates the installation a little bit. I can handle the cost (albiet high and premature) if it solves the problem.

There's no doubt there's something wrong as it does bound and float more than I think it should... I'm just not convinced it's going to solve the shuddering problem.

And no... I don't have the X-REAS and I'm not under warranty either.

My main question is... when you w/ gen4 4-Runners go over bumps (bridge transitions in particular) at highway speeds does your steering wheel stay solid or does it shudder like a 10 year old body-on-frame Ford pickup would? :-)

It feels like seriously worn bushings to me... but I'm told the bushings are fine.

OME? Do you mean OEM or is it something aftermarket? I assume to raise the ride height I'd be modifying the rear also?

That's not a bad thing... something to consider.

Old Man Emu or OME, a quality aftermarket company that deals in off-raod stuff especially suspensions.

Sheesh, that is a lot of money for the standard shocks. Someone on this board got half an XREAS set-up for $750, why would the regular ones be more?

BTW my '03 is rock solid at almost any speed (haven't tested the very upper limits :D )

A few points:

- Your shocks are twin-tube shocks. These don't last as long as XREAS monotubes. Therefore, it is conceivable that one or two of them are failing a bit early.
- The only way to find out if the vibrations are due to something else is if you fix the shocks. Your only option IMHO.
- $850 is outrageous! There are a few options. I assume that you do not want to lift your 4runner. If this is the case, then keep reading.
- I would NOT buy OME shocks. According to some Jeepers, OME shocks don't last very long..and their performance decreases significantly with age.
- I would buy OEM (Toyota stock) or go for Bilsteins/Monroe shocks. OEM shocks will provide the same ride as you have now (before the leakage). OEM shocks are made by Tokico (i think) and they are fairly good quality.
- Bilsteins will firm up your ride...with slightly better handling. The ride is probably be close to XREAS 4runner. Bilsteins are monotubes...and they last a very long time with consistent performance even with aging.
- Monroe shocks are pretty good too. I would get the Sensatrac model. These shocks are as close to stock shocks as you will find in terms of ride. And they are fairly cheap.
- Next, go find a few good local garages (word of mouth from friends/coworkers/etc). Or look up in telephone book. Call them and ask for pricing on installing shocks in your 4runner. Your have coil springs in front and solid axle in rear. Tell them that and they should give you a quote over the phone. Your total price should be cheaper than $850.
- Finally, you need to decide on whether you want to replace just the front shocks or all of them. If you plan on just replacing the front shocks, then i would go with OEM (Toyota) shocks (to better match with your rear shocks). If you plan on replacing all 4 shocks, then you need to decide on the different optiions listed above.

Hope this helps.

If you want to lift your vehicle, then OME kit is probably the best lift kit for 4runner out there (without going custom), but get it withOUT the shocks. Then get the Bilstein shocks to go with your OME kit.

My opinion.

The problems you describe can most definitely result from blow shocks. You have the remember that without funtional shocks, vibrations and resonances have free reign across the chassis which seems to be the case in your situation.

Get them fixed. Also, shock life is related to the quality of surfaces you drive on just as much as mileage.

Good luck.

:iagree: Koz