Tranforming vehicle for tighter handing

[ron in sc]

I have a 2012 SR5 4Runner with 7508 miles on it. I have several other vehicles that I like driving more including a 2014 Corolla S. The space and towing capacity of the 4runner meet my needs. Frankly I bought it to take the space of a 1999 ML 320 that getting old.

I am used to driving Mercedes vehicles all of which are older models. Frankly my 1999 ML 320 with 176K miles on it handles way better than my 4Runner.

I have read the threads about changing the shocks for get rid of the nosedive on braking. Does that tighten up the handling?

I know I can not make my 4Runner handle like a Porsche, but what else can I do to tighten up the handle, besides sell it and bite the bullet and get another Mercedes SUV. I do work on Mercedes and Porsche vehicle's, 2006 and earlier models, but with all the electronic and computers used in the Mercedes vehicles these days it can be very difficult.

I

 

[Antman]

I have a 2012 SR5 4Runner with 7508 miles on it. I have several other vehicles that I like driving more including a 2014 Corolla S. The space and towing capacity of the 4runner meet my needs. Frankly I bought it to take the space of a 1999 ML 320 that getting old.

I am used to driving Mercedes vehicles all of which are older models. Frankly my 1999 ML 320 with 176K miles on it handles way better than my 4Runner.

I have read the threads about changing the shocks for get rid of the nosedive on braking. Does that tighten up the handling?

I know I can not make my 4Runner handle like a Porsche, but what else can I do to tighten up the handle, besides sell it and bite the bullet and get another Mercedes SUV. I do work on Mercedes and Porsche vehicle's, 2006 and earlier models, but with all the electronic and computers used in the Mercedes vehicles these days it can be very difficult.

I

Get the 5100's and if you need more you can get some poly bushings for the sway bars. I'm not sure if anyone makes thicker/stiffer sway bars but that would make a huge difference as well.

5100's change the ride completely by themselves but the lean in corners will still be there.

 

[Soundofmind]

Get the 5100's and if you need more you can get some poly bushings for the sway bars. I'm not sure if anyone makes thicker/stiffer sway bars but that would make a huge difference as well.

5100's change the ride completely by themselves but the lean in corners will still be there.

^This. I was just looking around for aftermarket sway bars of the thicker/more rigid variety. My searches came up with a bunch of poly bushing options. Are there sway bars for the 5th gen?

Anybody know of another way to reduce body lean in the corners (besides stiffer sidewalls?)

I know, it's a truck. I'm not looking for Porsche-like handling either. 99% of my driving is on asphalt, so I'm looking into options for flatter cornering, like the OP. I will check into the 5100's as well. Is it better to change all 4 corners, or can I get away with just upgrading the fronts?

 

[philsey]

Get the 5100's ......

5100's change the ride completely by themselves but the lean in corners will still be there.

Agreed, my SR5 is still squishy even w/ 5100s. I am convinced that it is too softly sprung (for me anyway), but I'm not willing to spend anything as the new car bug is nibbling on me. Good P-rated tires, and caster out to +4* also made a difference.

 

[philsey]

..... Is it better to change all 4 corners, or can I get away with just upgrading the fronts?

Can't imagine putting mismatched shocks on a vehicle.

 

[swimmerdude1127]

I have a 2012 SR5 4Runner with 7508 miles on it. I have several other vehicles that I like driving more including a 2014 Corolla S. The space and towing capacity of the 4runner meet my needs. Frankly I bought it to take the space of a 1999 ML 320 that getting old.

I am used to driving Mercedes vehicles all of which are older models. Frankly my 1999 ML 320 with 176K miles on it handles way better than my 4Runner.

I have read the threads about changing the shocks for get rid of the nosedive on braking. Does that tighten up the handling?

I know I can not make my 4Runner handle like a Porsche, but what else can I do to tighten up the handle, besides sell it and bite the bullet and get another Mercedes SUV. I do work on Mercedes and Porsche vehicle's, 2006 and earlier models, but with all the electronic and computers used in the Mercedes vehicles these days it can be very difficult.

I

Take off the sway bars for a month and drive it like that. Put them back on and trust me, it will feel like a Corvette

I have Icon's w/ 700# springs in the front without all my weight up there yet, and even on the stiffest CDC setting I still get some nose dive... not a huge deal, it's just how our trucks handle.

 

[Stifler]

higher spring rate coils and some 5100s will make it feel MUCH better.... but it is what it is at the end of the day.... a truck

 

[Soundofmind]

higher spring rate coils and some 5100s will make it feel MUCH better.... but it is what it is at the end of the day.... a truck

Good news. Thanks for the info.

Any info on upgraded sway bars? I found some for 4th gen.

Do they even exist for 5th gen?

 

[Zeder]

Trade it in for a Trail or Limited with KDSS. Take a T4R with KDSS for a test drive and you will see what I mean.

 

[mikebontoft]

Just saying... you could try an ML63 AMG. THAT is quite a fast SUV.

