Best shocks for on-road comfort?

[Ed_C]

3rd-gen owner but I'm looking for replacement shocks for my parents' GX470. I've already tried searching and read through the Suspension Options/FAQ and the FJ suspension swap threads.

The OEM electronic front struts are around $200 each...and here's why I'd like to convert to standard shocks...the rears are in the $500 range each My folks never played with the ride setting, they just leave it at the softest setting, and they don't do any kind of off-roading so my main goal is keeping the plush ride.

I'm guessing OEM Toyota would be the softest, but any input on:

• OEM FJ
• OEM Tacoma ('05 - up)
• Bilstein 4600 line. The FAQ mentions the 5100's "offer great ride quality and are a good choice for a stock replacement" but they're probably valved stiffer than 4600s.
• OME N140S. Being phased out and replaced by the stiffer Nitrocharger Sport line.
• Monroe OESpectrum / preassembled QuickStrut. I think these were originally the Sensatrac line.
• KYB Excel-G / preassembled Strut-Plus. FKA GR-2?
• Others I missed.

 

[strathcona]

Do not get the monroe's! I had the oes shocks and quick struts put in my 4th gen a couple of months ago and the damn truck sways and bounces all over the place. Like a fool, I didn't read the suspension sticky before hand.

Waiting for my Bilstien 4600's to arrive.

 

[wnelax04sr5]

stock replacements are probably going to be your best bet. my stock shocks/springs were plush

 

[Parker1938]

I did the SR4130 and SR4131 KYB Strut Plus on my 07 4Runner to try and get a OEM feel and it lifted the front too high and was stiffer than stock. I rebuilt the struts with used 4WD stock springs and it is now fine. So for me the KYB shocks are good but the springs in the Strut Plus sucked.

 

[46runner]

Waiting for my Bilstien 4600's to arrive.

I plan to install 4600's this summer. Do you guys recommend new springs and mounts while I am at it? What else? Original equipment has 130K miles on them. Not looking to lift. Thanks.

 

[strathcona]

I planned on using the monroe hardware and spring as they are new and I believe it's the strut that's junk, not the spring.

If I'm wrong somebody please chime in.

With yours, I would probably replace it all.

 

[46runner]

Strathcona do you have a parts list or a link? Thx.

 

[Ed_C]

Strathcona do you have a parts list or a link? Thx.

Monroe 907922 for the front upper mount. It's not junk,Wheelers Offroad sells the same mounts. I would usually recommend ordering from rockauto.com but for $10 shipping it's probably cheaper getting them locally. I just priced them at Pep Boys (order online for store pickup,20% discount on shocks/struts/components) and after sales tax I still saved almost $7 instead of ordering from Rock.

 

[Ed_C]

Edelbrock VS3?

Anyone still running Edelbrock VS3s? They are still available and reasonably priced. I read of issues with leaking but apparently that was taken care of.

I ran the original red ones in two different trucks they definitely rode better than stock.