I have a 2004 PreRunner TRD Off-Road, XtraCab V6. Love the truck...but it rides rough on the street (great off-road!!). Since I drive on the street 99% of the time...I'd like it to ride smoother. Toyota says the TRD has a "modified rear leaf spring suspension." I was wondering if the Standard PreRunner suspension (Non-TRD) rides any softer? Would changing the leaf springs improve the ride or should I change the Bilstein Shocks? Any Suggestions???
PreRunner TRD Leaf Springs/Shocks
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i've never heard of the modified rear leaf spring suspension. i put bilstein 5100's on the rear end of my truck and that made it a little better, but they can only do so much when the leaf springs are so stiff. you could get a deaver leaf pack, which are awesome from what i've heard....and i'm planning on getting a set as soon as i can. for the front, i have donahoe coilovers which are stiffer yet softer...it's hard to explain, but they definately have a better feel than the stock TRD's on the street and there's no comparison off road. I dont know if you would want to put money into coilovers since you drive mainly on the street, but any adjustable coilover should give you a better ride on the street. Just stay away from the Bilstein HD shocks...they're even more stiff than the stock ones
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i got a 99 ext cab non-trd and the back is so bouncy, alota body roll. i learned how to handle the truck differently and just adjusted my driving style and its ok. it rides purddy smooth so i decided 2 keep it like it is, all that said ur springs might start to sag over time and end up coming around 2 the ride u want, and until then shocks would prolly be a good help.
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If you wanted something that rides like a car you should sell it and buy a car. I hear the pontiac Aztek is killer it rides like a car, can be lifted 12 inches and is all wheel drive and you can take it off road. Trucks are trucks and cars are cars. You could always go the road of a highlander or a rav4 if you want to stay toyota.
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Kind of has a point.
But I dont know how much better it can really get for stock. My 99 prerunner TRD rides incredibly smoother than my brothers 95 similar 4x taco. I was also use to a 90 yota 4x single cab, haha. Bad shock bushings, bottomed out after 3" of travel, well seemed haha.
But I dont know how much better it can really get for stock. My 99 prerunner TRD rides incredibly smoother than my brothers 95 similar 4x taco. I was also use to a 90 yota 4x single cab, haha. Bad shock bushings, bottomed out after 3" of travel, well seemed haha.
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I've had friends ask why I bought a truck that drives like a truck - since so many out there drive so much like a car these days.
I bought a truck to use as a truck; the stiffness of the suspension is more like the stiff ride you get in a legitimate sports car.
My PreRunner has seen 97k miles in just under 4 years; mostly highway.
I have learned not to sweat a little harsh bump hear or there - cause I can take my 2 wheel drive PreRunner (stone cold stock - except for tires) and go places most 4 wheel drive pickups cannot.
Grins,
Keep the Rubber Side Down!
PRB
I bought a truck to use as a truck; the stiffness of the suspension is more like the stiff ride you get in a legitimate sports car.
My PreRunner has seen 97k miles in just under 4 years; mostly highway.
I have learned not to sweat a little harsh bump hear or there - cause I can take my 2 wheel drive PreRunner (stone cold stock - except for tires) and go places most 4 wheel drive pickups cannot.
Grins,
Keep the Rubber Side Down!
PRB
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219 Posts
yea i saw the rear leaf srpings on my 99 PreRunner V6 TRD bend down on the end instead of up. could that be the "modified" rear leaf springs? and hey, who said PreRunners arent sick? we CAN go anywhere 4X4's can, too.
I have the same issue with my '04 PreRunner DC 2WD V6. My dealer says nothing's wrong with the truck, it's just a combination of stiff chassis and suspension design. They recommended the Xtracab shocks but that was a waste of time. Everyone I've talked to seems to accept the stiff ride as part of the nature of the truck.mcginnism said:
If you find a solution, would you mind posting it back on this thread?
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RENEGADE76254 said:
saggy springs dont make the ride better, they sit on the overload spring which makes it feel super stiff
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549 Posts
ok i was wronge, sorta, my springs dont sit on them, my spings seem to springy u might say, u can grab one side of the bed and pull and feel like ur gonna pull the otherside off the ground. and it bounces and wiggles like jello when u let go..... worries me sumtimes but no $$$$ to fix problem, its all i can do to stay in school and make payments.shadymilkman said:
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This sounds like a shock issue, more than a spring issue. If your leafs are worked over, and sagging, you'll bounce on the overload leaf, as stated above, and it will ride lousy. Your truck sounds like the rear shocks are worn out. Since bil 5100 are now available, you might think about them.RENEGADE76254 said:
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549 Posts
it has blistens on them now, i assume the ones from factory.....
Well, the issues isnt so much the brand as the fact that your shocks sound worn out.
When shocks wear out they lose their ability to dampen the spring oscillations. The result is the wiggly jello like effect you mentioned... and it causes the crappy ride as well as poor response/control.
New shocks should help the problem, Bilstien is a good brand. I know the 5100's are available now but I heard the HD's are essentially the same thing, not sure on that though.
When shocks wear out they lose their ability to dampen the spring oscillations. The result is the wiggly jello like effect you mentioned... and it causes the crappy ride as well as poor response/control.
New shocks should help the problem, Bilstien is a good brand. I know the 5100's are available now but I heard the HD's are essentially the same thing, not sure on that though.
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