My 4runner hops over rocks...good or bad?

[CAN-03runner]

This is a video of my 1st Gen 4runner out on it's 3rd trail. It goes like a champ, the mods are in the signature, but basically 4" leaf spring lift with flip kit, 33" MT, welded rear, ARB front.

It just looks funny in the video as it bounces around, it feels quite normal inside, very bumpy but nothing feels out of the ordinary. It gives everyone a kick to see it hop up over everything. Take a look. Does this seem normal? or..... do I need some better, different, or longer/shorter shocks...?? Are the leaf springs to soft, I'm aired down to 15psi, do I need more? 15 has worked for me so far. Am I just going too fast.

This trail had fresh snow, what wet and little icy. I went first. I didn't scrape or bang anywhere. FJ's that followed on 33" scraped a little, and of them got a little hung up on a rock. It's doable on 32" or maybe 31" but it will scrape and bang.


Is this just the way with leaf springs? Anyways, enjoy the video, I attached some offroad eye candy pics too. And tell me what you think. I'm thinking shocks and lower gears in transfercase to slower climbing?

Pay attention to second 37.


St-Donat 12-11-11 :: 012.mp4 video by Cholerabob - Photobucket



https://picasaweb.google.com/captai...&authkey=Gv1sRgCND608zerd2WIA&feat=directlink

 

[Acidmeld]

Generally that kind of bounce is caused by shocks that are too soft for the spring rate of the leaf springs. The shocks arent stiff enough to control the spring bound.

 

[CAN-03runner]

Thanks bounce on the road I would have said shocks pretty quick. I wasn't sure about their effect going slow on trails. I will order some shocks this week. Probably some bilsteins. If the issue is not solved by the shocks at least the silver color of the bilsteins will bring some bling to the trail.

Anyone else have some input, seen this before?

 

[Tradera]

i'd say a lot of it is too much speed. Throw some crawler gears in the tcase and it will make a big difference. And it def. saves the clutch.

 

[cztheman64]

ya ill second speed. slow 'er down a lil bit. and i really hope you dont have lift blocks bouncin around like that!

nice music btw!

 

[Pikeman]

Shocks on the road the bumps are usually smaller and rely more on compression control then rebound. Off road judging by the video you wer going a little faster than you should and the rebound is way to light and springs were just pushing right through the shock. You need to slow down a bit and also get a better shock on there with pretty strong(slow) rebound setting.

 

[CAN-03runner]

ya ill second speed. slow 'er down a lil bit. and i really hope you dont have lift blocks bouncin around like that!

nice music btw!

If by lift blocks you mean body lift, then no, no body lift.

It's difficult to keep it very slow, since as it bounces and jerks around and then my gas peddle foot dives into the accelerator. There is one last trail left this weekend before the snow takes over the trails. Going to do more practicing keeping it slow. Lower transfercase gears are sort of in the plans. We'll see what else comes up during the winter trailess season. I need to iron out some other bugs first before.

 

[Hyde802]

If by lift blocks you mean body lift, then no, no body lift

Hes talking about lift blocks, they go between the axle and the leaf spring to boost height. Great for the mall, not for the trail.

It's difficult to keep it very slow, since as it bounces and jerks around and then my gas peddle foot dives into the accelerator.

This will be solved by..

Lower transfercase gears are sort of in the plans.

Start reading at post 5 (Dont mind that its for a v6, the gearing info is still all correct. )

V6 transmission and transfer case - YotaTech Forums

 

[CAN-03runner]

Hes talking about lift blocks, they go between the axle and the leaf spring to boost height. Great for the mall, not for the trail.

This will be solved by..




Start reading at post 5 (Dont mind that its for a v6, the gearing info is still all correct. )

V6 transmission and transfer case - YotaTech Forums

Ok so now I know what lift blocks are. No I DO NOT have those. But I do have the springs over axle with a flip kit.

I do have a V6, so that link to yotatech is totally applicable, I think I read that moonths ago, great re-read sure makes even more sense after a nice reread. I have been considering lower gears and maybe duals ideally already. What has me hung up a little besides the cost, is the drive shaft issues. I need to figure out that first and identify what I need. I was thinking of going one gear drive case with 4.7's to start so I don't have to mess with the drive shafts yet.

I already have a gear drive transfercase in another 4cyl 1986 4runner that I own. My plan with it it to transfer it's very nice body to my 1984 with crappy body, since the 1984 is solid axle already and already is setup for offroading. Good truck except for rusty body. Then takes its transfercase and rear axle, open them up and try to put it back together as a way of learning how it's al setup. Hopefully be able to get the transfercase setup with 4.7 gears. I just don't like the 1 transfercase with 4.7 because it will be slow where it's needed but too slow when not needed. Already now, going down hill on simple terrain is painfully slow in 1st and a little fast in 2nd.

EDIT: OK So I read the yotatech link yet another time. Yup, this is "Must See TV" for sure.

 

[Tradera]

Something ealse that helped smooth out my 1st gen was the "fullsize Chevy rear spring swap". Gives you the all lift without all the rough "lift spring arch".

 

[CAN-03runner]

One last trail this weekend before the winter season, then plenty of time to tinker wit fine tuning until the spring. I didn't get a chance to order new shocks with less rebound yet. But they are now placed at an angle which could be contributing to the bounce. So debating, keeping the same length, keeping the angle but using newer better shocks. Or get new better shorter shocks, and install with less angle.


Totally un-related, here's a video 1st Gen 4Runner Dual Locked Offroading on rocks and mud - YouTube of another trail, just because :worthless But it's better with videos!

 

[fourwd1]

i'd say a lot of it is too much speed. Throw some crawler gears in the tcase and it will make a big difference. And it def. saves the clutch.

Bingo !

It's from hitting it too hard.

 

[CAN-03runner]

Bingo !

It's from hitting it too hard.

I'm hearing you guys loud and clear! Lower gears and/or duals should be my project for the winter!

 

[CAN-03runner]

Little update:

With the body now swapped with a non-rusty one, the body mount bushings were changed for energy suspension body mount bushing.
That alone has made a world of difference. I feel less bouncing just driving on bumps and potholes on the street. It feels more solid.
Getting some new shocks should improve it even more.