Suspension that feels like your floating

[meltdowner]

I have the Bilstein 5100's on my 06 4runner v8. The ride is fine for me, but with baby and wife in car they complain it can be a bit rough, and that's on fairly smooth highways and side streets.

Let's say I had 3 grand to spend, could I get a really nice suspension that could make the car feel like it's floating? Anyone have any tips about what makes a car feel floaty compared to a hard ride? Is it mainly the shocks? The springs?

 

[Bumbo]

It will be a combination of shocks/valving, spring rate, and tires.

On the budget side of things I have the 6112 with the 600# coils and I think they are much smoother in operation than the 5100. It’s a lot more plush in general than the 5100.

Another option on the high end is getting a shock with adjustable valving so you can smooth it out when needed and still maintain performance for those times you want it.

For tires… a nice set of passenger rated Michelin road tires like the defender ltx m/s and you would be driving on clouds. In my experience I have found tires make a massive difference in the perceived smoothness, especially when doing an A/B comparison between something like an E load and a P metric.

 

[That_Titanium_4RNR]

It will be a combination of shocks/valving, spring rate, and tires.

On the budget side of things I have the 6112 with the 600# coils and I think they are much smoother in operation than the 5100. It’s a lot more plush in general than the 5100.

Another option on the high end is getting a shock with adjustable valving so you can smooth it out when needed and still maintain performance for those items you want it.

For tires… a nice set of passenger rated Michelin road tires like the defender ltx m/s and you would be driving on clouds. In my experience I have found tires make a massive difference in the perceived smoothness, especially when doing an A/B comparison between something like an E load and a P load.

I agree, I would change to a nice tire like you have mentioned and then make the plunge into suspension.

 

[montijo505]

Went from E load Nitto Trail Grapplers (MT) to P rated Wildpeak AT3/W. Night and day. All my vibrations are gone and much quieter.


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[hinmo24t]

im impressed youre entertaining the idea of spending 3g on 4runner suspension because your girl thinks it feels bumpy...

buy a used cadillac, ill never forget getting rides to hockey from friends dad. thing was a cloud.

 

[Bumbo]

im impressed youre entertaining the idea of spending 3g on 4runner suspension because your girl thinks it feels bumpy...

buy a used cadillac, ill never forget getting rides to hockey from friends dad. thing was a cloud.

When an opportunity presents itself...

Sweetheart, from my research it appears king shocks with a secondary bypass and +3.5 long travel would achieve the smoothest ride. I think I’ll do that… It’s a little expensive, but it should be perfect for our little one.

Worst case you can settle for Fox 2.5 with DSC… but the baby might not like it.

 

[meltdowner]

It will be a combination of shocks/valving, spring rate, and tires.

On the budget side of things I have the 6112 with the 600# coils and I think they are much smoother in operation than the 5100. It’s a lot more plush in general than the 5100.

Another option on the high end is getting a shock with adjustable valving so you can smooth it out when needed and still maintain performance for those times you want it.

For tires… a nice set of passenger rated Michelin road tires like the defender ltx m/s and you would be driving on clouds. In my experience I have found tires make a massive difference in the perceived smoothness, especially when doing an A/B comparison between something like an E load and a P metric.

Thank you for this post, very helpful. As are the others in this thread.

 

[meltdowner]

We're old, and I want the ride to last a while.

 

[mims.keoni808]

Is it safe to use Bilstein 5100 with a 3 inch rough country lift? Even if I don’t adjust the adjustable height.




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[Bumbo]

Is it safe to use Bilstein 5100 with a 3 inch rough country lift? Even if I don’t adjust the adjustable height.




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I have read on multiple occasions that the 5100 doesn’t ride that great once you exceed the max recommended lift height.