best shocks for street and highway ride

[jrm]

Bilsteins

ive installed these on two 3 gens and theyve worked out very well. Some 880/906 OME springs will make it handle even better.

 

[geekless]

Still searching for answer

I recently purchased a 2002 Limited with only 86k. No rear sag but lots of nose dive on stops. I work for an after-market distributor and was able to obtain KYB's pretty cheap. I am very disappointed with the ride and handling. The nose dive is much better but the overall ride is not much better than my 84 Jeep CJ --- and that ain't saying much. I am on the fence about doing one of the following: 1-waiting and saving up for OME set up 2- replacing springs(w/ stock srpings) and see that dose with KYB's 3- putting on Bilsteins with current set up or 4- replacing springs and go with Bilsteins.

Any feedback is much appreciated.

Has anyone found a good comfort shock? I have an '02 SR5 2wd.

I ordered KYB's ($150 a piece for the front?!) today and now that I'm reading what everyone is saying, it seems I've made a mistake. So I'm looking at OME comfort N91SC but the OME website doesn't even list 4Runners as an option. Am I missing something?

Any help is appreciated. Am having the work done on Friday and need to make sure I don't spend $1k on work that won't help...

Thanks all.

 

[geohil]

Don't fear the KYB's. I ran two generations of them in my my runner before my Toytec lift. KYB's are stiff for the first 500-1000 miles, so don't have buyers remorse driving away from the shop. But, they are great for cornering and not diving when you brake. Personally I didn't like the ride of my soft Bilstein's after the great handling of the KYB's.

I also ran Gabriel's (don't bother), and Tokico (great ride).

 

[busmup808]

My runner has the Mono Max from KYB & it sucks with new stock coils. The PO did it's in 08 and it stuff in 2014. I only had the truck for 5 months. I've gotten used to it, but can't work on my truck because I recently had open heart surgery. When I heal I have my lift ready to go on. I'm actually glad I didn't have time to lift my truck before surgery because I wouldn't been able to get in my truck! Good luck!

 

[geekless]

Don't fear the KYB's. I ran two generations of them in my my runner before my Toytec lift. KYB's are stiff for the first 500-1000 miles, so don't have buyers remorse driving away from the shop. But, they are great for cornering and not diving when you brake. Personally I didn't like the ride of my soft Bilstein's after the great handling of the KYB's.

I also ran Gabriel's (don't bother), and Tokico (great ride).

Thanks for the info!

I'm looking to really modernize the ride feel as much as I can. Want to get as close as possible to a tight truck with a suspension that will swallow the bumps and bruises of the road without throwing me all over in the cab.

I am still very interested in OME because they specifically have a shock called "comfort", and that's as close to a real description as I've found of what I can expect when installed.

I don't know. Seriously I literally have no idea what to expect from new suspension parts.

 

[jkoni426]

the kyb monomax are gonna be stiff, I have the gas-a-justs and they feel like stock to me.

 

[geohil]

I guess it all depends on the ride you want in the end. I don't like body roll (which is funny for someone with a lifted truck). The word "comfort" is the exact opposite of "performance" in my opinion. I like a little feedback as apposed to a wet sponge.
If you want to be able to corner without feeling like you are in a Lincoln I would also suggest moving to Addco sway bars...huge difference.

What all is included in the $1K you were talking about?

 

[geekless]

I guess it all depends on the ride you want in the end. I don't like body roll (which is funny for someone with a lifted truck). The word "comfort" is the exact opposite of "performance" in my opinion. I like a little feedback as apposed to a wet sponge.
If you want to be able to corner without feeling like you are in a Lincoln I would also suggest moving to Addco sway bars...huge difference.

What all is included in the $1K you were talking about?

It was front and rear gas-a-justs, front sway bar bushings, balance and alignment.

Just got off the phone with a tech from Gabriel and he said the only thing they have for the 2002 is the "Ultra" series and that those would be fairly stiff.

Going to call Monroe now and see if they have something.

 

[geekless]

I guess it all depends on the ride you want in the end. I don't like body roll (which is funny for someone with a lifted truck). The word "comfort" is the exact opposite of "performance" in my opinion. I like a little feedback as apposed to a wet sponge.
If you want to be able to corner without feeling like you are in a Lincoln I would also suggest moving to Addco sway bars...huge difference.

What all is included in the $1K you were talking about?

And also I'm not looking for the truck to feel like a Caddy per se, just want it to feel confident during city driving. It's the constant bashing of road bumps that makes me feel like I could do much better with new...

 

[geekless]

I guess it all depends on the ride you want in the end. I don't like body roll (which is funny for someone with a lifted truck). The word "comfort" is the exact opposite of "performance" in my opinion. I like a little feedback as apposed to a wet sponge.
If you want to be able to corner without feeling like you are in a Lincoln I would also suggest moving to Addco sway bars...huge difference.

What all is included in the $1K you were talking about?

Here's the best description I've found for what I'm looking for. It's from the Bilstein website, model #4600:

"Utilizing our patented design, the dampers allow the vehicle to glide over every type of road surface you may encounter while maintaining complete command at all times."

