Suspension Not Suspending.

fatherdoug

fatherdoug

New member
I have a '99 SR5 that I bought last December with 155,000 miles. The suspension doesn't do a very good job of keeping the vehicle on the road. Bumps on the road will cause the vehicle to move around quite a bit. The suspension is all stock.

I did replace the rear shocks with NAPA OEM Spectrum(Made by Monroe, I think?) which didn't seem to make a lot of difference. I'm getting hardly any movement, both front and rear, with the settling test on the shocks/struts.

I don't see anything loose/broken on the suspension, such as sway bars, track bars, etc. The rear springs sit about 1" above the bump stops, with no load and a full tank of gas.

One thing I did notice is that this SR5 has 16" wheels, whereas it probably came original with 15" wheels. Looking around for rear springs, I noticed that there are different part numbers for springs with 15" wheels, vs springs for 16" wheels. Could this be part of my problem?

Any advice would be welcome.

I might also add that the only comparison I have is our '06 4Runner, which handles much better, due to manufacturing improvements between Gen 3 and Gen 4 4Runners.
 
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common among 3rd gens still rocking factory suspension components at this day in time. the only recommendation I can give is to slowly replace those components. Shocks/springs/ball joints/bushings/tie rods/etc. All of those aged items combine for a rough, jarring ride sometimes.
 
Thank you for the reply. The long-term goal is to replace the suspension components. I just wanted to know if I was overlooking something.
 
I replaced the rear coil springs today with OEM replacements, same size. The job took about two hours.(I haven't done this before) The only items I removed were the wheels, lower shock, and the passenger side of the panhard bar. The springs required some coaxing with a couple large screwdrivers for both removal and installation.

The new springs did improve the ride. I think the old springs were constantly hitting the bump stops, which made for a rough ride.

Next is new bushings for the rear sway bar, and new linkage for the sway bar.
 
fatherdoug said:
I replaced the rear coil springs today with OEM replacements, same size. The job took about two hours.(I haven't done this before) The only items I removed were the wheels, lower shock, and the passenger side of the panhard bar. The springs required some coaxing with a couple large screwdrivers for both removal and installation.

The new springs did improve the ride. I think the old springs were constantly hitting the bump stops, which made for a rough ride.

Next is new bushings for the rear sway bar, and new linkage for the sway bar.
Click to expand...

The end links are probably fine. I'd just replace the bushings and end link bushings with oem or aftermarket poly bushings
 
The suspension system is slowly being completely replaced. To date I have replaced the rear coil springs, rear sway bar bushings and end links, rear shocks, front quick struts(strut and spring), and have ordered bushings and end links for the front sway bar.

All the things listed above have gradually improved the ride/handling of the vehicle. I think the front sway bar bushings will make a big difference since they look trashed.
 
Subscribed.

I hate to aimlessly throw parts at this car, but we replaced all the shocks with oem, and still all over the place. How big of an improvement was the rear springs?

I found a rust hole in the car and I really don't want to aimlessly throw parts at this car anymore, but we did just spend a lot of money on it, and don't see much in terms of results.

the sad thing was I was looking forward to getting a lot of things done on our 3rd gen, but everything to put on pause when I found the rust hole.
 
fatherdoug said:
The suspension system is slowly being completely replaced. To date I have replaced the rear coil springs, rear sway bar bushings and end links, rear shocks, front quick struts(strut and spring), and have ordered bushings and end links for the front sway bar.

All the things listed above have gradually improved the ride/handling of the vehicle. I think the front sway bar bushings will make a big difference since they look trashed.
Click to expand...

You're on the right track. With only an inch of clearance your rear axle was definitely hitting the bump stops, which would certainly make the ride feel terrible. If I were you I would also ditch the spectrum shocks for oem tokicos. They are specifically valved for the weight of of the 4Runner, and do the job well. I'm even giving up my popular bilstein 5100s for oem shocks, as I want the softer ride
 
1985taylor1925 said:
You're on the right track. With only an inch of clearance your rear axle was definitely hitting the bump stops, which would certainly make the ride feel terrible. If I were you I would also ditch the spectrum shocks for oem tokicos. They are specifically valved for the weight of of the 4Runner, and do the job well. I'm even giving up my popular bilstein 5100s for oem shocks, as I want the softer ride
Click to expand...

