Suspension Gurus - Need Input

[BexarWolf]

Ok, I've been a member for a while but read more than I post. Now I'm needing some direct input.

'07 4Runner SR5 two wheel drive with ~87,000 miles. This is my wife's 4R and we've had it for about a year. When we got it, we knew it needed shocks and went with Bilstein 5100s all the way around (I had just put a set o my FJ and loved them). We set the fronts in the middle groove on the 5100s to level out the front end.

Ever since then, the front end just feels "light". And not in a good way. It just feels less than solid at highway speeds and it feels even worse when behind a semi or on high-wind days. The tires are new (less than 1,000 miles on them at the moment).

I'm considering pulling off the Bilsteins and going back with something more stock with a leveling blocks on the front to keep the stance. I'm just concerned that bringing the front up to level is what's causing the "light" feeling.

And by "light", I mean it feels like there is more weight in the back than in the front.....almost like towing something or having the rear loaded with too many bags of concrete.

Any suggestions out there? Thanks in advance.

 

[dkyleb]

Ok, I've been a member for a while but read more than I post. Now I'm needing some direct input.

'07 4Runner SR5 two wheel drive with ~87,000 miles. This is my wife's 4R and we've had it for about a year. When we got it, we knew it needed shocks and went with Bilstein 5100s all the way around (I had just put a set o my FJ and loved them). We set the fronts in the middle groove on the 5100s to level out the front end.

Ever since then, the front end just feels "light". And not in a good way. It just feels less than solid at highway speeds and it feels even worse when behind a semi or on high-wind days. The tires are new (less than 1,000 miles on them at the moment).

I'm considering pulling off the Bilsteins and going back with something more stock with a leveling blocks on the front to keep the stance. I'm just concerned that bringing the front up to level is what's causing the "light" feeling.

And by "light", I mean it feels like there is more weight in the back than in the front.....almost like towing something or having the rear loaded with too many bags of concrete.

Any suggestions out there? Thanks in advance.

Did you get an alignment afterwards?

The issue may not be with the shocks themselves, but rather with lifting the front end. You effectively change the geometry of the suspension. In doing so, you lose some caster in the process. If you did not get an alignment after installing the 5100s, you may even have some slight positive camber.

 

[BexarWolf]

Did you get an alignment afterwards?

The issue may not be with the shocks themselves, but rather with lifting the front end. You effectively change the geometry of the suspension. In doing so, you lose some caster in the process. If you did not get an alignment after installing the 5100s, you may even have some slight positive camber.

Good point. We did not get an alignment at the time so I'll definitely look into that. Thanks for the input.

 

[dkyleb]

Good point. We did not get an alignment at the time so I'll definitely look into that. Thanks for the input.

No problem. Go get an alignment, I can almost guarantee that will solve your problems.

 

[nicheel8]

No problem. Go get an alignment, I can almost guarantee that will solve your problems.

Good call. I just removed my XREAS and installed 5100s and it felt "floaty." After I got it aligned and it feels really good. The shop said to bring it back after 3-4 weeks and they will check it again.

 

[gm350reratliff]

When you go for the alignment, tell them to adjust the caster so it is over 4° or as close as they can come to that.

 

[BexarWolf]

Sorry for the delays but I didn't see my instant notifications.

Got the alignment today and $95 later, I can't explain the improvement. It's the wife's so I'm going to let her take it out today and let her make a decision on her own without my opinion but I'm sure she's going to be more than pleased.

It was most definitely out of alignment. :lookout:

Thanks for the comments and suggestion.