GLIDE - perfect word for what I'm looking for!

 

[geohil]

I'm running Bilstein's in all 4 corners now and although it took me some time to adjust I love them now. You will pay a bit more for them (although your KYB's at $150 per sound high). I

Sway bar bushings - especially Poly will make a big difference too. Just make sure they apply the graphite grease liberally or they will squeak.

We have a 4th gen Limited V8 4Runner as well and it rides like a dream - firm in corners and soft over bumps. Not sure what they did differently on the 4th gen but whatever they did they got it right. That said the 3rd gen is way more capable offroad.

 

[geekless]

I'm running Bilstein's in all 4 corners now and although it took me some time to adjust I love them now. You will pay a bit more for them (although your KYB's at $150 per sound high). I

Sway bar bushings - especially Poly will make a big difference too. Just make sure they apply the graphite grease liberally or they will squeak.

We have a 4th gen Limited V8 4Runner as well and it rides like a dream - firm in corners and soft over bumps. Not sure what they did differently on the 4th gen but whatever they did they got it right. That said the 3rd gen is way more capable offroad.

Yeah, turns out the KYB price was WAY over-inflated by the vendor (which happened to be autozone). It took you time to "get used to" the Bilsteins? What was it about them?

 

[geohil]

They are much softer then the KYB's with stock coils and a spacer lift I was used to. Of course that could be because they went in with OME/Eibach could that are both 3 inches longer over stock. I was forced to deal with more body roll again. Nothing I can do about it if I want the lift. That said the flex for offroad use is incredible with the set-up.

 

[JayRolla]

I run ome comfort shocks up front. They are a little stiffer than stock but still work good on the road. For the rear I have LC shocks and coils. They ride awesome on street and highway. I dont like the soft ride some billies offer so I went with the setup instead.

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

I saw a really nice picture once showing springs from each year and their lengths, but I can't find it now. The 99's were the tallest, and the 2000's the lowest. The difference between those 2 was about 1 inch. I believe 98's were just a hair shorter then the 99's.

No, no stock shocks will work with an OME 3" lift spring (unless perhaps you went with a stock landcruiser shock, but I don't think they would be a good match to the OME 3" lift). If you lift, then you need new shocks as you'l max out you stock shocks.

What do you want to get out of it in terms of comfort? If you don't off-road, then I would say think hard about whether you really need a lift, because you are pretty much guaranteed that a lift will make your ride less comfortable both because of the stiffness of the springs and shocks, and because of the geometry change. The stock setup is quite comfortable.



I think the trekmasters are the stock shock. Other guys here would know better, but my gut says that 1.5 inches is too much for the stock shock. I am sure you could find a longer trekmaster, like for the landcruiser, which might be a good choice, but I don;t really know since I have never tried those springs.

Is this the picture?

 

[geekless]

They are much softer then the KYB's with stock coils and a spacer lift I was used to. Of course that could be because they went in with OME/Eibach could that are both 3 inches longer over stock. I was forced to deal with more body roll again. Nothing I can do about it if I want the lift. That said the flex for offroad use is incredible with the set-up.

I guess now that you mention too soft, what I'm looking for is tight and absorbent. Like the bumps just disappear in to the truck but without the roll associated with "soft" shocks.

Yeah, that's what I want. A modern feeling suspension.

So that being said, what does everybody think is best for my goal?

 

[geohil]

I think you will still enjoy the Bilstein 4600's - but I have heard they are on nationwide back-order. I've heard nothing but good things about the ride. (The one's I'm running started out designed for a Tundra I think and then re-valved for a 4Runner.) You add new sway bushings and maybe steering rack bushings and you should have a new truck ride.

Don't forget to check out reviews on new stock Tokico's. The from-factory ride on the 4Runner was great.

Once the truck gets a little bit older you may want to look into new coils if they sag, control arm bushings, inner and outer tie rod ends. These can all lead to poor on-road handling.

 

[geekless]

I think you will still enjoy the Bilstein 4600's - but I have heard they are on nationwide back-order. I've heard nothing but good things about the ride. (The one's I'm running started out designed for a Tundra I think and then re-valved for a 4Runner.) You add new sway bushings and maybe steering rack bushings and you should have a new truck ride.

Don't forget to check out reviews on new stock Tokico's. The from-factory ride on the 4Runner was great.

Once the truck gets a little bit older you may want to look into new coils if they sag, control arm bushings, inner and outer tie rod ends. These can all lead to poor on-road handling.

Best answer yet, thank you I'll see if I can find them. Also was going to put addco sway bars on the front and rear. Don't remember if it was you who suggested them or not but it sounded like a good idea. Worth it in your opinion?

 

[geohil]

It was - and they are very worth it. One of the better upgrades I've done. Addco makes a great product.

 

[98CDN4RUNNER]

I have the Bilstein 4600(yellow/blue) on both my 4runners and I don't have any complaints, I tow with both, run lots of forest service roads etc......no issues and both 4runners are daily driven.

Had KYB'd on before and I have found the Bilsteins to better suit my needs.