3rd Gen 4runner feels like a boat at high seas
 

I have a 96 4runner with 135k on it. I bought it from a fellow tech who used it for trail driving and minor Baja fun. He is a young kid, and beat the snot out of it. Bought it for $800, put about 3K into it(bodywork and paint mostly) and it runs awsome. But it rides like the SS Mino on the Bearing Sea!! It has so much sway it get's me sick. The front Sway bar bushings and links are new. The Rear upper and lower lateral links bushings are in good shape. The rear sway bar links and bushings appear to be in good shape also. It also nose dives ALOT during braking. I think it needs new Front and rear Struts/shocks. I took the rear shocks off and pushed them in and out to see if they were beat, but they feel pretty good. They were hard to compress, and can back to extend almost right away. When I hit bumps and pot holes, they feel fine. Its when I go over dips, hills, or uneven pavement is when it gets bouncy and sway. And the front and rear suspenison do not compress evenly. It feels like its dancing around more or less. I know I need the Front lower Control arm bushings, they are pretty bad, but I get alot of sway from the rear also. I checked all the body bushings and there in great shape. Upper and lower Ball joints are nice and tight also. So it must be the Shocks/struts. Which leads me to my next question, who make the best shocks for a 3rd gen for on road use only. I will not be doing any trail ridding. All city, potholes, dips, and highway use. I want a nice comfertable ride and smooth flate ride also. Bilstein? KYB? Tokico? Monroe? Of course, cost is always an issue. Please let me hear your experinces and thoughts

BILSTEIN. thats my vote. I had a 03 taco with those, rode smooth. got a 98 runner now, stock rear shocks 244,xxx miles on them. rides smooth.

Get the OME stuff. 880 springs front, with N91SC shocks, and 906 springs rear with n86C shocks.

yea mine feels the same i got pulled over one night for it i hit a bump so hard it it made it wonder all over the road

Tokico Trekmasters. I did a lot of reading and research for an ON ROAD shock and the Tokico got excellent reviews. I have been very satisfied with mine. They don't ride like a car but the motion is well damped and not overly harsh.

http://www.autocarparts.com/part/list/246/

Don't remember where I got them but they were $225 for the 4 shipped.

If the shocks don't help entirely you may need to do your rear springs. Look up the recall.

o i should of said i have those shocks i think the springs and some bushings are just worn out

I've had the green Tokico Trekmasters on my 98 4Runner for a couple of years and I'd say they're like an upgraded stock shock. A little smoother and less body roll, but railroad tracks and brick paved crosswalks still rattle it pretty good.
I've not had any complaints with them on our road trips or daily highway driving.

Have you checked/adjusted your rear brakes? I've noticed less front nose dive when the rears are in adjustment.

Good luck.

Yes, I have adjusted my rear brakes, it did make the front end dive less, but its still pretty bad. I am either going with KYB or Bilstein's.

Do you have a broken sway bar? I broke mine on my 95.5 Taco wheeling in CO. I never heard it break but on the drive back to Texas my tuck earned it's nickname..........the U.S.S. TACO. Toataly like being in a little boat out at sea. Actually it could be dangerous as it sometimes would start a wobble that would get worse and worse, I'd have to slow down to stop it or go into the ditch. BUT it made my truck wheel better with more front end articulation SO..... I left it! 200k+ and still wheeling...... Good luck.

Just ordered front and rear Bilstein Heavy Duty (thats what Tirerack.com offered)

Hoping they will solve my sway issues. I feel the front end dip quite a bit while Im stopping too. Ill repost after Im installed.

Anyone know much a typical tire shop will charge for 4 of these to be installed??

bilstein HD
FTW!!!

Thats encouraging... :)

some people dont like them because they are HD and therefore quite stout, they are normally used on tundras and larger trucks. But ive loved them over the last year and a half, good sturdy ride, amazing offroad, flexable, im a fan. :safari:

Good to hear. I wanted something stout and sturdy. Thanks for the feedback!

Installed the Bilstein HD's this weekend and put about 200 miles on them so far.

I LOVE them. The handling is SO MUCH better than before.

I did a little searching about the "HD" shocks that ya'll are talking about, but all I found were the 4600 and 5100 that were suggested for a 3rd gen 4runner. Are these "HD" or are the "HD" ones a different model?

I have some Bilsteins in my samurai wheelers and really like them. Would like to get some "once and for all" springs for my 2000 4runner that is only an on-road vehicle for the family.