Nose Dive While Hard Braking!
- Thread starter sporty87
- Start date
BrianLSU
New member
Yea, I know what you mean. I was going to get a 4th Generation but per Car and Driver it came in next to last place compared to every other SUV on the market, they really raked it over the coals, so I never pulled the trigger. I especially love the "over boosted brakes" comment. But damn, I'll miss that extra 30'. I'm just glad they fixed everything else with the 4th Gen on the 5th's.
To the OP, if it really does bother you, get a leveling kit. It raises the front by an inch or two and changes the rake, thereby diminishing the nose dive under hard braking. Technically there's nothing wrong with nose diving, the majority of your braking comes from the front and the nose dipping distributes more load to the front brakes. If it really bothers you, it's a cheap fix. It happens in every vehicle, you just notice it because you have more travel and therefore more movement under braking.
I AM SAM
New member
This is probably the worst advice I've ever read in this forum. A leveling kit doesn't reduce the amount of dive, it merely makes the nose higher to begin with, so even if it doesn't dive down as low, it still dives down just as far. In fact, a valid argument could be made that adding a leveling lift can INCREASE nose dive while braking.
For the most part, that's probably due to the increase in curb weight for the 5th gen. But you're right that it is quite a difference!
JB.
New member
The 4psi might contribute on paper but it shouldn't be anything you can feel. (On a side note, can you tell me what psi the drivers door sticker recommends for the stock P245/60R20 tires?)
Xreas works for nose dive because the front and rear shocks are crossed linked. When each front shock starts to compress during a hard stop, it borrows some fluid from its opposite rear shock (which is lengthening) and firms up.
I'd have to guess your nose dive is a change in perception thing, but if you're really experiencing it, you might have a leak in the system somewhere. Maybe go test drive an SR5 or Limited and see how that feels in comparison. If you still think you've got a problem, let the dealer take a look.
BrianLSU
New member
I find that hard to believe since you're the purveyor of most of the crap I've read as of late.
Spacers raise the front of the vehicle and change the center of gravity. With the nose further up and the center of gravity moved further back the load transferred during braking is lessened at the front thereby reducing the dive. So yes, even though you're not changing either the dampening or spring rates with spacers, you're changing the rake and changing the rake effects braking and handling.
Now, I would love to hear your take on how it makes nose dive worse....:nerd:
LOL, you have got to be kidding me with this crap, right? Is this April 1st?
Yeah, I want to be RAISING the center of gravity to reduce nose dive during braking! You have a lot to learn, grasshopper! Next thing you'll be telling us is that a lift kit will help our 4Runner corner flatter too! LOL
You are sometimes amusing though.....I'll give you that.
So you got your information from Google (you did mean Google, and not "Goggle", right)? That's priceless! I'm glad you rely on Google for your lift/nose dive advice.
BTW, the only thing useless in this thread is your advice to install a leveling lift to reduce nose dive while braking.
To the OP: please don't blindly take this poor advice and think it will actually help you with your nose dive issue. It won't.
BrianLSU
New member
Two things could be going on.
First, your suspension system is breaking in and the springs and fluids have relaxed from their new condition, a good thing. The front springs are "looser" now and the nose dive might be a little more pronounced.
Second, your front end, due to the relaxing of the suspension, is now sitting lower. This change in rake will yield more nose dive under braking.
Solutions, the expensive one would be a suspension swap (you want more lift and travel), the cheap would be a $200 spacer.
It's only common knowledge in your fantasy world. Everybody else knows that raising the front suspension (especially with a spacer and not different springs) will not help reduce nose dive. That's not only common knowledge, but also common sense.
So since you've done such extensive research via Google, why don't you post a link or two of a web site that led you to your conclusion.
harper7
Senior Member
You are correct Brian:thumb3:
Adding a spacer between the coil spring and the top cap increases spring tension thus helping to reduce nose dive when braking.
I ran the set-up for the first 3-4 months.
LOL, leave it to harper to show up and support his little buddy who is as wrong as wrong can be. Give it a rest, harper. Spring tension is not increased by installing a spacer. You've posted garbage like this before...you were wrong then and you're wrong now. Anybody with any common sense knows this! LOL
westwind77
New member
If you have seen Harper's 4R, and the amazing mods he has completed already, you KNOW that he can be trusted. I think once you get to know people on here you will know who to trust.....and more importantly, know who not to trust (cough cough Jed).
BrianLSU
New member
You felt the effect, but if you remember, the spacer went on top of the shock/spring housing thus could not affect the preload or the spring compression rating. It has everything to do with weight distribution. Thanks for confirming the before and after effect though. I don't think there would be anyone who has installed spacers that wouldn't agree nose dive is truly reduced, me included. If that's the case and nothing with the suspension was changed then what happened??
On a side note, changing the rake also changes the steering compliance The change in rake effects traction at the front (positive rake) and can cause lazy steering Negative rake causes over steering. This is especially dangerous in off-road racing. All the variables involved can make you go cross-eyed, rake, spring rates, progressive or linear, oil weights, valving (a science in itself) just to name a few.
harper7
Senior Member
A spacer between the coil and top plate increases spring tension like I installed. A spacer on top of the coil spring/top plate assembly(aka coilover) does not increase spring tension and is called a top out spacer.
Universal Donut Rubber Spring Spacer Booster
Coilover lift and ride quality questions - Tacoma World Forums
Front strut help. - SoCal FJ Cruiser Forums
Let me google that for you
Universal Donut Rubber Spring Spacer Booster
Coilover lift and ride quality questions - Tacoma World Forums
Front strut help. - SoCal FJ Cruiser Forums
Let me google that for you
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