time for new shock, whats the softest best ride on streets and highways????

[2k1]

hi everyone, I know there are a ton of posts on this and I have searched, but am finding it difficult to get an answer to my specific question...so here it goes, try not to flame me to badly

I have 156k on an original suspension...

since it is time to replace some suspension parts I could use some specific help if you are so inclined...I have a 2k1 4runner sr5 156k on all original suspension

I would possibly like a lift...I do not, will not ever, take it off road...I want to know what is the softest best on road ride I can put together

in doing some inital research I order in bilstein 4600s and a 2.5'' daystar spacer lift...total combined was about $500 ($350 for struts and shocks, $150 for spacer lift)

I am now not sure of installing all that because I do not want a rough/stiff ride

I want the best feeling softest, smoothest, not harsh set up you all can recommend

I understand going with any type of spacer lift will make the ride slightly harsher as well and am thinking a 1.5" would actually work best for what I want 2.5" might just be too much

I would really appreciate your input

options I am seeing at shock warehouse are:

Bilstein - KYB - Rancho - Monroe - Edelbrock Automotive Truck Shocks and Struts - Shockwarehouse.com


5100s adjusted up to 1.5" and a 1.5" spacer in rear (not shock warehouse.com) ($400)
4600s with a full 1.5" spacer lift around ($350)

kyb gasajust or monomax ($230-$250)

or

Monroe (monormatic or sensatrac) ($200 or so...)


so summarizing I want a small lift but will not go off road and want the smoothest, softest, non harsh ride I can get while lifting 1.5"

your recommendations and time are very much appreciated...thanks in advance...

 

[3rzrunner]

OEM OEM OEM OEM OEM!!!!!!!! lol the oem shocks are like 80$ and have the softest ride (well at least compared to my billies) and since u don't go off road a lift is useless and makes the truck hard to get in and out of just stay with new Toyota shocks they will serve you well.

 

[fourwd1]

Get yourself an Old Man Emu suspension. A moderate 2" lift and a ride and handling better than new. You can't go wrong.

 

[TNRunner99]

x2 for OEM shocks. Just go to the dealer and order direct replacements. That will be the softest ride you will find. Get 99 tall coils for a 1" lift since your current stance has probably sagged over the years anyways.

 

[OTB]

I am with everyone here.
If your vehicles purpose is to be driven on road only or like me mostly on road with occasional light off road then there is no need to lift the vehicle especially if you are are trying to maintain comfortable road manners.

I would stick with the OEM.

 

[2k1]

right on thanks everyone...so direct toyota replacements sound like the way to go (5/5 t4r users recommend it)...so just go to a toyota dealer and order them up, huh...sounds good?

those 99 tall coils you guys are talking about, are they just for the front or all 4?

I know very little i apologize for my ignorance, but that is why I ask...

I will check on the cost of 99 tall coils with replacement OEMs

I know a lift is impractical; I was actually thinking a 1.25" front level kit will be what i go with...depending on cost of those coils, and if i do lift at all and if when I measure it will not put my front higher than the back...as a last resort I may try this because it is only $40, but if I can avoid it I will...

Daystar 1.25" Lift Front Coil Top Spacer Kit

 

[TheDurk]

On the '99 Talls:

Part Numbers:
Front right 48131-35400 L=368mm
Front left 48131-35350 L=374mm
Rears ( same for both ) 48231-35210

Color Codes:
Fronts: Blue/Pink & Blue/Yellow
Rears: Green/Red

Dealers can be funky about looking up parts that don't match your VIN so it's good to have the p/n's.

 

[2k1]

ok thanks...you are right about the vin # since my post I called the local dealership for shock quotes...the guy said the fronts would be anywhere from $160-$200 each and the backs would probably be about $100 each...that does not sound like $80 to me...is this guy full of it?

i will call back once I get my VIN off the truck but yikes...

also for those tall coils what do you anticipate i am looking at?

 

[PitbullRescuer]

I'd buy the tall coils used. As for shocks, OEM's are great. But companies like Monroe, Tokico and others make OEM type replacements. I'd just got with a Monroe SensaTrac for a DD that wont be off-roaded. I however have had a few 3rd Gens with the Bilstein 4600's that were my DD trucks, never off-roaded. I love the way those rode. But they were stiffer than OEM.

 

[Blute]

I would replace both the shocks and springs with the mileage you have on your current suspension. The more you research it, the more your head will swim, but here are some ideas to consider:

A great place I have found to buy OEM parts is Camelback Toyota:
Camelback Toyota Parts - Genuine OEM Parts - Free Shipping
Those '99 front springs look to be about $97 each, but I didn't check pricing on the rears. Shipping should be free for orders over $150.

Another and likely cheaper option is Old Man Emu springs. You could go with 880 or 881 front springs, and 906 rears. Those all run about $160 for the pair at Amazon. That would get you around 2" of lift.

