Shocks or springs?

[ksroqclimber]

So my 97 runner feels pretty spongy. I would compare it to a taxi cab with a ton of miles that just has that spongy feeling.

Anyway, is that due to old worn shocks or old worn springs? I am leaning to the shocks as it would seem they are ment to absord movemen.

 

[shuly]

So my 97 runner feels pretty spongy. I would compare it to a taxi cab with a ton of miles that just has that spongy feeling.

Anyway, is that due to old worn shocks or old worn springs? I am leaning to the shocks as it would seem they are ment to absord movemen.

How old is the existing suspension. If nothing has been changed it would be worth getting new coils and shocks given its age. If the rear is sagging a bit then coils will also fix that right up too. If you are on a budget just change out the shocks it will help improve the spongy feel. But if the coils are original....since you would be in there anyway its worth swapping stuff at once.

 

[Tomsriv]

Its the struts and shocks, not the springs. Its easier to swap springs and struts together as you don't need a spring compressor to swap the spring. I got Monroe Reflex struts and they are a little hard, but the truck handles really good with them.

 

[ksroqclimber]

Yeah looks to me like they are original. 209K miles on them. And I am pretty strapped. just spent a wad on rear axle seals/bearings/brakes and Valve Cover gaskets. probly need to swap timing belt and water pump before i can do suspension.

Given the other MPG thread that is active right now, this may seem retorical, but better susspension i would think could gain me a little MPG? No? Yes? maybe 1mpg?

I am by no means concerned about the suspention, just a noticeable spongyness. With that said, at what point in the life of a suspension setup should i be concerned about supporting a trailer.....6'x10' box type trailer with a bed and dresser and a few other misc. items.

BTW Tom, do you have any pics of your 38 Cadi anywhere?

Thanks

 

[Ron Helmuth]

read the sticky up top

"about rear sag"

You likely could use both new shocks and new springs and you may even still be covered under warranty-wouldn't that blow your mind!

Show us a pic of how your back end sits-a good side shot- and I would venture a guess you have the dreaded butt sag. The springs lose their height over time and new ones are in order. Yes the dealership may even give you new ones-give them a chance to explain and you may be shocked...

stick around here long enough and we will have you talked into an Old Man Emu setup or a Sonoran Steel lift...

 

[shuly]

.....

stick around here long enough and we will have you talked into an Old Man Emu setup or a Sonoran Steel lift...

Yeah there are very evil people on this board (the good kind of evil)...I swear they get a kick back from all the mods we do...and for the record...long enough is a lot shorter than you think :lol:

 

[ksroqclimber]

Yeah i have read quite a bit about the sag on this site. But just from looking at it, i wouldnt really say it has a rear sag at all. Maybe i dont know what to look for. Sag to me means a noticable height difference from the front to the back.

Also....may sound like a stupid question, but could someone tell me what color this is? I mean name of the color? 97 had some weird color names and i havent been able to place a photo next to a color that matched with the name yet.

 

[Tomsriv]

Yeah there are very evil people on this board (the good kind of evil)...I swear they get a kick back from all the mods we do...and for the record...long enough is a lot shorter than you think :lol:

Don't complain brother, these runners are about as reliable as they come. I once looked into buying a Jaguar XJS V12, the Jag forum members put together a 475 page word document on all the things that the Brits built wrong. It was a million little things like "All the gauges read 25% low, so you need to re-solder all the wires to take out the resistance." Needless to say I passed on that rich mans project car.

 

[Tomsriv]

BTW Tom, do you have any pics of your 38 Cadi anywhere?

It was about as big a project as you can get.

 

[bigtimeweb]

Also....may sound like a stupid question, but could someone tell me what color this is? I mean name of the color? 97 had some weird color names and i havent been able to place a photo next to a color that matched with the name yet.

Anthracite Metallic. This is the only color on 3rd gens that I don't mind the two toned trim. Very nice and you don't see them nearly as often as say...Thundercloud.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/18408-toyota-4runner-3rd-gen-color-code-chart.html

 

[shuly]

Yeah there are very evil people on this board (the good kind of evil)...I swear they get a kick back from all the mods we do...and for the record...long enough is a lot shorter than you think :lol:

Don't complain brother, these runners are about as reliable as they come......

Ahh some people just don't get a joke... :nono: I even had an LOL smiley :ybrick: