Monroe Shocks

[spoiler900]

Anyone running Monroe oespectrum on their 4runner? Im looking for a soft ride and want some feedback on these shocks. Pepboys quoted $290 for the four and $125 to install with a coupon I have....anything helps guys. I have 240K on stock shocks and do not off road and do a lot of highway driving and want a smooth ride, also a college student so money is always a factor!

 

[kernel.panik]

I have the monroe quick struts in the front, and their basic shocks in the rear. I still need to replace my rear coils. It's a pretty decent ride. I have E rated tires, so it's still firm over bumps, but the shocks work pretty well for the price. I paid $90 each for the front and about $35 or so each for the rear from RockAuto.

 

[TheDurk]

Anyone running Monroe oespectrum on their 4runner? Im looking for a soft ride and want some feedback on these shocks. Pepboys quoted $290 for the four and $125 to install with a coupon I have....anything helps guys. I have 240K on stock shocks and do not off road and do a lot of highway driving and want a smooth ride, also a college student so money is always a factor!

As you have a '99 Limited, you probably have the 'tall' springs. I'm pretty sure Monroe sells only one QuickStrut for all years and it is lower than my/your existing springs. So you are looking at ending up with a shorter truck. You can get four Tokico Trekmasters for less than $290. Not as soft as Monroe but a better shock and you won't lose height or get a severe rake, if you keep your existing rear springs.

 

[spoiler900]

Wow thanks you just saved me Im not buying these shocks, so clueless which shocks to get! I want a barely smoother ride then stock

 

[PitbullRescuer]

I'd very politely like to say that I really think you're over thinking this shock replacement thing. I applaud all the effort you're putting into it. But keep in mind, your truck has 240K on it. No matter what you put on it, it won't be a Cadillac. The springs, the control arm bushing, chassis fatigue, etc are all going to be a factor in the final ride quality.

As stated in this thread and your other one, some shocks will have definitely have firmer or softer ride qualities than others. Those Monroe are decent. You don't have to go with the quick struts. You can just get the shocks/struts and use your existing springs. You'll be happy with them. You'll also be happy with the KYB's or even the firmer riding Bilsteins.

What I'm getting at is don't drive yourself crazy. Buy a decently priced reputable replacement and call it a day.

 

[boostincoupe2]

I put OESpectrum's in the rear, and I'm going to match them up front ('99 Highlander with tall springs).

I'm on the fence between real ones ($150) and eBay replicas ($70). Not worth it though, given all the work of compressing the spring, alignment, etc...with knockoff struts with unknown rates.

That Pepboys price is really good.

 

[nissanh]

Try Bielstein.... truck rides like a car. I found a used set from a tacoma 2000 fitted with Bielstein Toyota struts.

Toyota OEM shockabsorber is hard. If you try to compress it by hand, it takes pretty good power... but with Bielstein, you can compress it with two fingers... What this means is that it is going to absorb the impact without transmitting it to the chassis, so we won't feel the impact.

 

[chadsy]

Do yourself a favor and spend a little more on KYB Monomax all the way 'round.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Do yourself a favor and spend a little more on KYB Monomax all the way 'round.

Do you run them? How do you like them? I've heard good things about them but no personal experience.

 

[spoiler900]

I want shocks...and like today or tomorrow! All I care is they are somewhat "soft" and I want it to reduce my body roll and when I break hard I nose dive. Im a college student on a budget what should I get?????

 

[spoiler900]

Can someone emphasize what Thedurk said will it lower my truck if I just get these monroes?

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Can someone emphasize what Thedurk said will it lower my truck if I just get these monroes?

The Monroe Quick Sturts (the ones that come assembled with new coil springs) will lower your truck IF you have the '99 tall springs. Best way to check is crawl under your truck with a rag and some all purpose cleaner. Clean off the coil springs until you can see what the paint codes are on the springs. If they come back that you have '99 tall springs, these Moneroes will lower your truck. If you do not have the '99 tall springs, they will not lower your truck.

 

[TheDurk]

The Monroe Quick Sturts (the ones that come assembled with new coil springs) will lower your truck IF you have the '99 tall springs. Best way to check is crawl under your truck with a rag and some all purpose cleaner. Clean off the coil springs until you can see what the paint codes are on the springs. If they come back that you have '99 tall springs, these Moneroes will lower your truck. If you do not have the '99 tall springs, they will not lower your truck.

