stock suspension - how long did yours last?

[BMSman]

Just purchased a nice clean (almost like new) 2005 limited 2wd V8 with 45K mi. It has Standard suspension. I got all the dealer service records since new - not that much has been done to it..... routine oil changes every 5K etc. It has been very well maintained and was purchased from the orig owner here in San Diego. I'm sure I'll be taking advantage of this forum from here on...

My first priority is the front end seems very bouncy and dips more than I would expect when the brakes are applied. I intend to swap out the front shocks for some Bilstein BST HD units (~$86 ea at shockwarehouse). I'm just a little surprised that these would need replacing at such a low milage. Is this normal? I'm sure age is a contributing factor as well and these are almost 8yrs old now. There's no sign of leakage but that doesn't really mean much.

I'm not intersted in raising the car - just want to restore the handling to as it was new. I've put Bilstein's on a couple of my other cars (BMW's) and been very pleased with the results.

 

[LTDSC]

could all depend how the previous owner drove. He could have been quick accelerator, last minute brake type of person. Which could lead to some wear if done in consecutive pattern.

 

[zopperman]

100,000 miles with XREAS

 

[M1911]

I've got a 130k on mine -- stock Limited with XREAS. Yes, the suspension is relatively soft and it has a fair bit of dive on braking. It's been that way since I bought it new about 10 years ago.

 

[slyfox75]

congrats on the "find".
I've got 136+ on mine with no issues......
Mine is regular, NON XREAS......yes it will dive a lil when hard decel.....but what doesn't? I think your shocks are fine......
Let us know if you do the Bilsteins and how they perform/handle.

 

[HOJeepster]

110k with xreas before i started to tell it was dead.

 

[cloh09]

I have 148k with xreas and ras and no issues. When they do go, I also plan on putting on some bilsteins.

 

[Gecko123]

148,000 KM (92000 miles), stock x-reas. 2006 4Runner

 

[elbman]

126K with Xreas

 

[03limited2WD]

It might just feel different from the car/truck you drove before.
I just bought a 2003 RWD 4Runner with 74,000miles and I noticed right away that the handling and road manners were very different than the 4 wheel independent suspension on my old Lexus (coil over struts at each wheel).

Its not bad, just different.

Personally I think the 4Runner handles rather well for being a brick on a frame with a solid rear axle.

I drove a Sequoia before I drove the 4Runner and the Sequoia felt like a rented UHaul truck on the road. I felt much more at home in the 4Runner.

 

[having fun]

When I bought mine, had 30k on it. I put a 3" spacer lift on it for 3yrs. Then I put a 3" coils/5100's lift in ( heavy's ) to handle a bumper. I gained 3/4"-1" taller than the spacer lift. I'm at 87k now.

Do ex-spec to have your stock springs to get some sag.

 

[delucat2]

176,000 with XREAS. I like the ride.

 

[unixadm]

When I bought my 05 4Runner Limited V8 4WD the front springs were shot at 130k. I replaced them with a set of FJ Cruiser coils and Bilstein shocks I got off of here. No issues after that. Now with 144k, the rear shocks could stand to be replaced.

 

[IceNine]

10 yrs and 155k with XREAS and I anticipate that it will need replacing in the next year or so.

 

[daka320]

Have XREAS and 147000 miles with no problems. Drives good so not worried.

 

[AKmoney]

I just lifted mine at 101K (removed XREAS which was working fine) and there were no issues. One thing I noticed was that the stock suspension had sagged by different amounts across each corner; it's all even now with fresh FJ coils and shocks.

 

[97hb]

Currently at 252k stock suspension with Cornfed 3/2 I installed at around 80k. No problems yet.