1st Gen Tundra Bilsteins on 3rd Gen 4Runner - super wonky

[manfredxc]

So I put some 1st Gen Tundra Bilstein 5100s on my 2001 4Runner to replace the blown-out 4Runner Bilstein 5100s that came with my 3" Toytec lift from 7-8 years ago. I have the shocks on the second clip from the bottom which makes truck sit slightly squatted (front is showing about an inch more between tires and fender than rear).

It doesn't look terrible, but the main problem is it rides like absolute garbage. It's almost bouncing up and down as I drive down the road. Kinda feels like there no damping, but that doesn't make sense, since I would assume the Tundra shocks would have had more damping for the heavier vehicle... Before I pull the shocks and try moving them down one slot, or just order another set of 4Runner Bilsteins, is it possible that having the truck squatted like that is causing it ride really weird? Could an alignment help? Despite trying to return everything to the way it was before the install, my steering wheel is crooked. Obviously I was planning to get it aligned after installing the shocks, but I'm hoping to get everything squared away with whatever shock and height setting I'm going to stick with before I take it to the shop and only pay for the alignment once.

Thanks!

 

[phattyduck]

Despite trying to return everything to the way it was before the install, my steering wheel is crooked.

The steering wheel should not turn based on front shock installation. The front shocks do not control front alignment/geometry. Did you disconnect something you shouldn't have as part of the install process?

Did you also do rear shocks from the Tundra? If so, that's your bouncing issue. Leaf springs are partially self-damped (leaf to leaf friction) so leaf spring shocks are much lighter damped than coil spring shocks.

-Charlie