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How to make the ride smoother?

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by kiter75, Sep 22, 2018.

  1. Sep 22, 2018 at 7:21 PM
    #1
    kiter75

    kiter75 [OP] New Member

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    I have a 4 runner 2017 4x4 , I need to know if is any shock to make the ride more smooth?
     
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  2. Sep 22, 2018 at 8:06 PM
    #2
    ruiz4251

    ruiz4251 "but it was funny huh?"

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    yeah....air bags, smaller wheels more rubber and /or lighter shock and coilovers. on the exterior it's an SUV but it's really a truck man.
     
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  3. Sep 22, 2018 at 8:18 PM
    #3
    Kyblack76

    Kyblack76 New Member

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    Man,.. i think for a SUV,.. stock, they ride pretty damn nice. A little floaty even. For a suv, you can then wheel pretty effin hard,... imho, pretty hard to complain,.. i didnt buy a sedan.
     
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  4. Sep 22, 2018 at 8:26 PM
    #4
    ruiz4251

    ruiz4251 "but it was funny huh?"

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    (76)
    cut the man a break. he wants a smoother ride with soft suspension. dont get me wrong I agree, for a vehicle this size and weight its dang smooth and soft with nice firm steering. however, I prefer heavy suspension hence all my addons
     
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  5. Sep 23, 2018 at 9:10 AM
    #5
    kiter75

    kiter75 [OP] New Member

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    fair enough thank you! I love my 4 runner I just hearing the you can change shocks to make the ride more smooth but is not complain abut how it feel whit the stock shock!!! thank you everybody!
     
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  6. Sep 27, 2018 at 7:45 AM
    #6
    RingSteel

    RingSteel CH-47C - http://www.geronimos.org

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    Spring time is time table to replace tires and considering shocks. We do not off road. Some gravel and pasture access otherwise paved.
    Considering Rancho versus Bilsein and Fox, thoughts?
    oh yeah wife drives it 90% of the time.
     
  7. Sep 27, 2018 at 8:10 AM
    #7
    ruiz4251

    ruiz4251 "but it was funny huh?"

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    absolutely no to Rancho imo
     
  8. Sep 28, 2018 at 4:24 PM
    #8
    RingSteel

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    cool care to elaborate?
    just an opinion or based on what kind of experience?
    i know the majority here most likely do a lot of off roading.
    My concern is that a set of stiff shocks will result in endless commentary from my CFO.
    we are like 90/10 hwy/gravel county roads.
    Thanks appreciate you insight.
     
    Beederz1 likes this.
  9. Sep 28, 2018 at 6:42 PM
    #9
    ruiz4251

    ruiz4251 "but it was funny huh?"

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    it's been my personal experience once in 07 f150 fx4 they're (ham). even compared to the icon's that's saying something. icon is firm and stiff but 4giving. my girlfriend at the time (CFO now at home and professionally:() hated in my ear the Rancho.
    my pop runs then in his 10 Silverado and same thing.
     
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  10. Sep 29, 2018 at 6:48 AM
    #10
    RingSteel

    RingSteel CH-47C - http://www.geronimos.org

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    Hey THANKS!
    appreciate that ..... just did a coolant flush and inspected the OEM tires. They are down to the wear bar, so now shopping for tires. A full on AT may raise vehicle a tad taller, she's 5'1" so now looking for non-aggressive A/T if they exists ha..ha.... then the shocks.....
    Have a great weekend!
     
  11. Sep 29, 2018 at 7:03 AM
    #11
    ruiz4251

    ruiz4251 "but it was funny huh?"

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    shocks first or level will open your tire selection. however lots of shops offer combos.
    my wife is 5'1 too and has no problem getting in. (30yrs old) for the 4th year in a row. she also likes how the ride is with the icon but has mentioned if it was softer it would be perfect for her. that being said I'm thinking FOX would probably be a good choice
     
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2018
    kiter75[OP] and RingSteel like this.
  12. Sep 29, 2018 at 7:06 AM
    #12
    ruiz4251

    ruiz4251 "but it was funny huh?"