I think the 5100s ride pretty well imo, what rear springs? We have Tundra springs in front and ome 890s in the rear. Truck is very planted and soaks up bumps pretty well.
 
1985taylor1925 said:
You're on the right track. With only an inch of clearance your rear axle was definitely hitting the bump stops, which would certainly make the ride feel terrible. If I were you I would also ditch the spectrum shocks for oem tokicos. They are specifically valved for the weight of of the 4Runner, and do the job well. I'm even giving up my popular bilstein 5100s for oem shocks, as I want the softer ride
Click to expand...

Food for thought! :D

Supermoney said:
I think the 5100s ride pretty well imo, what rear springs? We have Tundra springs in front and ome 890s in the rear. Truck is very planted and soaks up bumps pretty well.
Click to expand...

Might consider that.
 
shahsmerdis said:
Subscribed.

I hate to aimlessly throw parts at this car, but we replaced all the shocks with oem, and still all over the place. How big of an improvement was the rear springs?

I found a rust hole in the car and I really don't want to aimlessly throw parts at this car anymore, but we did just spend a lot of money on it, and don't see much in terms of results.

the sad thing was I was looking forward to getting a lot of things done on our 3rd gen, but everything to put on pause when I found the rust hole.
Click to expand...

The only item that seemed to make the most difference was the bushings and end links on the rear sway bar. But no one single thing stands out as a "BOOYAH" solution. I'm thinking the bushings on the front sway bar will make a difference, since they are worn out.
 
Mine road like hot garbage when first purchased. 163 on the stock suspension. You'll be please when you get done going through it. The age and miles do a number on those parts, although I'm not sure which one is harder on it. Probably a combination of the two really.
 
nc-grayson said:
common among 3rd gens still rocking factory suspension components at this day in time. the only recommendation I can give is to slowly replace those components. Shocks/springs/ball joints/bushings/tie rods/etc. All of those aged items combine for a rough, jarring ride sometimes.
Click to expand...

Hell, even if you have the newest 3rd gen @ year 2002, ~14 years for replacing OEM suspension components is NOT bad at all. And if you rock the oldest 3rd gen, we're talking 20 freaking years.
 
1985taylor1925 said:
You're on the right track. With only an inch of clearance your rear axle was definitely hitting the bump stops, which would certainly make the ride feel terrible. If I were you I would also ditch the spectrum shocks for oem tokicos. They are specifically valved for the weight of of the 4Runner, and do the job well. I'm even giving up my popular bilstein 5100s for oem shocks, as I want the softer ride
Click to expand...

Are bump stops something that come with new shocks like when you buy new rear OEM Tokico as you mentioned? Also, are the front coilovers also Tokico OEM? I'd like to refresh front and back with OEM.
 
fatherdoug said:
The only item that seemed to make the most difference was the bushings and end links on the rear sway bar. But no one single thing stands out as a "BOOYAH" solution. I'm thinking the bushings on the front sway bar will make a difference, since they are worn out.
Click to expand...

Sway bar end links did it for me! Rock auto had a sale on these, way beefier than my stock ones: More Information for ACDELCO 46G0453A. I had one break so needed to replace.

Replaced bushings up front and it's been fantastic ever since.
 
shahsmerdis said:
Subscribed.

I hate to aimlessly throw parts at this car, but we replaced all the shocks with oem, and still all over the place. How big of an improvement was the rear springs?

I found a rust hole in the car and I really don't want to aimlessly throw parts at this car anymore, but we did just spend a lot of money on it, and don't see much in terms of results.

the sad thing was I was looking forward to getting a lot of things done on our 3rd gen, but everything to put on pause when I found the rust hole.
Click to expand...

I hope you're not talking about your frame!
 
T4R2014 said:
I hope you're not talking about your frame!
Click to expand...

Hey Man,
Yep found a hole in the frame in the front passenger side, near the CAT, front cross member.

you saw my frame on the lift, it was nasty in a few spots, but cleaned up nicely and no holes. rear control arms looked great, overall not bad right...? I decided to spend a little time cleaning and Fluid filming the front. I did a little poking and the poke ended up going through the frame! I was so freaking angry, I walked away from the car. I feel absolutely terrible for leaving your friend hanging. I was excited and ready for him to take care of a few things, but i had to put repairs on hold until we figured out how much money we want to spend on this car.

I guess this is off topic, PM in your inbox in coming.
 
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