4th Gen owners who were 3rd Gen owners, suspension question

[RickC]

To those of you who owned a 3rd gen before buying the 4th gen...

I recently bought a 2000 4runner 4wd SR5. And I love it. I have always liked the body style of the 3rd gen over the 4th gen, but I like the bigger size and interior design of the 4th gen better. Since I was downsizing from an 06 Double Cab Tundra 4wd, I decided to go with the 3rd gen. But this thing rides like a log wagon.. In my research, I am learning that the 4th Gen rides much better? Is this true?

Even though mine is 4wd, I really don't take it offroad. I like the comfort of having it if it snows and like having it in case I have to get in the yard, so I won't get stuck. I have two 4 wheelers that I offroad with, so I do pull them to the ride spots about every weekend.

Any suggestions will be greatly welcomed and let me know if the 4th gen rides tons better. If they do, I may turn around and sell this one and go with an 03 or 04. I have been comtemplating on getting new springs and shocks from a place like toyteclifts.com to see if that would help, but I don't want to spend $600-$800 only to learn that it didn't help.

Thanks,
RickC

 

[phishtaco]

I now drive a 4th gen sport 04, my wife has a 97 SR5. She says the 04 rides a lot better. The technology is 7 years newer, it has 130000 less miles on it. If it were me, I would upgrade the suspension and call it good. Or go test drive a used 4th gen and decide for yourself.

 

[p nut]

Yes, the 4th Gen has much better ride on-road. What I would do is get an OME lift. It lifts your vehicle ~2", so it's a mild lift, but will look good. The prices are around the $700 mark. I'd look on trdparts4u.com

For shocks, get the comfort series OME shocks. The guys at trdparts4u will get you the right ones you need.

 

[RickC]

I have read about those comfort shocks. Thanks for the input p nut.

 

[RTAYLOR]

4th Gen rides significantly better. Not even close. You can switch around the 3rd gen suspension all you want and it wont come close. The best combo I ran in my 2000 was OME shocks, OME rear coils and Tundra front coils.

 

[RickC]

Thats funny. I sent an email to sales at toyteclifts.com and that was the exact phrase I told them. "I can tell if a coin is heads or tails when I run over it". Toytec says they offer no solution that would better the factory ride. And they sell OME springs and shocks.

But I would rather have the softer ride and maybe put beefy sway bars to stop the body roll. I have noticed that my runner handles pretty well to be an SUV. It has very little body roll.

 

[gptoy96]

I have a 96 SR5 and an 04 SE. I wouldn't say the 96 rides like a log wagon, but it is noticeably rougher. I don't find it uncomfortable. The 04 is a more plush ride that hides the bumps in the road better.
Perhaps your tires are making it rough, are they 10 ply tires?

 

[RickC]

They are Michelin LTX. Not sure what ply that is.

I owned a Jeep TJ Wrangler a while back (in 2000). It was brand new and it rode pretty rough too. They are known to ride that way though due to the short wheel base. This runner rides about like it did. The rear is the worst. If I hit a bridge crossing that isn't smooth or cross over RR tracks or hit uneven pavement, it sounds like the rear hits pretty solid. Like a Harley HardTail maybe that has no shocks?

 

[4runDiZZLe]

i had a 99 that i sold to get my 04 and there is a very noticable difference... they 04 rides so much smoother, the interior is so much more refined and it does not feel like you are driving a truck... feels more like a car but much higher off the ground... get the 4th, many people here went from 3rd to 4th gen runners...

i too loved the style of the 3rd gen over the 4th gen but once i test drove the 4th gen it has slowly grown on me... besides interest rates are low low low... thank you recession... lol... good luck on your decision...

 

[progress4m]

I had a 1996 for almost 10 years and then I to got 05 (4x4 V8) and there is a very noticeable difference. The 05 rides much smoother and of course V8 is a silky smooth. However, in defense of 3-rd generation, 1996 was harsher ride but not to the point, you have described in your case.
And I agree with others reply: doesn

 

[RickC]

I am wondering also if there is a difference in ride between an SR5, Sport or the Limited.

 

[p nut]

I am wondering also if there is a difference in ride between an SR5, Sport or the Limited.

No, there is no difference between the three trims. But I will say that although the 4th Gen DOES ride better, it

 

[00void]

I am wondering also if there is a difference in ride between an SR5, Sport or the Limited.

