Extremely rough suspension

[KnightFiyah]

My suspension has been rough since I got it. It's gotten to the point where just driving over certain bumps in the road
rocks the car and makes it uncomfortable for me and my passengers.

I've done some reading and a lot of people have varying responses for the right direction to go.
I don't do much off-roading so my 4Runner is mostly city/highway driving.

My question is which parts are worth replacing and which will give me the most bang for my buck?
My gut instinct is to swap the shocks on it first with something like bilsteins.
Any thoughts? I just want the car to be comfortable for general driving again.

Thanks guys

 

[IsaiahC]

My suspension has been rough since I got it. It's gotten to the point where just driving over certain bumps in the road
rocks the car and makes it uncomfortable for me and my passengers.

I've done some reading and a lot of people have varying responses for the right direction to go.
I don't do much off-roading so my 4Runner is mostly city/highway driving.

My question is which parts are worth replacing and which will give me the most bang for my buck?
My gut instinct is to swap the shocks on it first with something like bilsteins.
Any thoughts? I just want the car to be comfortable for general driving again.

Thanks guys

If you don't plan on lifting it, then pick up new OEM shocks/struts. OEM rear shocks are cheap (~$30/each). Struts are not so cheap, so you could substitute OEM for Bilstein 5100s from a Tundra (~$230 a pair) or Tacoma (~$175 a pair).

 

[KnightFiyah]

If you don't plan on lifting it, then pick up new OEM shocks/struts. OEM rear shocks are cheap (~$30/each). Struts are not so cheap, so you could substitute OEM for Bilstein 5100s from a Tundra (~$230 a pair) or Tacoma (~$175 a pair).

Nice, I didn't realize OEM rear shock were so cheap!

Quick noob question: My previous 4Runner (2nd Gen) had coils in the front and shocks in the back. From what you're telling me the 3rd Gen has struts in front and shocks in the back instead?

The only reason I'm asking is because I looked at a part layout for the front suspension of a 2000 4Runner and it said there are front shocks and coil springs so I figured I'd double check. (Still have yet to get my Haynes manual for this model)

 

[4Runnin2000]

The front on the 3rd Gen has a strut setup. Meaning the shock and coil spring are assembled as one unit. The rears are shocks and coils but installed in different locations. So they are not one unit. There's betters words to describe but if you crawl under the truck you can see. the 2nd gen had leafs in the rear. 3rd Gen has coils.

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[KnightFiyah]

The front on the 3rd Gen has a strut setup. Meaning the shock and coil spring are assembled as one unit. The rears are shocks and coils but installed in different locations. So they are not one unit. There's betters words to describe but if you crawl under the truck you can see. the 2nd gen had leafs in the rear. 3rd Gen has coils.

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Ahh the 2nd Gen had leafs that's right. It's been so long since I worked on it I forgot haha.

Thanks for clearing this up for me!

 

[turbo8]

Just throwing this out there..

1st get leaf springs and shocks front and rear, mid cycle update double a-arm with torsion bars and shocks front and leaf springs and shocks in the rear.

2nd gen 4runner had double a-arms with torsion bar front springs with shocks and rear 5 link with coils and shocks in the rear.

3rd gen had double a-arms with coilover shocks\struts front and 5 link with coils and shocks in the rear.

 

[pluton]

Just throwing this out there..

1st get leaf springs and shocks front and rear, mid cycle update double a-arm with torsion bars and shocks front and leaf springs and shocks in the rear.

2nd gen 4runner had double a-arms with torsion bar front springs with shocks and rear 5 link with coils and shocks in the rear.

3rd gen had double a-arms with coilover shocks\struts front and 5 link with coils and shocks in the rear.

The 1st gen, Mk1 had leafs front and rear. 1984 and 1985
1985-89, the 1st gen Mk2 had HiTrac(w/ torsion bars)
2nd gen begins at the new body style at 1990.

 

[cmsrace4700]

Rough suspension - 2000 T4R - any advancements?

I'm looking for any and all suggestions to improve the ride of my 4Runner. I still love it and really don't want to have a car payment. The ride is a killer though.

Help!!!

 

[UnderFire]

Bilstein aren't the best for daily driver ride quality. I'd look into the KYB Excel-G silver bodied shocks. Very good for the money.

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[Kanoe]

Bilstein aren't the best for daily driver ride quality.

Agreed. 80,000km and still waiting for them to break in. OEM next time for me.

 

[96RedRunner]

I built 96Redrunner more toward offroad with Tundra 5100 struts & springs Landcruiser 8 wrap springs & LC 5100 shocks. Very firm ride to 80k mi, just right till 140k mi when totaled. My 01 has OME 3" lift with mid level shocks and struts very firm ride for a DD, 14k mi not broke in yet.

 

[gamefreakgc]

I'm looking for any and all suggestions to improve the ride of my 4Runner. I still love it and really don't want to have a car payment. The ride is a killer though.

Help!!!

Any 4Runner over 200K has a harsh ride now. The coils are the biggest issue, since that's what allows the bouncing & swaying which makes your passengers in the backseat sea-sick. The majority of the users on here swap them out for lifts and stiffer coils and springs, which is some ways is less road-friendly that blown shocks and squishy coils...

I have an "on-road" suspension. I went with stock height coils (any decent brand will do, avoid MOOG though) but the Toyota 99 talls are also popular since they are OEM parts. They can be $100+ per coil though.

For shocks, I highly recommend putting in the OEM Toyota Tokico black shocks. They run about $40 each for the rear shocks and about $120 for the front struts. If that's too pricey, KYB like someone else mentioned are also great. I have all 4 KYB gas-a-just shocks and they ride pretty smooth but also do great off-road, I got all 4 for $160. A little bit more responsive than OEM Toyota shocks though, so if you drive on rough roads with cracks & potholes stick with OEM's for a smoother ride.

Another real bang for your buck part is your sway bar bushings and sway bar end link bushings. I HIGHLY recommend doing these to reduce the side to side body roll. You should be able to pick up all 4 sway bar end link bushings and the sway bar bushings for less than $30. They are also easy to install. Made a huge difference in cornering and handling and you'll find it easier to steer because the 4Runner won't be swaying all over the place.

 

[neonsnow78]

just dont buy monroe, they are straight garbage!!!

 

[phattyduck]

My question is which parts are worth replacing and which will give me the most bang for my buck?
My gut instinct is to swap the shocks on it first with something like bilsteins.
Any thoughts? I just want the car to be comfortable for general driving again.

Thanks guys

What is your current ride height, measured from the center of your hubs to the fender lip on all 4 corners?

First, you need to determine if you need to 'lift' back to stock height (if your springs have sagged).

For OEM ride (not the crap you have now), go OEM or KYB as others have suggested. Bilstien 4600's are a bit stiffer and more controlled (but not stiff by any means).

You may have an uncomfortable ride due to ride height (too low, hitting bump stops), bad shocks (too soft, too hard, too much stiction, etc.), or some other problem (worn bushings, etc.).

-Charlie