Rear Suspension - Feels unsettled

[MDVDuber]

Hey, 2004 V8 SR5 4X4 with about 92K on the clock. Recently replaced the front and rear dampers with Bilstein HD's and the springs with FJ Cruiser springs.

The front feels great - but when going over bumps the rear feels very unsettled. It feel like it's bouncing all over the place, and like something is loose.

I've crawled under the rear and can't see anything glaringly wrong. There aren't any odd noises when I hit a bump. I properly torqued all of the nuts and bolts when I installed the rear shocks and have checked since that they are still correctly tightened.

Did I miss replacing something in the suspension? Did I screw something up (please say no - this is a pretty simple suspension).

Thanks!

 

[DC runner]

This is me spitballing:

Usually light trucks/suv's have a delicate balance in the rear shocks. Front shock weight load is fairly static. They can assume a set basic weight load. The engine, plus they factor in the average person. You notice that the front driver side is always just a tad higher to begin with to adjust for the constant weight.

The rear of light trucks and suv's are always in play. The notorious rear in sag on the 2nd gen 4runners was the product of too weak a spring set in the back. It was a maladjustment. You have to balance a decent ride with weight carrying. I owned 1. a USA and 2. A Canadian model. The models made for Canada had a higher weight carrying ability in the back, and as a result, a tougher suspension. That truck NEVER sagged.


Anyway. I am just talking here; but it sounds like you did nothing wrong and you simply have a tougher suspension than before. I owed a tacoma and it always liked to "bounce" in the rear if it was empty. Never tacoma's have moved the "balance" towards ride a bit more.


You probably added stiffer rear components, and one of the results of a stiffer ride is a bit more "bounce" in the rear.

 

[berettashot117]

I added stiffer rear springs and shocks and now my rear end bounces around too. this was about 15k ago and it's just something I don't really pay attention to anymore

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

I wouldn't have expected that much difference with the FJ coils though. Do you still have your stock rear shocks? I'd try putting them back on and trying it. It's a pretty easy swap and would eliminate that part.