Rough Riding

[RickC]

I recently bought this 2000 4runner and I was wondering if they all ride this badly. It reminds me of my old Jeep Wrangler TJ. I came from an 06 Tundra Double Cab which rode like a cadillac. Since mine is 9 years old I was wondering if new shocks all the way around would soften the ride. Anyone have any ideas, or is this the way they all ride? If it should ride better, what shock would provide a softer ride? Or is this a stiff spring/coil problem?

 

[RickC]

No one has any ideas?

 

[Ray K.]

Rick,

I wish I had an answer for you.

All I can tell you is my brother has an '01 and that is his biggest complaint about it - the rough ride. He did have a Pathfinder which rode smoother.

Anyway, I bought an '02 and let him test drive it. He definitely thought mine road much smoother. Mine does seem to ride/handle more "car like" than "truck like." My previous truck was a '99 Tahoe 4dr 2wd.

We have yet to come up with any specific answers to the mystery. Both appear to have stock shocks. His has a trailer hitch, but we don't know if the coil springs are different. Just eye balling them doesn't tell us much. Mine has factory 15" rims, his 16". I run my tires at the factory recommend pressures. He runs his considerably higher.

Well, I realize this didn't answer your question. But, since no one has posted a reply, I thought I'd let you know what I don't know, and that I'm also curious what the difference is.

Maybe someone more in the know will chime in.

Ray K.

 

[Ron Helmuth]

shocks or springs or both

Ride feel is pretty subjective. One person's stiff is just right to another....

Many folks have the sagging rear ends-that is worn out rear springs. Check your clearance between rear tire and wheel well and compare to other 3rd gens in the parking lots. May as well go Old Man Emu or some tall 99s from Yota and get a little lift while you are at it-but lots of options.

If the shocks have never been replaced-it is most likely overdue for some. Many choices for those....

By the way I have a set of Bilsteins that would fit you... hardly used... see Classifieds


ahh better yet here is a link:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39134

 

[RickC]

Yeah, I realize that, but it's pretty stiff. I can feel every bump in the road that is for sure. I did check air pressure in the tires and put them right on 35 lbs cold.

Maybe some shocks would do the trick, I don't know. I know my DC Tundra had Bilsteins because it had the TRD package. It rode great, but it was a longer wheelbase too.

 

[shootmymime]

i replaced my shocks around 200,000 miles, and i know what you mean rough ride....

i had the front struts sitting in the garage for a few months and after hitting a bump and almost wrecking the truck i decided it was time to put the new ones one! wow it was so amazing how smoother it rode, and i didn't feel every single bump in the steering wheel.

how many miles are on the truck? if you want high quality go with bilstine* but i went back with monroe sensatrax* and it feels much better! good luck.


here is a link where i posted on how to replace your struts and shocks http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=42767&highlight=shocks

 

[RickC]

Thanks for the link. Mine only has 75,000 miles on it. I really don't know what the replacement interval for shocks are, but I do know that I have gone a lot farther on shocks mileage wise. I was thinking maybe it is because of their age.

 

[DavidAlexander]

Check out JCwhitney for some good prices on replacement shocks. If you like a smoother ride I would suggest the Rancho RS5000 front and Skyjacker Hydro rear.

I got these for pretty cheap compared to the OME and these are OIL FILLED SHOCKS, so they dampen the bumps and smooth out the road better than a charged gas shock like Bilsteins. Thats probably what you are looking for. Hope this helps.

If you can get one brand I would, they just didn't have both in stock when I ordered so I had to get one brand on the front and another on the rear. They are almost identical looking though, white with red boots.

 

[RickC]

I will take a look, thanks!

 

[shootmymime]

i work at a mechaic shop that has been in buisness for 25 years and my boss says shocks should be replaced about every 2 years and or 60,000 miles, so yes replacing your shocks would be a good idea!

 

[bluebullet]

My 99 SR5 has 100K mi on it. It has always felt every bump in the road. I like to think of it as "sporty" as it handles/performs much better than my 94 SR5. I likely need new shocks as well. Except for nitrogen charged shocks (ala Bilstein) you do not notice the slow degradation in shock performance. I am told you know it when a Bilstein fails. Test drove an 08 SE a few weeks ago. It handled well and rode smoother the my 99. Could not bring myself to spend 31K on it with markets as they are. BTW 31K is 1K more than I paid for my 99 in 99. Many more features on the 08 and I could not see where they had decontented the new ones. Get some new shocks and keep good tires on it. I have always liked the Michelin LTX. Did not like the Cross Terrains. Less wear and not as good in deep snow.

 

[RickC]

Maybe they just ride stiff then. I have Michelin LTX M/S on it. They look new. I will look into some getting some new shocks in the near future and see what that does.