Sport comes standard with XREAS and is optional on the Limited. having not driven nor been in a T4R w/out XREAS, i can't comment on comparison to a non-XREAS T4R. XREAS was supposed to help with handling. compared to my Pathfinder there's no question the T4R handles better especially with turns and wheel-hop.

i had a '00 T4R Sport and LOVED it. it's been so many years now but i remember the 3rd Gen having sharper handling than the 4th. most likely due to size & weight of the vehicle. that's what i noticed most with driving characteristics.

 

[endosj3]

4th Gen definitely a smoother ride than the 3rd Gen...Used to drive my mom's 3rd gen back in high school and now that I've got the 4th I'm so much happier. Even my mom likes mine over her's and she has always loved her car.

 

[peter78]

Gee, I think I can answer this, since I currently own both a 3rd and 4th gen. 4Runner.

I wrote down some of my feeling about the differences here, (see the third post):
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=43143

I just bought the 4th gen. two months ago. I was able to drive the car near my house. I parked in the garage before I bought it. One thing I noticed when I went over a bumpy bridge at speed is how different the 4th gen is. It is still a 4Runner but the bumps and overall ride was much better. I notice this on my first test drive. So, if you at all interested, I say test drive a 4th gen. The difference should be noticeable, it was to me.

Now, I must say, I like driving the 3rd, it is more fun to drive, quicker handling, more tossable. It also feels more responive, especailly at low speeds. I also notice that the trunk is bigger in the 3rd gen. Specs say around 2 1/2 square feet, what is missing is the depth from the back seat to the window, about 3". As mentioned in my write up, I think the 3rd gen. has a better build quality, meaning it is better made.

I check my mileage on both cars. So far the new 4 speed 4th gen. is 1/10 of a mile per gallon less, so it might even get better mileage in the long run. Right now the are both getting 18 MPG, 2WD only for me.

 

[markevan]

I drove a 1996 sr5 with 155,000 mi from 2005 till 2015 and it has > 200,000mi .I have driven in many places, but new Orleans roads in the city are the worst. The 96 rides much rougher stiffer than my new 2006 limited 6cyl./162,000.. The 96 sr5 has never lost traction on the highway in dangerous wet sudden stop situations or when going to fast in curves, and it even smoothly slid to a stop when my lower balljoint separated while driving 45mph on old asphalt .I have abused that suspension like no other vehicle and it IM hoping my 2006 limited will tolerate the same. i will have to assess my 20064runner much later since i have driven aprox. 2000 miles on it but it so smooth and soft maybe even too soft. i need to figure what shocks to put on besides stock?? thanks,mark

 

[MrEMan]

... One thing I noticed when I went over a bumpy bridge at speed is how different the 4th gen is. It is still a 4Runner but the bumps and overall ride was much better ... Now, I must say, I like driving the 3rd, it is more fun to drive, quicker handling, more tossable. It also feels more responive, especailly at low speeds. I also notice that the trunk is bigger in the 3rd gen. Specs say around 2 1/2 square feet, what is missing is the depth from the back seat to the window, about 3". As mentioned in my write up, I think the 3rd gen. has a better build quality, meaning it is better made.

Mostly agree with this ... as my sig indicates, I too currently own both a Gen 3 and Gen 4. I would classify the Gen 3 ride as more "sporty", but really it's just a matter of degree. Both handle well off-road, but for long trips I'd definitely prefer the Gen 4's ride.

Where I disagree is build quality ... maybe it's age related, but I don't see an appreciable difference between the two in terms of build quality. But that's just my opinion ...

 

[markevan]

I drove a 1996 sr5 with 155,000 mi from 2005 till 2015 and it has > 200,000mi .I have driven in many places, but new Orleans roads in the city are the worst. The 96 rides much rougher stiffer than my new 2006 limited 6cyl./162,000.. The 96 sr5 has never lost traction on the highway in dangerous wet sudden stop situations or when going to fast in curves, and it even smoothly slid to a stop when my lower balljoint separated while driving 45mph on old asphalt .I have abused that suspension like no other vehicle and it IM hoping my 2006 limited will tolerate the same. i will have to assess my 20064runner much later since i have driven aprox. 2000 miles on it but it so smooth and soft maybe even too soft. i need to figure what shocks to put on besides stock?? thanks,mark