And yet another option would be the Tundra TRD front coils, which you may be able to find used for a good price, but get ready to do some serious searching (it took me forever to find some until I stumbled upon them locally).

A popular shock option is the Bilstein 5100. The best pricing I found anywhere was from eBay seller "hardpartsfast", and they did come very fast, brand new, and in perfect condition (about $178/pair for the front, and $136/pair for the rear). You could probably pair these with any of the above spring options, although I'm not exactly sure how they fit with the '99 coils.

If I were you, I would price out both OEM and non-OEM options, and see what would work best for you.

 

[2k1]

ok been a while but life gets in the way...trying to do research in the mean time...ok well the oem from a dealership was going to be $30 for each of the rears but $165 each for the fronts

also looked up the p/n for the 99 tall coils

Front driver $106
Front passenger $ 97
Rear $74 each

grand total for oem shocks, struts, and 99 talls: $743


unfortunately do not have that kind of $$$$ just for parts, I would still need to get them installed...

heard monroes and gabriels are...well I have not read good reviews...

I have narrowed down to the following 2 options which I would appreciate your input on:

KYB gas a justs $180 for all 4 (amazon.com through justsuspension)
Bilstein 4600s $330 for all 4 (ajusa + tax because they are in CA too)

for the extra $150 are bilsteins that much of a difference, especially considering it will be a daily driver and I will not go off road with it, and am most concerned with comfort and highway driveability?

to get the additional lift from the sag of coils I am throwing in daystar polyeurathane 1.5" spacers on all 4 corners for $75 total

with a mechanic on his off time doing the labor for $180 I will be paying $435 if I go with the KYBs which I suppose I am leaning towards or $585 to go with 4600s.

I have read that most people really like bilsteins and only complaint I have heard has been those who say they are too stiff, but most really like it, also have read a lot of good things from members about the kyb gas a justs and they are supposed to be an oem replacement thus keeping the ride a little bit "gentler" than the 4600s?

lmk if you see errors in my logic, I appreciate the dialogue, and a recommendation or confirmation on the set up I have planned out...

thanks again

 

[extrmsob293]

i would go with stock for that soft ride :bravo:

 

[2k1]

stock is not really an option, way too much $$$ for what it is

I have seen good things about both gas-a-just and bilstein 4600s and have decided that value wise those are the best bets to focus on...I guess that is what I am saying I do not mind firm and prefer it to uncontrollable softness. In researching I keep seeing terms like mushy and squishy. I don't want that. I just don't want to feel like I have been playing in a hockey game after driving to work in the morning.

What I want is a shock that is smooth and controlled, nothing extravagant, but slightly upgraded from stock...idk...I guess the real problem is there is no way to try them all but I am worried that one is either way more harsh than the other or something and kind of need to know the experiences people have had with them.

 

[4x4runner2002]

im sure you can do the shocks your self. its fairly simple with minimal hand tools.

 

[2k1]

you are right, I could do them myself but for the amount of time it would take me and the fact that I would have to buy most of the tools as I do not have a set for the one time I plan on doing this, the cost of $180 to have someone else take it for the afternoon and worry about the spring compression loosening all the bolts and such and getting to hang with my kids is well worth the money.

let me just make this as simple as I can at this point, which is closer to oem stock kyb gas a just or bilstein 4600?

 

[kernel.panik]

you are right, I could do them myself but for the amount of time it would take me and the fact that I would have to buy most of the tools as I do not have a set for the one time I plan on doing this, the cost of $180 to have someone else take it for the afternoon and worry about the spring compression loosening all the bolts and such and getting to hang with my kids is well worth the money.

let me just make this as simple as I can at this point, which is closer to oem stock kyb gas a just or bilstein 4600?

I can understand your situation. I replaced my own front with the monroe quick-struts a few years ago. One side with some decent hand tools took me a lot of time, the second side was a little quicker. Still, took a decent chunk out of my weekend not knowing what I was doing at first. I could probably do it in a few hours now. I will say that the quick struts are not that bad, they are no OEM but they have worked for a couple of years while I wait until life is done F'ing me around and I can afford better things.

I've heard some decent things about the KYBs and more about Bilstein. I cannot comment on ride quality since I don't have them but I would go Bilstein just because they have a damn good reputation all around and they come stock on a few toyota trucks.

 

[2k1]

yeah I thought about that, trying to justify cost increase though, like I said with no off pavement driving how high quality do I need to get...I just want to make sure ride quality does not get worse from my 156k terrible rickety bumpy bouncy ride I have right now.

if they are both close I might as well stick with kyb...the bilsteins sound great, a lot of what I am reading seems that not many have tried both or those that have do not see a huge difference or that they go with bilstein based on name recognition, which is fine, but I do not feel like I need to go with the "best" as long as "second best" rides decently I would rather have the extra $150 in my pocket.