Maybe I'm too old for this suspension...

[denvermaxd]

About 6 years ago I had all kinds of plans for putting custom bumpers, skid plates, etc. on my 2000 4Runner SR5. The first thing I did was get the following suspension:

OME-881 Front Coils
OME-90004 Front Shocks
OME-890 Rear Coils
OME-60073 Rear Shocks

Well, I never ended up armoring this truck up. Chose to put a supercharger and rock sliders on instead, and although I off-road a fair bit, I'm not doing anything crazy. I really like the clearance I have when I 4w, but I don't really notice the suspension otherwise (off-road).

The place I do notice the suspension now is on road... I recently drove a stock 4th gen T4R and my god, it was like butter on our bumpy mountain road to the cabin. My OME 3rd Gen feels like the thing might rattle apart on the same road.

I used to tell myself "it rides like a truck!", but damn, maybe I'm too old for a truck! It hurts my body, and frankly feels dangerous at times on the highway if I hit any kind of road damage.

So, my question is: Can I improve things with different shocks? Or should I acknowledge my dreams of building an off-road beast were short-sighted, and just swap the entire suspension to something more pedestrian (I'd like to retain the lift and off-road capability)?

Thanks for your input.

 

[Devbot]

I think out of the hundred or two reports on Old Man Emu shocks, I've seen one person talk highly of them. My impression has always been their shocks are bottom of the barrel, everyone talks about how they're way too harsh and ride like hell. Throw some Billies in there

 

[pluton]

I had Bilsteins on a previous Toyota 4WD truck.
Loved the ride---it felt like it had speed-sensitive valving and handled all conditions well.
My OME setup is, I think, identical to the OP's.
Mine rides like a lumber truck when empty, but rides much nicer when loaded.
I've thought of trading the harsh ride of the OME shocks for the more sophisticated valving of Bilsteins. What discourages me from going with the Billies is that I had to replace one half of the Bilsteins on that old truck because they sprung leaks. Then the replacement Billies also leaked.

 

[Cree]

Go with Billies if you want softer ride. Also, what tires are you running?

 

[Romeo1]

It’s not fair to compare a modded rig with higher rate springs, heavy tires and a lift to a stocker. They aren’t the same thing.

Anything above an SL tire is going to change the personality alone.

If it’s bothering you that bad, go down on spring rate and go for a boat ride!

 

[denvermaxd]

Go with Billies if you want softer ride. Also, what tires are you running?

Yeah, the tires probably aren't helping: 235/85r16

Pizza cutters... I liked them for off-road, rain and snow, but the ride is probably pretty negatively impacted.

 

[Endlessblockades]

I'd go so far as to say that OME springs are harsh unless you're both loaded for camping and running 25 PSI or less.

So, since my rig with 881/906 is a DD with Patagonia MTs usually at 45 PSI, I feel your pain. Not an age thing however although I'm plenty old.

 

[Brian.]

Yeah, the tires probably aren't helping: 235/85r16

Pizza cutters... I liked them for off-road, rain and snow, but the ride is probably pretty negatively impacted.

Actually, tall sidewall would help soften things... I think they were referring to the Type of tire... 10-ply high load rating tires are great for taking abuse, but are super harsh ride on pavement.

 

[spartacus]

Oem springs and shocks would help on road. They are not too bad off road with a few exceptions New rubber bushings will help emensly too.

 

[Devbot]

Yeah, the tires probably aren't helping: 235/85r16

Pizza cutters... I liked them for off-road, rain and snow, but the ride is probably pretty negatively impacted.

Huh that's interesting. Should upload a pic, I'm curious to see what that looks like hoto:

 

[levee-11]

I couple months ago I put on OME 883 and 890's paired with the Bilstein 5100, and for a while was driving on the stock tires while I waited for my new wheels to put my 255/85/16 E rated tires on. I was very worried about a rough ride knowing the 883's were rated for an additional 200 pounds of front weight I didn't have, but was pleasantly surprised to find that my truck felt like a dream with the new suspension. My old stock suspension was not blown or bad, but this new suspension with the Billies felt so adaptive to everything on the road and was such a soft and controlled ride. It felt so grounded to the road. However, about a week later when I put on my 255/85/16 E rated Falkens, the ride became super super rough on the road at 35psi, its been a couple months on the tires now, and I've just gotten used to it, but I can contest that the 883/890's paired with the Billies were amazing, and it's 100% my 10 ply tires that make the ride rough.

 

[3bears]

guess im getting in the denvermaxd mode. My last big build I lifted 3 inches with the ss 1.2 kit....the ride was good but a bit stiff. I had set it up for big bumpers, winch etc. Never got around to it as I totaled it....bumpers and winch were in garage....so sold them. what the rig had b4 the "big lift" was just talls and KYB's and it served me well on and off road. ( air bags too for extra capacity) as I did not go wild off road mostly forest service type roads to go hunt or fish and the 2 miles of gravel roads to get home.

last week i installed new talls and kyb's on my currrent rig. Its a highlander...so it already had talls on them...but they were worn out. typical rear sag. I put them on thinking...well this will get me through the winter and next spring Ill do a tall lift again....but after driving on and off road the past week. I think I will just stick with the talls and kyb's, or maybe jump to billies..

