Is this normal?

I have this 2021 Venture without KDSS. It is the first 4R I have owned, though I have had other SUVs and several Tundras.

Is it normal for this vehicle to have the front end dip down when braking? I'm old and have driven a lot of vehicles in my lifetime and find this a new experience If this is normal for the 4R does having KDSS eliminate it?

I also find it interesting that in bumps it rides like a truck (I know it's a truck and expect that), but if I push down on the back end it doesn't feel like there is much stiffness in the springs. Seems counterintuitive to me, but maybe there is an explanation.

 

Yes, seems to be a characteristic of every 4runner. It’s the nose dive. And no KDSS is for body roll, does what your sway bar does now but is an “active” sway bar. And yes, it’s basically a truck so it’ll ride like one. It’s a body on frame SUV.

 

The nose-dive is caused by soft shocks. It's normal. This can be eliminated with aftermarket suspension.

KDSS only affects side to side sway.

 

Any OEM options so you don't void the warranty to help with this?

 

depending how old you are, this should bring back memories this is a 12 years old car in all possible terms

 

Refer to the Magnuson-Moss Act.

 

Your only option to keep it under "warranty" is to have a dealer install TRD Pro Fox front coilovers. I'm not sure what spring rate they have, though. If they're 550lb, your only hope is they have stiffer valving, which would help, but not cure it.

 

Pretty normal for them since they are more geared towards street use. Aftermarket coilovers solve brake dive.

Warranty isn't voided unless the mart causes and OEM part to fail and it has to be proven. Also the dealer will just refuse to work on the failed part if it is proven that the aftermarket part caused the failure, you're warranty isn't just gone.

 

In this day and age I'm sure someone creative could some how say thats why your wind shield wipers aren't working lol

 

And I think the suspension design might date back to 1996, with the introduction of the third gen, I know the powertrain dates back to 2005.

 

I had the Trd Pro Fox coil overs installed this week (not by dealer) and the rears also. I immediately noticed the improvement in nose dive and a slight improvement in body roll. And an overall improvement in ride in general. Before that I had a one inch spacer on the Oem shocks to level, I think there was just a little bit of improvement in the nose dive with that set up, but not much.
I’m not worried about the warranty at all. Almost two years and I haven’t been back to the dealer yet.

 

The fifth gen is an update of the fourth gen. It’s not the 3rd. 5G, 4G, FJC, both GXs are all related. There’s some commonality with the 2G Taco, too. The GR V6 is also very similar with the Toyotas. Lexus got V8s.

 

Raptor owners used to complain about "nose dive" under braking, too. 'Runners and Raptors are off road capable vehicles and thus are sprung and dampened accordingly. If you want articulation and wheel travel for an off-roading capable vehicle, you're gonna have to give some for on-road driving. These things ain't freakin' sports cars buy any sense of the imagination. The "sports" in SUV is, in my opinion, misinterpreted by much of the public.

 

I don't think anyone actually expects the 4Runner to be sporty.

Nose dive can be fixed with a suspension upgrade.

 

I realize that nose dive can be fixed, but what is the OP looking for? I have switched from cars that handle "as if on rails" to something that suits my needs now. I'm an old fart myself, and need something more suitable for my present environment --- gravel roads and snow. I had to give up handling for practicality, so nose dive is what comes with my 'Runner and my aforementioned Raptor. I still have a "hair trigger" right foot, hence the supercharger. But I digress, again, what is the OP looking for? OP?
BTW, I usually "like" the same posts as you.

 

I’ll take the nose dive over a harsh ride.

Frankly I think it’s been overblown.

 

I agree about trade-offs. I can definitely live with the truck-like handling to have the ability to go pretty much anywhere I want with it.