Yep. Codes are blue/pink on the left and blue/yellow on the right in the front and red with a yellowish green on both in the back.

 

[spoiler900]

So anyone have Any NEW advice? Looking for cheap soft ride...maybe sensatrac I was told?

 

[Justin727]

I threw on the kyb's and love them.

 

[Beederz1]

Try Bielstein.... truck rides like a car. I found a used set from a tacoma 2000 fitted with Bielstein Toyota struts.

Toyota OEM shockabsorber is hard. If you try to compress it by hand, it takes pretty good power... but with Bielstein, you can compress it with two fingers... What this means is that it is going to absorb the impact without transmitting it to the chassis, so we won't feel the impact.

Hi there, Nissanh.

Joining in on the conversation a little late, but I'm also looking to soften the ride on my 2000 4Runner. I've been doing research myself and so far what I've gathered is a bit conflicting on a few places. Take for instance this thread...someone said earlier that Bilsteins are firmer riding, and now you say you can compress them with 2 fingers. I'm intrigued because that's exactly what I'm looking for in a shock: low effort compression, some rebound resistance. Since you've experienced them to be "soft" yourself, can I ask you if this might have something to do with differences between the variants of the Bilstein product line? If so, would you be so kind as to offer up the model name or number on the particular shock you were talking about?

Thanks.

 

[Beederz1]

So anyone have Any NEW advice? Looking for cheap soft ride...maybe sensatrac I was told?

Woo-hoooo!!! Glad to hear others are looking to soften the ride of their 3rd gen 4runners as well.

If I may share my research results with you nice peeps here:

A lot of talk is going on about how the 99 4Runner has the best springs and that they offer a little bit of lift. Well I may have found out why the 99 springs are taller than the later 3rd gens and that's because the 99 came with 15" wheels from the factory, unlike the later versions with 16" wheels! The difference in spring lengths compensate for the wheel size to normalize the ride height to the North American spec of 8.5 inches of ground clearance.

If that's the case then you'll do fine switching to the 99's springs for your 2000-or-later to, say, fix a rear-end sag, or to have a little bit of lift. Ride quality unfortunately will still be the same. I couldn't find any specification for spring rates except for "medium" or "heavy" (aftermarket springs).

At any rate (pardon the pun), I'm still looking for softer springs for my car. I don't have a lot of money so smart bargain solutions are my target options. If I had the means I would definitely play with the idea of fitting GM springs to my truck. GM trucks have the ride I'm looking for but I love my Toyota for its legendary reliability.

 

[Gerdo]

I had the M brand on my 4runner years ago. Had them on for about a week. The vehicle felt completely out of control and dangerous. They have so little damping that on bumps on curves, it felt like the rig was going to flip.

Went to Bilsteins and haven't looked back. The Bilsteins cost more but are worth it.

 

[GrampsT4R]

In this thread here: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...-quick-struts-moog-rear-coils-after-pics.html everyone is talking about the Monroe's giving lift in the front and the rear needing to have tall springs to even it out. So I'm not sure what the deal is.

I just bought quick struts for my '99 highlander edition and they should be going on this week so I should have a definitive answer for you. I too, am looking for stock ride, stock height. I bought KYB gas-a-just for the rear. I wanted something a little higher quality on the rear but I wanted something simple for the front.

I'll post pics when it's done.

 

[head_always_up]

Don't Be Stupid

I am amazed at how some young kids make a decision because of a single post, or two maybe.

Kids basically means people under 30. Don't get defensive, most of you don't reach adulthood until about 35-45. Yeah, it's tough to hear. The older you get the more you realize it's true. If you take care of your body, you will be a real adult from about 40 to 100 years old.

Anyway, I digress.

If you drive on the street and a little bit on dirt roads, then don't worry at all. Basically any new strut will work, but just get the cheapest name brand that is known to be reliable. Don't buy cheap imitation crap.

If you push your vehicle more, or for some reason are carrying heavy weight or towing, then reconsider a better option. 75% of people buying more expensive shocks don't need them. But consider your off-roading and total weight, towing capacity, and purchase accordingly.

Most people just need the Monroe Quick strut front rear, don't spend too much. Good to go for likely a very, very long time.