suspension differences?

[h&t]

Hi all,

I searched through the forum and while some good info is available (for example http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/70531-suspension-help.html ) I still need help

Wife and I drive 96 4runner sr5. It's getting old and we need the second ride.
So we're shopping. After much debate and penny counting
we're considering 2006-07 4runner (in SR5 or Sport) vs FJ Cruiser.
FJ is a bit smallish for us, we have 6 yo kid.

My wife is really prone to motion sickness, so she likes stiffer ride (surprise to some people).
She drove FJ and loved it. She drove SR5 Sport and got dizzy - it's a bit softer and floaty. I have to add the driving was in the city.

So my question is would SR5 the non-Sport be stiffer?

Bottom line, I figured from reading here - I can buy the 4R and swap the suspension for FJ's or OME. BTW, where would I get the FJ suspension?

Thanks a lot.

 

[chaz]

if she thought the sport ride was floaty, the sr5 will be worse for her.

 

[Jed]

In terms of ride quality, I think the Sport and the SR5 are pretty much the same. They are both loosely sprung and damped, even though the Sport has the XREAS suspension and the SR5 does not. The big difference between the two is that the Sport doesn't lean as much around turns due to the cross-linked XREAS shocks.

 

[Flyer]

This may be contrary to what most will say/think but I found the Sport to be very "floaty" as well. It wasn't especially firm or soft but the Limited and the SR5 somehow felt more "connected" to me so I suggest you try a SR5 or Limited as well. The Sport had less body lean but had a disconnected feel from the road. I didn't dislike it at all but it felt a bit unusual and "floaty" when compared to the other models. maybe your wife is picking up on that just as I was during my test drives, though I don't have any motion sickness issues.

 

[Jed]

This may be contrary to what most will say/think but I found the Sport to be very "floaty" as well. It wasn't especially firm or soft but the Limited and the SR5 somehow felt more "connected" to me so I suggest you try a SR5 or Limited as well. The Sport had less body lean but had a disconnected feel from the road. I didn't dislike it at all but it felt a bit unusual and "floaty" when compared to the other models. maybe your wife is picking up on that just as I was during my test drives, though I don't have any motion sickness issues.

Yeah, I agree. All 4th gen 4Runners have that old-school Lincoln or Caddy feeling of floating over the bumps. I wouldn't say that XREAS makes any discernible difference in that regard.

I've heard that FJ springs & shocks stiffens up the ride noticeably.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Some limiteds have the XREAS just like the sports, so it may or may not be different in ride. For the FJ suspension, check out Toyota FJ Cruiser Community, eBay, and craigslist, that's the best places (in the order I'd look).