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    as for tires these are what I've had before on different vehicles
    ALL- terrain
    [basically all season with thicker tread and angled cuts, as to allow better traction on dirt, sand mud.]
    toyo open country (65k miles)
    nitto (toyo little brother) g2 (65kmile)
    cooper discoverer A/T3 (60k mile)
    or
    all season (intended for smooth/paved road)
    Micheline premier a/s (60k mile)
    uniroyal lorado touring (60kmile)
    Hankook dynapro hp2 (60k mile)
     
  13. Sep 29, 2018 at 7:10 AM
    #13
    RingSteel

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    Thank you....!
     
  14. Sep 29, 2018 at 7:13 AM
    #14
    ruiz4251

    ruiz4251 "but it was funny huh?"

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    ment to write "FOX would be a good choice"
     
    kiter75[OP] likes this.
  15. Sep 29, 2018 at 7:17 AM
    #15
    ruiz4251

    ruiz4251 "but it was funny huh?"

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    falken wildpeaks A/T3 (55k mile) have gotten good reviews and look good too. I had falken on an old land rover years ago about 60lbs ago exactly. I though they were soft but that means soft and smooth and not long lasting
     
    Last edited: Sep 30, 2018
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  16. Sep 29, 2018 at 10:46 AM
    #16
    RingSteel

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    FOX duh lol.....thanks...:)
     
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  17. Mar 14, 2020 at 12:25 PM
    #17
    Beederz1

    Beederz1 New Member

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    I'm with you on this one bro. Particularly the rear end, harsher on impact, especially at low speeds. High speed ride is actually not bad. Seems the 5th gen limited's suspension is tuned for highway speeds and Toyota did not spend the extra effort to minimize low speed harshness. Your best bet would be to go with the Rancho RS5000x. They seem to be the only aftermarket shock maker that has addressed this issue at the entry level price range.
     
  18. Mar 15, 2020 at 12:15 AM
    #18
    glwood54

    glwood54 Stop making me buy stuff!

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    Eibach.

    I've not seen Rancho recommended at all on this forum.
     
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  19. Mar 15, 2020 at 5:41 AM
    #19
    Oey12

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    As I have stated before in the past I believe Eibach nailed it in regards to 5th gen suspension. They provide a much better ride than Bilstein and don’t compare to any of the Rancho products I have used in the past. I don’t know anything about their newer products. Eibach is the standard to beat for the price point...IMHO.

    However I am not really sure any aftermarket shock is going to make you happy OP. For the simple fact that they all will stiffen up the ride especially on small to moderate road bumps/imperfections. It won’t be uncomfortable by any means but they remove a lot of the low to moderate speed wallowing and sway associated with factory shocks. You will “FEEL” the road more. At higher speeds aftermarket shocks will hands down be better for any brand you choose. But realize there is a trade off.

    OP, you will get a much more composed ride with a Eibach, Bilstein, ETC ETC. But the ride will still get bumpy at times.

    Truthfully the 4Runner may not be the correct vehicle for you. I love mine. However as with all things in life there are negatives. Ride quality and suspension composure are not the greatest in comparison to its class. All Toyota trucks have a inherent trait to ride rough. But it’s exactly what I wanted also it does not bother me. I have a tendency to drive slower being it’s a real SUV and not a fake.
     
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  20. Mar 15, 2020 at 7:12 AM
    #20
    glwood54

    glwood54 Stop making me buy stuff!

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    Rancho RS5000X are big with the Jeep TJ crowd on the forum I frequented when I had a TJ (I ran a set of those shocks for a while before putting on OME). Good shock for the price. Those vehicles are considerably lighter than a 4R; I just never see Rancho mentioned on 4R forums.
     
  21. Mar 15, 2020 at 2:50 PM
    #21
    glwood54

    glwood54 Stop making me buy stuff!