 

[Jeremy556]

It is a body on frame TRUCK with a solid rear axle. It is NEVER going to handle as well as any unibody car, even a crappy pig of a unibody car like a ML.

I have a TE with KDSS (big sway bars) and Icon springs and shocks (WAY stiffer than stock). It still handles and rides like a truck, better in many ways, but you will NEVER mistake it for a German sports sedan, or even a Japanese sedan for that matter.

 

[ron in sc]

It is a body on frame TRUCK with a solid rear axle. It is NEVER going to handle as well as any unibody car, even a crappy pig of a unibody car like a ML.

My 1999 ML 320 is built on a real frame. Only thing I did to it suspension wise was to put Bilsteins on the front. If I could get my 2012 4Runner to handle like ML I'd be quite happy.

The newer ML do have unibody frame, they also cost, much, much more than 4Runner. Therefore I search for ways to improve handling. Looks like shocks first.

I was hoping someone had done this or there was a kit out there for purchase so I don't have to reinvent the wheel so to speak.

 

[Snooperstyle]

If you wanna drive mine one day to see how the icons feel, maybe it would help you see the difference. I got rid of xreas, so the feel MIGHT be similar, even though mine is lifted. I dunno. Maybe not. Can anybody shed light on that? Right here in Charleston on JI. PM me if you want. --Dan

 

[desertred]

I'm not aware of anyone offering aftermarket anti-sway bars. I had the same issues in wanting improved handling (my 255K 88XJ handles better than the 5th gen; two solid axles albeit a unibody). However, I've adequately adjusted my driving style when operating the vehicle. I'd jump at the possibility of improved handling without adding a lift kit. I use the roof rack quite a bit and do not need any additional height (mildly vertically challenged).

 

[ron in sc]

The vehicle seems to wander a bit. I think that got through in my original post. More so than any other vehicle I own. Maybe my driving style is not compatable with the 4Runner. There is nothing wrong with the steering it just seems to take more attention to keep it going on it's intended path on narrow two lane roads.

 

[philsey]

The vehicle seems to wander a bit. I think that got through in my original post. More so than any other vehicle I own. Maybe my driving style is not compatable with the 4Runner. There is nothing wrong with the steering it just seems to take more attention to keep it going on it's intended path on narrow two lane roads.

Eactly what mine did - wandered... not bad, just enough to require constant attention/correction on the highway. I did 4 things to mine: good tires, Bilsteins, alignment, and caster set to 4*. I believe the latter to be most responsible for alleviating the wander. Drives perfectly now.

 

[JohnJerk]

I used to have a '10 SR5. I put BFG TA/KO's on it and they tightened up the ride considerably, presumably because of the stiffer side wall. I ran then at 40psi IIRC. I really did not think the LE with XREAS was much different, if at all, when I made the transition.

 

[Jeremy556]

The vehicle seems to wander a bit. I think that got through in my original post. More so than any other vehicle I own. Maybe my driving style is not compatable with the 4Runner. There is nothing wrong with the steering it just seems to take more attention to keep it going on it's intended path on narrow two lane roads.

There is an easy fix for that - alignment with more caster. Toyotas caster spec is too low, imho, and the bottom of their acceptable range is way too low. The high end of the spec is where it should be, around 4 degrees.

Mine was like this when I got it, and my Tacoma before was the same way.

 

[Whiplash Willy]

I drive alot of windy back roads on my daily commute to beat the traffic, and around tight corners I have to really slow down or else I feel like I will end up in a ditch. Taking the same roads with my Wife's GX470, with KDSS, I can fly through those corners like they are nothing! KDSS really is amazing onroad.

I don't need sports car handling on my 4runner, but it would be nice to take corners at a decent speed without wetting myself.

Addco makes swaybars for 4runners, and I read somewhere that they were working on ones for 5th gens, but I would have thought they would be out by now. It may be worth looking into if suspension upgrades and better tires doesn't help.

Home - Addco - Addco

Here is a good writeup on the Addco swaybars. It is for a 3rd gen, but it is worth a read.

Toyota 4Runner Handling Modifications Addco Sway Roll Bars

 

[T4Ranger]

...
I don't need sports car handling on my 4runner, but it would be nice to take corners at a decent speed without wetting myself.

Addco makes swaybars for 4runners, and I read somewhere that they were working on ones for 5th gens, but I would have thought they would be out by now. It may be worth looking into if suspension upgrades and better tires doesn't help.

Home - Addco - Addco

Here is a good writeup on the Addco swaybars. It is for a 3rd gen, but it is worth a read.

Toyota 4Runner Handling Modifications Addco Sway Roll Bars

Agreed! the Addco upgrades for the 3rd Gen were night and day and well worth it. I could take on ramps with little to no boddy roll, it was great, however the energy suspension bushing brackets/bolts would constantly fail. Ended up having to weld in the rears with zerk fittings... hopefully KDSS can handle the issue for the 5th Gen, I should find out by the end of the week when my 14 is delivered.