Best Quick Struts for City / Highway Driving?

[shaxs]

Hello All,

While I was replacing the front rotors and pads on my wife's 2006 4runner, I saw that her front struts were leaking oil. We just rolled over 105k miles on the original struts. Truck rides okay, but when you hit any bumps it is a little jarring. I want to replace them, but I dont have a spring compressor so I figured I would do a quick strut.

What would be the best quick strut for highway and city driving? We are looking for a comfy ride for our commute. Advance has Monroe quick-struts, but I wasnt sure if those were the best option.

It looks like the 3 top available options are:

- Monroe
- Moog
- KYB

 

[techno]

I haven't used any of those on a 4runner, but I have used monroe stuff on a 4 door sedan and was very happy with them.

 

[Texas8668]

I'm looking for the best combo for hwy and city driving as well for my 2006 4x4. I did some searching here and lots of info for those who plan to lift or off-road. lots less for others.
I don't want quick struts, but I'd be interested in what the experienced guys think the best set up is for those like myself. So far my reading tells me a full KYB set up or Bilstein 6112 for the front and OEM springs for the rear.

 

[TotalAutomotiveLV]

KYB is a Toyota OE supplier and their kits are pretty high quality, but all of those will provide a ride very similar to stock. We wish Bilstein made a complete unit with their 4600 shock as that rides really nice on the highway, but requires more work to install.

 

[shaxs]

My preliminary research is also learning towards KYB.

 

[brianhuntRVA]

I'm pretty happy with my KYBs. Positive is that they ride pretty good and you will get about an inch of lift up front to level a stock vehicle. Negative is that they use springs that are not ground to be flat on top. So it puts an awful lot of pressure on the gasket in one spot between the spring and the top hat. Kind of like a pinch point. After a year of use the rubber gasket seems to be cracking in that spot. Really not sure how long it will hold before it tears through.

 

[Texas8668]

Negative is that they use springs that are not ground to be flat on top. So it puts an awful lot of pressure on the gasket in one spot between the spring and the top hat. Kind of like a pinch point. After a year of use the rubber gasket seems to be cracking in that spot. Really not sure how long it will hold before it tears through.

Is there is no way around this? I don't intend to use a spacer of any size. Would that change things?

 

[Morphyne]

You can buy moog springs with kyb shocks.

Edit: Actually since you said best choice and not cheapest. I am going to say moog springs with bilstein 4600 shocks. I am running moog fj cruiser springs which provides a little bit of lift with bilstein 5100 shock. I drive like extremely agressively in the city all the time and they perform great. I want for nothing.

Edit 2: these are not quick struts so you have do a little more work.

 

[brianhuntRVA]

Is there is no way around this? I don't intend to use a spacer of any size. Would that change things?

The gasket is just part of the pre-made setup. Only way around it would be to disassemble and replace the spring or find a gasket that has a "step" molded into it. Would defeat the purpose of a quick strut though.

I happen to run a spacer but it is top mount and has no effect on this.

Not sure how the Moogs are but they may be worth checking out. Back when I was researching mine, I found too many negative reviews of Monroe so I would suggest avoiding them.

 

[brianhuntRVA]

Check out the first picture here. You will see directly above the spring is the rubber gasket that I am describing. Above that you will see my spacer which is separate and not part of the equation. Also, the issue with UCA to spring contact is irrelevant if you're not running a spacer.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/205653-rotating-spring-strut.html#post2122112

 

[Texas866801]

Thanks for the link! I'd prefer the same "comfy" ride that OP is seeking.
I want to mimic or even improve upon the factory "marshmallowy" feel. I have a coupe for adventures. This is my DD now and I commute a long way each day (damn you Dallas!) and the XREAS on my new to me ride are shot.
I don't care about handling or ride height only comfort. I'll look more into the 6112s and the 4600. Shocks I still have no idea, but lot of you more knowledgeable types have mentioned the Moogs.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

 

[truc.karl]

Never tired them on my 4runner, but I have the KYB's on my car and I can say that the quality and ride comfort are really good.

 

[Lowetony]

I too was looking for stock replacement shocks for my 2004 SR5 V8 with 125K miles. I decided on KYB shock/spring assemblies (front) and shocks (rear) which are being installed on Friday. I will provide an update after the install.
Part numbers are:
SR4130 (front right)
SR4131 (front left)
34410 (both rears)

 

[earthrealm]

USing the rancho quick lifts in the front and bilsteins 5100 at the rear....front rake is gone, handling is ok....rthough need to drive another runner to be sure

 

[jrm]

If it was within budget

i'd rec new bilstein 4600 struts and moog coils. :sleepy:

 

[shahsmerdis]

oem non xreas struts aren't too expensive fyi. I know you want quick struts, but getting a shop to do the swap for you shouldn't be too expensive...

Make sure you don't have xreas or else you will have to replace the rear too.

 

[Lowetony]

After getting the KYB front shocks/springs and rear shocks installed, the 4R rides smoother than before. I seems to steer smoother and takes bumps better without the sideways jar I was getting. The ground to fender height increased by 3/4 inch in the front and 1/4 inch in the rear. Overall, I'm pleased so far.

 

[TotalAutomotiveLV]

Good to hear!

 

[Jables]

Monroe quick strut

If your looking for a quality ride stay away from the Monroe quick strut that's what I currently have in my sport (not sure if spring rates are different for v6 models) but there pretty rough I've used Monroe quick struts in cars in the past and had great results but in my 4 runner you feel every little bump dip and pebble don't get me wrong they are way better than my blown out xres struts but if I could do it again I'd spend the extra $ and go with a higher quality brand for a bigger vehicle I know the spring compressors can be intimidating but if u find or rent a decent set it's not bad

 

[dalandshark]

[MENTION=549044]Jables[/MENTION] I am happy with the Monroe set I used to replace xreas on mine. Have had them over a year and they have loosened up a little. They leveled the front and the ride quality seems to match vehicle well...I would say just slightly stiffer than the xreas but those had 130k on them. Tires will have something to do with ride quality as well. Mine are stock size set at 32 psi as recommend on door sticker.