How to get my car riding like new?
Discussion
25yr old Toyota 4Runner, petrol, 65k miles. It's generally in excellent shape. I've replaced all front suspension arms and bushes (cheapo), new ( Monroe, KYB) springs and dampers front and back, rear motor mount.
The front motor mounts seem OK, there is some vibration at idle but not a lot of movement in the engine when it's revved. Wheel bearings seem alright. Nothing obviously wobbles or is loose. Never been in an accident etc. The engine and gearbox run smooth as you like.
It still crashes over every rut in the road and going over one of those car park speed bumps feels awful, nothing like even a ten year old car. Is there anything else I can do to make it feel 'tighter', or is it just old and I'll just have to learn to live with it? On the road it handles great, it's just the ride I have a problem with. It's almost like the car has zero damping in the first few centimetres of travel. Is this a thing, and is it because I've put just bog standard dampers on it?
The bushings in the Monroe shock absorbers are a bit crushed because I forgot to put the front bump stops back in. I don't remember it being any better before though. I wouldn't mind buying decent shocks if I thought it would make any difference to the ride. I don't need something special like Old Man Emu stuff because the car doesn't go offroad.
The only other rubber parts I can think might need replacing are the body mounts. The car has zero rust on it though and everything I've taken off was actually in good shape. I'm tempted to put the original arms back on.
I've even thought about putting it on air suspension to see if that makes any difference. I'm happy to throw money at the car because it cost me nothing to buy and is a bit of a hobby. I don't care if I don't make anything back on it. I do about 50 miles a week at the weekend if I'm lucky.
The front motor mounts seem OK, there is some vibration at idle but not a lot of movement in the engine when it's revved. Wheel bearings seem alright. Nothing obviously wobbles or is loose. Never been in an accident etc. The engine and gearbox run smooth as you like.
It still crashes over every rut in the road and going over one of those car park speed bumps feels awful, nothing like even a ten year old car. Is there anything else I can do to make it feel 'tighter', or is it just old and I'll just have to learn to live with it? On the road it handles great, it's just the ride I have a problem with. It's almost like the car has zero damping in the first few centimetres of travel. Is this a thing, and is it because I've put just bog standard dampers on it?
The bushings in the Monroe shock absorbers are a bit crushed because I forgot to put the front bump stops back in. I don't remember it being any better before though. I wouldn't mind buying decent shocks if I thought it would make any difference to the ride. I don't need something special like Old Man Emu stuff because the car doesn't go offroad.
The only other rubber parts I can think might need replacing are the body mounts. The car has zero rust on it though and everything I've taken off was actually in good shape. I'm tempted to put the original arms back on.
I've even thought about putting it on air suspension to see if that makes any difference. I'm happy to throw money at the car because it cost me nothing to buy and is a bit of a hobby. I don't care if I don't make anything back on it. I do about 50 miles a week at the weekend if I'm lucky.
If you want it to feel like it did when it was new replace the various bushes, shock absorbers, springs etc with new genuine parts.
If it still 'crashes over every rut' then possibly they were like that when new or you might need to modify your driving style to avoid the ruts/hit them at lower speeds.
If it still 'crashes over every rut' then possibly they were like that when new or you might need to modify your driving style to avoid the ruts/hit them at lower speeds.
Edited by paintman on Wednesday 14th October 11:36
nsa said:
25yr old Toyota 4Runner, petrol, 65k miles. It's generally in excellent shape. I've replaced all front suspension arms and bushes (cheapo), new ( Monroe, KYB) springs and dampers front and back, rear motor mount.
The front motor mounts seem OK, there is some vibration at idle but not a lot of movement in the engine when it's revved. Wheel bearings seem alright. Nothing obviously wobbles or is loose. Never been in an accident etc. The engine and gearbox run smooth as you like.
It still crashes over every rut in the road and going over one of those car park speed bumps feels awful, nothing like even a ten year old car. Is there anything else I can do to make it feel 'tighter', or is it just old and I'll just have to learn to live with it? On the road it handles great, it's just the ride I have a problem with. It's almost like the car has zero damping in the first few centimetres of travel. Is this a thing, and is it because I've put just bog standard dampers on it?
The bushings in the Monroe shock absorbers are a bit crushed because I forgot to put the front bump stops back in. I don't remember it being any better before though. I wouldn't mind buying decent shocks if I thought it would make any difference to the ride. I don't need something special like Old Man Emu stuff because the car doesn't go offroad.
