4Runner Ride on Patched Roads—How to improve?

[4RNR]

Bought a new SR5 4Runner mainly for the looks and because I’ll be living on a dirt road soon, commuting past 500 potholes daily just to reach city streets. I probably won’t go off-roading for 7–8 years. I expected a smoother ride on city roads, but every small patch or filled crack feels harsh—much more than in softer SUVs like Kia. Is this just how 4Runners ride on patched roads, or is there a way to improve comfort? ...On the other hand, would a SUV with softer ride like the Highlander or Kia Telluride even hold up to these 500 pothole stretch daily? Any advice?

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[FoozGrind]

I am waiting for bilstein to come out with shocks. I’ll probably upgrade those usually aren’t to expense and I think would help with some roughness

 

[4RNR]

I am waiting for bilstein to come out with shocks. I’ll probably upgrade those usually aren’t to expense and I think would help with some roughness

I don't know much about auto repair so what shocks should I look out for? Is there nothing available right now to improve the ride?

 

[FoozGrind]

I don’t know that much either lol. I had those shocks on my 5th gen within a week of owning it back in 2016 so I never felt the original ride but I do agree I get sport and it hits the pot holes like a smack in A. I am sure others will have other ideas. I am waiting on this company https://bilstein.com/en-us/

 

[Gumpus]

First check your tire pressure, they are shipped with overinflated tires to avoid flat spots and overinflated tires make the ride extra harsh.

Beyond that I doubt you can improve on Toyota factory ride tuning but there are lots of ways to spend money and make things worse. The 4Runner is a truck with a solid rear axle which means that when either rear wheel hits a pothole borh wheels and the entire rear axle assembly move - and you feel it since all that hardware weighs over 1000 pounds while the unibody SUV's have independent suspension with 50 pound tire/wheel assemblies. You have zero chance of making your 4Runner ride like a Highlander.

 

[FoozGrind]

First check your tire pressure, they are shipped with overinflated tires to avoid flat spots and overinflated tires make the ride extra harsh.

Beyond that I doubt you can improve on Toyota factory ride tuning but there are lots of ways to spend money and make things worse. The 4Runner is a truck with a solid rear axle which means that when either rear wheel hits a pothole borh wheels and the entire rear axle assembly move - and you feel it since all that hardware weighs over 1000 pounds while the unibody SUV's have independent suspension with 50 pound tire/wheel assemblies. You have zero chance of making your 4Runner ride like a Highlander.

What would new shocks do? Would that help? I don’t want it ride like a Highlander I just want it to ride as stiff as my 5th gen which wasn’t this hard and that was an sr5 prem with bilstein 5100s

 

[Dead Horse]

100% check your tire pressure.


I bet it's at 50 or higher LOL That shit will knock your fillings out.

 

[FoozGrind]

100% check your tire pressure.


I bet it's at 50 or higher LOL That shit will knock your fillings out.

Naaa it’s 35 it was at 40 but it doesn’t make a difference when it was 40 to 35. Every pot hole feels like your being slammed I don’t remember that in my 4 or 5th gen

 

[mtbtone]

I felt the same initially, but checked my tire pressures and they were at 50+. Down to 33psi now and it's much better. Still reminds me it's a body-on-frame vehicle when on rough roads, but it's definitely more comfy with the right pressure.

 

[4RNR]

I felt the same initially, but checked my tire pressures and they were at 50+. Down to 33psi now and it's much better. Still reminds me it's a body-on-frame vehicle when on rough roads, but it's definitely more comfy with the right pressure.

I checked mine and they were 35-36 and I brought them down to 32-33. It hasn't improved. Any ideas welcome.

 

[mtbtone]

I checked mine and they were 35-36 and I brought them down to 32-33. It hasn't improved. Any ideas welcome.

I agree with Gumpus...not sure there's going to be a way to get the 4runner to ride like a highlander

 

[FoozGrind]

I agree with Gumpus...not sure there's going to be a way to get the 4runner to ride like a highlander

What would happen if you swapped the shocks for bilsteins? ChatGPT said it would help

 

[2222CareBearStare]

My wife has a 23 4runner and I have a 25 4runner, both TRD ORPs. I can honestly say the 25 is noticeably harsher on small bumps/cracks in the road. It's not tire pressure, it's just the suspension...especially in the rear.

I'm hoping OME or Fox come out with an aftermarket suspension kit soon.

 

[4RNR]

My wife has a 23 4runner and I have a 25 4runner, both TRD ORPs. I can honestly say the 25 is noticeably harsher on small bumps/cracks in the road. It's not tire pressure, it's just the suspension...especially in the rear.

I'm hoping OME or Fox come out with an aftermarket suspension kit soon.

That’s really helpful—thanks for confirming it’s not just me noticing the harsher ride, especially in the rear. Do you know when those OME or Fox kits might be available for the ‘25, and what they usually cost? (I’m new to suspension upgrades.)

I really love the 4Runner and just want to find a way to improve the ride so I don’t have to consider selling it.

 

[beungood]

I would look through Shocks Plus they seem to test a wide variety of shock and low lift systems and do a good job of articulating differences.

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