How fast do you drive?

Fairly new owner,
At 65+mph my 4r feels bouncy and sways around easily at any imperfections in the road. All steering and related parts seem be in good condition and tight, tire pressure and alignment as well. Mostly stock machine. Is this just the nature of these machines?

 

I'm assuming plenty miles.

Check your suspension. It doesn't last forever.

 

75 - 89 mph on average

 

My 2004 drive just as well at 85 mph as it does at 55 mph, i.e. smooth and straight, it will however be affected by strong crosswinds and big semi trucks going pass me and be "pushed" sideways a little at any speed.

 

Suspension less than a year old according to the previous owners reciepts. Kyb gas adusts in the front and kyb gforce in the rear.

 

This thing would be a death trap at 85mph.. any idea what the main thing I should have a real good look at?

 

Springs could be the issue if you’re still on the originals.

To the question, typically 7-10 over the limit on highways, closer to the limit on streets.

 

At least on a 5th gen 4runner if the alignment and tire balance is good you could drive pretty fast.

 

Looks like the fronts were a complete spring/strut deal. Both appear newish.

 

Wow.. can probably watch the fuel gauge moving lol

 

When I drive fast I do avoid any uncalculated and rapid lane changes, after all these T4Rs aren't sports cars, but I have no hesitation changing lanes at 85/90 mph, the fastest i have driven it is around 105 mph on a rather deserted interstate and it handled fine, but normally I rarely go over 85 mph.

When you say...."feels bouncy and sways around easily at any imperfections in the road."....does it bounce a lot or just a up and down, or down and up more than once then stops bouncing, or does it do it multiple times before stopping the up and down action?

As far as swaying I would replace the all sway bar bushings front and rear, not very expensive and you know they're for sure doing their job.

 

I know the front sway bar bushings are relatively new, will check/replace the rear. I dont necessarily think its bouncing more than once, but the roads here suck so feels like its bouncing and swaying alot at speeds 65 or more. Accerated hard from 60-75ish and it wasnt confidence inspiring for potential passing.

 

It's a truck platform designed at the turn of the century, so boat-like handling is to be expected. How does your 4R feel on smooth roads?

I usually drive at ~75 mph if traffic permits. As the 4R lacks a 6th gear (never mind a 7th or 8th gear common in today's mainstream vehicles), the rpms get high at higher speeds and fuel economy suffers.

 

I'm assuming it a V6, 4WD?

What year and model is yours?

I have a V8 Limited and it has power to pass at most any speed but it has just regular standard suspension, I have never driven a T4R with a V6 so I can't comment on how they perform power wise, but their handling should be much the same as a V8.

 

If road imperfections are causing issues, check tire pressure as well

 

V8 model, wasnt a power issue, i meant it feels too squirrely to pass safely under what would seem like a normal pass in othee vehicles.

 

I am running about 36 psi once tires are warm. Michelin ltx2 stock size.

 

Boat like handling seems to be a good way to describe what i mean.. feels like wavey suspension. Not a shake or vibration. Just a bit unplanted.. not sure how people drive these all jacked up with crazy tires.

 

The same thing that makes it feel like that on the road helps it gobble up off-road terrain that would be miserable or impossible in a zippier vehicle.

 

I drive it like I stole it

 

No faster than necessary

 

It depends on how the lift is achieved. If done with larger shocks and stiffer springs, then pitch and roll motions will be reduced, at the expense of ride quality.

Not quite. The stock suspension bottoms out easily off road. You want stiffer springs (700 lb is a good starting point in the front) for more control, but it'll be less comfortable. On the extreme end, actual race trucks have suspension seats, and the driver wears a back support belt to avoid pissing blood after a race.

 

Less than 2,000 miles on my new 2024 4Runner SR5. I drove a Tacoma SR5 TRD Off-Road for 17 years before this.
I would say the steering at 65mph is "responsive" not squirreley or unstable. Different wheel base. I'm a conservative driver,
that is probably why I am still alive at age 71+. Let the fools haul ass on the freeway and crash and burn. Not me baby!

 

KYB = Keeps You Bouncing.

Not sure how the Toyota stuff is, it could be good quality, but I installed some kybs on a 4th generation firebird I had, and it was worse than the 120k mile 15-year-old originals.

I typically keep under 70 for fuel economy reasons, but my 2013 5th gen is pretty stable, though it does float a bit. It's fine for a burst of 80 to 85 to pass, but generally speaking I wouldn't want to cruise at that speed in one. Mine is pretty floaty, and it's probably pretty terrible compared to a brand new one, I have one 78k on the original suspension LOL.

 

Keeps you bouncing.. maybe theres something to that. How popular are these gas a just shocks.. im not seeing many posts on them.. wish the previous owner went with the bilstiens.. seems to be the popular option.

 

My old OME nitrochargers started bouncing pretty bad after a couple years. No leaks but they felt blown out. (I think I topped them out too many times as my lift height was too much then)

Moved to Dobinson IMS and problem solved. Even after removing the front sway bar it rides very nice and tracks straight. Good alignment and suspension go a looong way.
Can easily cruise 90+ mph in comfort.

 

After my last $550 speeding tix, I slowed down to +5 over the speed limit, max.

70 and 55mph limits where I live so I don't really go over 75 and 60. My ride is smooth.

Also realized it was much easier driving places when I wasn't constantly on the look for cops.

 

80ish and it’s as smooth as a compromise vehicle can be although I have a Limited with XREAS. I drive quite a bit, 25K/year, with mostly highway but through a lot of snow in winter and on a lot of logging roads and in muddy fields through fall and spring hunting seasons. The 4R does it all pretty well, I absolutely love it and no complaints at all. Here she took me spring turkey hunting.

 

Pretty smooth for me:

 

Gage sweep on startup?

My 4Runner won't let me past 115mph. Governor kicks in.