What is your opinion of our stock shocks? When I drive over speed bumps the 4Runner really lets me feel the bump, especially if I don't go over it straight. In a car the same bump is almost nothing. Now I don't want to set up my truck to handle like a car but really don't know how to compare the feelings. I see aftermarket shocks for sale that say they stiffen up the ride but still let the truck handle like a truck, Billstens(?) I think.

The stock shocks suck. I don't know about the stock Bilstein upgrade but I hear that they aren't very good either. I just replaced the stock shocks on my 2001 Tacoma (17,000 miles) and it makes a world of difference. I replaced them with KYB gas-adjust all around. Bilstein will be stiffer from what I have read. As for the KYB you can still feel bumps and know that you are in a truck but it does soak them up much better. Before it felt like I was rocking, floating and rattling over the road. Now the ride is much more firm. No rocking, hardly ever float and never rattle.