Suspension Question

[amnt]

I have just purchased a 2014 T4R and am planning on lifting the vehicle but I have a question about a common theme I read. It seems that most everyone who has added the lift says that the vehicle now drives and rides better than stock. I find that hard to believe based upon my recent experience with Jeep. I am wondering what makes it better, it is tighter, softer, more stable or it is it better because we want it to be.

Just curious as to how people are judging the ride???

 

[1engineer]

They are replacing springs and shocks and doing a complete suspension lift instead of a spacer lift. That is why it rides and handles better.

 

[amnt]

I understand but I have been driving a Jeep for the past 8 years and it had a 4" lift and shocks but it rode like a log wagon.

I am just concerned that if I invest the money into another lift it will ride the same.

thanks for the explanation.

 

[Swarty]

Well IFS is the first thing.

I have just purchased a 2014 T4R and am planning on lifting the vehicle but I have a question about a common theme I read. It seems that most everyone who has added the lift says that the vehicle now drives and rides better than stock. I find that hard to believe based upon my recent experience with Jeep. I am wondering what makes it better, it is tighter, softer, more stable or it is it better because we want it to be.

Just curious as to how people are judging the ride???

As soon as you lift the front end of a jeep you start compromising what I would say is already a less optimal system for the road than what you find on a 4runner. From my own experience I'd say Jeep guys are less concerned with good steering geometry and tire offset. And as a last thing a couple of my jeep friends have done taller springs or spacer lifts without changing the shocks.

This being said I found the stock front end to be a bit too soft for me. stiffer taller springs up front along with a new UCA increased both the amount of suspension and the vehicles stability.

 

[amnt]

Swarty
Thanks for the explanation. How do you like the coilovers in the front and stock rear? I am planning on that type of set up. I am not planning on raising the rear but rather just change shocks. What size tires are you running?

 

[gm350reratliff]

I understand but I have been driving a Jeep for the past 8 years and it had a 4" lift and shocks but it rode like a log wagon.

I am just concerned that if I invest the money into another lift it will ride the same.

thanks for the explanation.

What Jeep did you have?

Mostly, I attribute better, more stable ride characteristics to better than OEM shock valving on most aftermarket shocks that folks are running and the fact that 4runners are IFS. I can say without a doubt Bilstein 5100s ( and FJ coils) transformed my 2008 4runner into a much better handling vehicle, especially over rough roads (plenty of rough roads around here).

 

[amnt]

Just got rid of a 2008 wrangler. I ran a 4" teraflex lift and 35's.

Rough ride

 

[jwhipple]

many toyotas come with very soft suspensions that are great for mom getting groceries, but the trucks tend to feel top heavy and have a lot of body roll and sway. toyota meets the soccer mom/ weekend offroad warrier somewhere in the middle to keep all parties happy.. jeep does not really do that in their wrangler line.. in replacing the stock suspension with stiffer coils and better valved shocks, the truck feels much more stable during driving. at least thats been my experience. we plan to lift my wif's new runner for this reason.

 

[Swarty]

Swarty
Thanks for the explanation. How do you like the coilovers in the front and stock rear? I am planning on that type of set up. I am not planning on raising the rear but rather just change shocks. What size tires are you running?

I love it, running the 700# icons with 285/70 hankooks. better on road exceptional offroad. just that change let me run a 570 RTI. Will do the rear eventually for carrying more weight and towing.