Hey guys. My wife wants a smoother/softer ride on our 2002 4Runner 2WD V6 SR5. I was wondering if anyone here can give any advice on a good set of shocks/struts. Thanks, in advance.

 

What do you have on the truck now? Stock? Or something aftermarket?

 

time for the wife to get a car based suv that should be a softer ride

 

We have the stock shocks that may in need of replacing. I wondered if you guys have a brand that is more old people friendly. And, thank you guys for not laughing me off the forum for asking this question on a off road site. Another site did not get me one reply. Thanks.

 

i forgot to say Welcome to YotaTech.... tokico trekmaster are good replacement shocks

 

Thank you Elton. I will look into those.

 

are you bouncing off of the bumpstops in the back? that can make it bumpy feeling.

 

I just put the Tokico Trekmasters on my truck. I like them. It helped the ride a great deal, but the original shocks had 130K miles on them, so I'm sure anything would have helped. It still rides like a truck though. I don't know if they will give you a car-like ride. Like my truck, I would assume a 4Runner is never going to ride like a car no matter what shocks goes on it.

 

How long have you had the truck? And, did she like the ride when you got it? You may just want to replace the shocks with new factory ones.

 

Truck has 55,000 miles. A service guy at the tire shop told me one strut was leaking oil. So, since the need replacing I thought I would try and find a good set of shocks.

 

My ride got considerably softer when I got very heavy bumpers and let some air out of the tires.

Probably not what she is looking for, but its an option!

PS - My wife HATES how firm my 4R and FJ40 ride is. She refuses to drive in the vehicles. Not always a bad thing....

 

Ah, if a shock is leaking oil, I can understand. Once they start leaking, they will start bottoming out. I had that happen to my Camry and the ride quality got very bad.

Yeah, sounds like you need some new shocks.

55,000 miles. Is that covered under any warranty?

 

Look into Monroe SensaTracs. A buddy put them on his rig and they were soft riding. If most/all of your driving is on road, they'll work fine. The best part is that they're pretty cheap compared to Tokico, Rancho and Billstein.

 

Monroes are the softest shocks I have felt and then second come the Tokicos and the stock 4runner shocks (also Tokicos). I am pretty sure your wife is complaining because the shocks are shot and the 4runner it bottoming out. Also are the rear coils sagging on her truck? If they are you probably will want a new set of rear coils too.

 

I replaced the oem GY wranglers with GY Forteras because of hydro-planing with the wranglers. This also improved the ride because of the softer sidewall.

 

THanks for all the advice guys, I am going to buy the Monroe's (sensa-tracs) and I will let the folk's here know how it goes.

 

It is still going to ride like a truck....

 

I understand that, but as the thread states I am trying to get a softer ride.