 

[phattyduck]

However, about a week later when I put on my 255/85/16 E rated Falkens, the ride became super super rough on the road at 35psi, its been a couple months on the tires now, and I've just gotten used to it, but I can contest that the 883/890's paired with the Billies were amazing, and it's 100% my 10 ply tires that make the ride rough.

Check load ratings vs. pressure for e-rated tires. You might be able to drop to 30psi or something to soften things up, even on the street. Obviously bump it back up if you are loaded or towing...

See here:
https://www.falkentire.com/tires/care-safety-warranty?qt-tire_care_safety=3#qt-tire_care_safety

-Charlie

 

[denvermaxd]

TIL - All about load range!

I guess this is something I should have known/thought about before, but running my 235/85r16 E load range Cooper Discoverers at 42 PSI is probably a BIG part of my "rough ride".

Searching the forum returned some gems like this:

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3421903-post6.html

It’s been my experience that load range D is a bit much for these 4runners and the ride suffers.
I couldn’t imagine a load range E on a 3rd gen. Probably feel like you had solid tires on it at street pressures.

I've driven some pretty gnarly rocky off-roads with these tires, and they've been entirely puncture/damage free for 40,000 miles+, and that has made me happy. But the trade off might be feeling like I'm driving a covered wagon at street pressure.

Before I swap any suspension parts, I'm going to try to find a C load range 32" AT tire and see if that improves my on-road experience without sacrificing much off-road.

 

[4runnerfiend]

TIL - All about load range!

I guess this is something I should have known/thought about before, but running my 235/85r16 E load range Cooper Discoverers at 42 PSI is probably a BIG part of my "rough ride".

Searching the forum returned some gems like this:

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3421903-post6.html


I've driven some pretty gnarly rocky off-roads with these tires, and they've been entirely puncture/damage free for 40,000 miles+, and that has made me happy. But the trade off might be feeling like I'm driving a covered wagon at street pressure.

Before I swap any suspension parts, I'm going to try to find a C load range 32" AT tire and see if that improves my on-road experience without sacrificing much off-road.

I've been running C rated tires for years now. BFG ko2 and now I have Nitto Ridge Grapplers. I put the BFG's thru hell IE low pressure and wheeling off road. and Long road trip. had a few big gouges in the sidewall and never had one fail. They are good tires!
Nittos are serving me well so far. I'm even debating going to SL after this to save on the tire weight.

I run at 32 psi ish and have always had even wear.

 

[denvermaxd]

Huh that's interesting. Should upload a pic, I'm curious to see what that looks like hoto:

 

[Devbot]

Oh that's not nearly as skinny as I was imagining!

 

[Cree]

I've been running C rated tires for years now. BFG ko2 and now I have Nitto Ridge Grapplers. I put the BFG's thru hell IE low pressure and wheeling off road. and Long road trip. had a few big gouges in the sidewall and never had one fail. They are good tires!
Nittos are serving me well so far. I'm even debating going to SL after this to save on the tire weight.

I run at 32 psi ish and have always had even wear.

Same. Even the same pressure. Rides like a dream over all but the worst expansion joints. Not much to do about those though.

 

[Colorado buff]

I got bilstein 5100’s on the recommendations by many on this board. Thanks btw. The ride is dope, been driving the vehicle for 6+ now and love it, everyday I get in I am like fantastic.

 

[Romeo1]

TIL - All about load range!

I guess this is something I should have known/thought about before, but running my 235/85r16 E load range Cooper Discoverers at 42 PSI is probably a BIG part of my "rough ride".

Searching the forum returned some gems like this:

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3421903-post6.html


I've driven some pretty gnarly rocky off-roads with these tires, and they've been entirely puncture/damage free for 40,000 miles+, and that has made me happy. But the trade off might be feeling like I'm driving a covered wagon at street pressure.

Before I swap any suspension parts, I'm going to try to find a C load range 32" AT tire and see if that improves my on-road experience without sacrificing much off-road.

10 ply rated (man I hate the rating system. 10 actual plies hasn’t been a thing since I was a kid…..) or Load E, definitely impacts the personality of the drive. They feel heavy, roll hard, and ride like crap when not aired down. Under 34 psi and I can’t even hit freeway speeds with the Kanati’s. 38-40 psi resolves the hold back at higher speeds, but the ride suffers greatly.

I’ve bought around 10 sets of E tires now for personal diesel trucks over the years. Great in that application in my opinion. Leaves something to be desired on the 3rd gen 4runner though.

[MENTION=89367]denvermaxd[/MENTION] the General grabber X3 is a load C, 3 ply sidewall, and 265/75/16. It’s a bit of a unicorn. Weighs 50lbs…..The BFG ko2’s in C are a 2ply sidewall. So are the duratracs. A few more choices are available in 17” wheels. The nitto
and the Toyos are like 65lbs each even in the load C. There’s a couple of 255 and 285’s on 17” and load C.

No experience yet with the X3. I have them enroute.

The Kanati trail hogs have performed better than expected honestly. I’m just tired of what an E tire is on this rig. It’s hilariously over tired. I ordered a set of X3’s just to try out the load C on my rig. If it lightens up how she runs on her feet and proves durable for how I thrash it off-road I’ll call that a win. I’ve decided a supercharger doesn’t really fit what I’m trying to do. Hopefully the Load C tires remove (in theory) some of the parasitic loss. Love how it wheels, just miss how zippy it was with a set of SL 30” tires.