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    I'm a little confused by the statements above...in your thread Eibach PRO TRUCK Sport leveling initial review, there were statements like these made:

    "I have used 5100’s on my Tacoma’s and though they rode good but never liked how stiff the small bump sensitivity or initial impact was...especially when I put in aftermarket coils in. After two very long calls to Eibach and a few to Wheelers Offroad (these guys are great...knowledgeable and honest) I learned that Eibach valving addressed my biggest complaint with the 5100’s. Eibach allows for a softer initial feel"

    "The difference is at slower speeds where the Eibachs are a little more forgiving, like a progressive shock. The reason for this is that Eibach builds their shocks using a bleeder valve early in the travel. This helps to soften the shocks initial response to road bumps giving it a smoother overall ride without that jolt you would get from a stiffer shock"

    "I just back from Vermont and I was able to hit some poorly paved and plowed fire roads. The shocks were stellar (low and high speed) and I didn't even get close to bottoming out the suspension. They just sucked up all the holes keeping the truck very stable."

    It sounded to me, from these observations, that the Eibachs are very forgiving on small road imperfections due to the way the shocks are made. But the bolded statements in the quoted post above seem to contradict that. Unless, of course, the list of statements from the initial review thread only apply when you compare Eibachs to Bilsteins, and not to oem shocks. Eibach to oem comparison seems to be the Eibachs are firmer overall, less slosh or sway, shall we say, but the oem shocks soak up small road imperfections better.

    Am I reading all this wrong?
     
    Last edited: Mar 15, 2020
  22. Mar 15, 2020 at 3:07 PM
    #22
    Oey12

    Oey12 New Member

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    With my review I was only comparing Eibach to Bilstein. The OEM shocks have the best small bump sensitivity but get sloppy at speed. The OEMs are softer but at the expense of higher speed controllability.

    The small bump sensitivity is firmer (than OEM) on Eibach but realize firmer doesn’t always mean a rougher ride. I absolutely LOVE the more controlled ride but for some users who prefer a softer ride...OEM is a better choice.

    Your last statement is spot on...

    Did that clear it up for you? (I apologize if this sounds sarcastic it’s NOT my attention)

    Those Eibach are great shocks for most users but is not going to make the 4Runner ride like a Highlander. This is what I wanted to pass on to the OP...
     
    Last edited: Mar 15, 2020
  23. Mar 15, 2020 at 3:14 PM
    #23
    glwood54

    glwood54 Stop making me buy stuff!

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    Thank you for the clarification, that did clear it up.

    In my case, the KDSS pretty much eliminates the higher speed sloppiness, so maybe the Eibachs are not the best choice for me after all. But, I'd still like an adjustable front to level the truck. What to do...
     
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  24. Mar 15, 2020 at 3:21 PM
    #24
    Oey12

    Oey12 New Member

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    I don’t have the KDSS so I noticed a significant difference. Seriously, if you lived near NY I would let you test drive my truck. Don’t over think it in all honesty. I only posted because it sound like the OP was unhappy with the stiffness of OEM shocks. Eibachs are great and cannot say enough good things about them and I feel they are best in class/price point. I am a realist and wanted to give a fellow T4R owner honest advice based on what I perceived his/her complaint to be.
     
  25. Mar 15, 2020 at 3:34 PM
    #25
    glwood54

    glwood54 Stop making me buy stuff!

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    Considering the fact that the OP hasn't posted in the last 17 months, I don't believe he'll be helped either way, unless he returns...I didn't notice that fact when I posted. But thanks anyway for the Eibach insight. I really don't want to do the spacer idea for leveling, so I may yet go with Eibachs.
     
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  26. Mar 15, 2020 at 3:44 PM
    #26
    glwood54

    glwood54 Stop making me buy stuff!

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    If I lived closer, I'd take you up on that. Plus, let you compare the KDSS ride...
     
    Last edited: Mar 15, 2020
  27. Mar 17, 2020 at 1:28 PM
    #27
    glwood54

    glwood54 Stop making me buy stuff!

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    Pulled the trigger today on an order. I know that I don't really want the Pro Truck complete lift, too much lift for me and my use. I want to level the truck, with a slight rake, and this seemed the best route. Thanks for all your input.

    We'll see how it looks with the stock tires, then go from there...

    Gary
     

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