I love everything about my truck EXCEPT the ride. I've got an '02 SR5 and the ride is just plain harsh. It practically rattles my teeth out when I hit a bump. It's so jarring my ass is killing me after a 3 hour ride. You know those stress relief cracks that just go thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump as you go down the highway, they're the worst.

I'm wondering if you guys have any suggestions? I don't go off road, it's a highway kind of truck.

Would the much vaunted Bilsteins help?

if you want a car-like ride then get a car.

if you want your 4R to have a more controlled, stiff ride then i would suggest bilstein shocks first, then addco sway bars, then PP springs.

No thanks, no car, just a softer ride. I'd really like it to ride as nice as the 03 4Runner, very smooth...

Hmmm, good luck with this, I think the stock setup is about as plush as it gets for the 3rd gen.
Trent

go to monroe sensa trac shocks and buy some used stock coils, so they are already worn in... That should be plush enough for you... Oh and try and run just a little less air in your tires.. Should help you feel less bumps.. I run 30 all around.

Hope this helps... Oh and I have to agree though, you bought a vehicle built on a truck chassis... youre gonna get a truck like ride, but my suggestions may sound weird but they will help you accomplish the plush drive you ar ehoping for.. The bilsteins are gonna stiffen your ride up even more and you dont want that.

My 2002 floated like an old Lincoln Continental. It was soooo soft I'd get seasick <img border="0" alt="[Barf]" title="" src="graemlins/barf.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[Barf]" title="" src="graemlins/barf.gif" />

I put new coils and Bilsteins on and it handles and rides like a respectable 4x4. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

The only thing that would make the stock suspension ride harsh is if your tires are over-inflated. Check your tire pressure and see if the tires are pumped up over 40 PSI. Most are 40-50 PSI when they leave the dealers and that's too high for the type of tire they put on them.

IMHO, shocks and springs are going to be your solution here. You can start looking at progressive rate springs and start talking to some of the companies who make springs. I don't have time right now to go digging for names but if you do a Google seacrh you will come up with them ... call them. The one we always think of first is Eibach but there are better ones. As for shocks, you might want to see if someone makes an adjustable shock, like Koni, but both Koni and Bilstein make 'performance' shocks so they tend to be stiffer. See if someone like Monroe makes a shock for your ride. The ideal package for a track car is to 'float' over bumps but hunker down in the corners. That is why I would consider going to the Addco bars, as a set, after you figure out what you want to do with the other two components. The end links will have something to do with how tight your handling will be so don't use too short an end link. Use the OE links or at least the same length to start with. One more thing, tires will also effect your ride. Don't use low profile tires if you want a softer ride and the cheap way out is to lower the pressure BUT you don't want to have a Ford Explorer moment so be careful. <g> JM2C
Peter

get a car then!!!

That's what the indep rear suspension SUV's offer, hence the popularity of the Lexus RX300.

One more thing I was thinking about and someone with access to a parts book can check this out. You have a 2002 SR5. I found the suspension on my new 2002 Limited to be quite comfortable and less harsh than my '99 Limited. Maybe ... the suspension on the SR5 is set up stiffer than that of the Limited and you can start swapping components???

Otherwise, maybe you should consider a Highlander that is built on the Camry chassis instead of a 4Runner which _is_ a TRUCK!
Peter