5th Gen braking and soft suspension

[gotjeepomaha]

So my wife bought a 2015 SR5 Premium all on her own a few months back. I love the looks, have always wanted a 4 runner. I recently drove it a few times and this thing drives terrible, not even as good as her 2012 Highlander.

Here is the main issue, when you hit the brakes, you have a lot of petal before you get real braking. So it takes some finess to get it right without too much brake. What you get with this truck in most braking scenarios is it literally drops the suspension 1-2 inches in the front, literally nose diving.

My 2014 Ram drives better(no break or nosediving issues), i realize ever car is different, but this is really terrible. I just drove it to Dallas and back. Any time i had to brake, it felt like a panic brake scenario because of the nosediving this truck does.

Do i take this think back and make them changes the shocks/struts out or what?

 

[Mistaken]

Good thing its your wife's ride. All of that is normal on a 5th gen.

 

[gotjeepomaha]

new shocks?

If we changes the springs and shocks, I am guessing it would help. I hadn't planned on lifting this.

 

[LandCruiser]

If we changes the springs and shocks, I am guessing it would help. I hadn't planned on lifting this.

I recommend Icon Stage 7.

It's the only solution.

 

[hearno]

Do i take this think back and make them changes the shocks/struts out or what?

That's not gonna happen... Does your wife care or just you? If she's ok with how it drives, leave it alone. If she has a problem, upgrade the front end. It's not too expensive and looks better level anyways.

 

[marshal]

Seconding the icon stage 7

 

[1engineer]

If we changes the springs and shocks, I am guessing it would help. I hadn't planned on lifting this.

That's what you get for not test driving. I have the same vehicle and it does just fine.I would take it back and complain.

 

[gotjeepomaha]

soft suspension

It doesn't seem to bother her too much, just bothers me. She loved her lifted WJ. Ran Old Man Emu lift/shocks. Gave a much firmer right, but not to firm. Really helped the handling. We only replaced it cause it got stolen.

So does Icon makes a OE replacement spring/shock for OE height, that just levels it out?

 

[Range]

blood level boiling.......rage meter nearing full tilt.....must go shoot my guns now....

But I agree with those guys on the ICON Stage 7's. It'll make a world of difference. With that being said she'll also need to change the rims to Walker Evans bead-locks. Toyota will do a direct swap with you on these as they come with the Limiteds.

 

[mattr]

Sorry if this is unhelpful, but if your wife is happy with how her 4Runner drives I suggest not touching it, especially since you said you have your own vehicle and like the way it drives more. I know if I modified my wife's car so it drove better for me and she didn't like it afterwards I would be up shit creek.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

You should have bought a Limited. The nose dive is mostly eliminated with the xreas suspension. I can not say I notice anymore pedal travel than another vehicle I have driven.

 

[flyboysgt]

So since most here wouldn't give you a serious answer, pretty much it is what it is. Its a characteristic of this vehicle. If you drive it enough, you will get used to it and realize that the T4R actually has a very good braking set up. The brake system is a lot different than older cars and most cars for that matter. Your other concern, the nose dive, yes it does have a good bit of it. Toyota designed it to make it more comfortable for most people driving. Only real way is to change to a heavier spring rate, such as the Eibachs/Toytecs. Pretty inexpensive if you do it yourself. Hope this helps.

 

[SKP-4R]

If you are seriously considering aftermarket, a good set of adjustable coilovers from ICON or Bilstein will work...

I can get those at a pretty good price.

 

[carlomagne]

i think stage 1 should do the trick if you want to stick with icon. there's several other options that are cheaper that would help with that nose dive.

 

[Ron4RNevada]

I have noticed nosedive and screeching tires twice -> Once when a four year old ran out from between two parked cars and when an old lady ran a stop sign. Both times I involuntary mashed the brake pedal - Generally everything is perfect.

 

[kboxvegas]

Seriously though, when I got my '15 trail the nose dive bothered me a bit as well. But I had planned on a suspension upgrade from the start so...

Just get some Bilstein 5100's for the front and level out the front a bit. This will help by firming up the front suspension due to the preload and reduce the weight transfer by getting rid of the factory rake. Should cost around $250 for a pair plus the cost of alignment. You can leave the rear alone or add a matching pair of 5100's for the rears for another $200.

Front height Adjustable 5100 Bilstein Shocks

Bilstein 5100 Rear shocks for FJ/4Runner

 

[oljedi11950]

Agree with kbox HOWEVER make sure you have spare bedroom , nothing like a woman pissed with their vehicle !!!!! :faint::humble:

 

[Rmack]

I have a 15 limited and it also has a noticeable nose dive. Just takes getting used to. The XREAS might help, but from all I have read it mostly helps on cornering body roll, transferring from one corner to opposite corner (left front to right rear etc.)

 

[DAGNABIT]

nosedive? you must have a defective unit.... my SR5 is well planted










of course I have 5100s all the way around

 

[rvdb]

Same deal here wife's ride, nose diving, lack of clearance (scooped up pebbles in the front skid plate grill & scratched the rear bumper on a minor trail) yesterday had a stage 3 Icon setup installed, nice & firm for now however if it's like my Tacoma setup it took a while for it to "break in" & it will get a bit softer... Good luck.