The only other rubber parts I can think might need replacing are the body mounts. The car has zero rust on it though and everything I've taken off was actually in good shape. I'm tempted to put the original arms back on.
I've even thought about putting it on air suspension to see if that makes any difference. I'm happy to throw money at the car because it cost me nothing to buy and is a bit of a hobby. I don't care if I don't make anything back on it. I do about 50 miles a week at the weekend if I'm lucky.
Probably by replacing all the suspension components with new (arms, bushes, mounts, shocks, springs etc) and go from thereThe front motor mounts seem OK, there is some vibration at idle but not a lot of movement in the engine when it's revved. Wheel bearings seem alright. Nothing obviously wobbles or is loose. Never been in an accident etc. The engine and gearbox run smooth as you like.
It still crashes over every rut in the road and going over one of those car park speed bumps feels awful, nothing like even a ten year old car. Is there anything else I can do to make it feel 'tighter', or is it just old and I'll just have to learn to live with it? On the road it handles great, it's just the ride I have a problem with. It's almost like the car has zero damping in the first few centimetres of travel. Is this a thing, and is it because I've put just bog standard dampers on it?
The bushings in the Monroe shock absorbers are a bit crushed because I forgot to put the front bump stops back in. I don't remember it being any better before though. I wouldn't mind buying decent shocks if I thought it would make any difference to the ride. I don't need something special like Old Man Emu stuff because the car doesn't go offroad.
The only other rubber parts I can think might need replacing are the body mounts. The car has zero rust on it though and everything I've taken off was actually in good shape. I'm tempted to put the original arms back on.
I've even thought about putting it on air suspension to see if that makes any difference. I'm happy to throw money at the car because it cost me nothing to buy and is a bit of a hobby. I don't care if I don't make anything back on it. I do about 50 miles a week at the weekend if I'm lucky.
They don't have to be OEM Toyota; but they need to be as good as you can afford IMO. So buy the makes that are good in this area (ie for my BMW suspension a lot of it is Sachs, Meyle, Moog and some parts are OEM BMW)
It's amazing what a suspension refresh can do to a car; more so when it's tracked & aligned perfectly too
Decent tyres can make a difference too, so maybe look into that also
I fitted new OEM body mounts today and that has made a big difference. The bumps are still there but the car doesn't crash as much as it used to. The rubber was in fairly good condition. The new mounts are noticably more pliant and a couple of millimetres taller than the old ones.
Tyres are Bridgestone Dueller A/Ts in good condition. I'll have a play with the pressures.
I'll also try some decent dampers adjustable for bump and rebound, and will get new bushes or full arms for the rear.
Tyres are Bridgestone Dueller A/Ts in good condition. I'll have a play with the pressures.
I'll also try some decent dampers adjustable for bump and rebound, and will get new bushes or full arms for the rear.
To close this off. I fitted new springs, dampers, and suspension bushes all round, body mounts, gearbox mount, and today replaced the engine mounts. Everything that came off the car was in good shape but rock solid after 25 years.
The engine mounts made the biggest difference and if I had to do it again I'd replace those first. I suppose they take most hammering. Looking at the engine on startup now you'd think the mounts were bad but the engine is in good shape and the mounts are OEM. I suppose this is because the insulators are doing their job rather than just transmitting the engine movement to the frame. The car rides much better over bumps, particularly on things like rumble strips coming up to a roundabout. It's even reduced the exhaust noise. I'm thrilled to bits. I fitted Monroe struts on the front and KYB dampers on the back. I might treat myself to some Bilsteins.
I thought changing the engine mounts would be a difficult job but it only took three hours with a friend. Jack under the oil pan, raise the engine and wiggle it around to make room to get the old mounts out and put the new ones in. Lining up the bolts for the mounts was the hardest part and we resorted to banging them with a hammer.Z
Overall I've spent about £500 on OEM replacements and did everything myself including hammering out the old suspension bushes, which was easier than I thought it would be. At the same time I took the opportunity to clean up the control arms.
Someone said on here a while ago that if he bought an old car the first thing he'd do is replace every bit of rubber on it. That stuck with me and I'm glad I've done it, apart from coolant/vacuum hoses. I changed the CV boots a few months ago.
The engine mounts made the biggest difference and if I had to do it again I'd replace those first. I suppose they take most hammering. Looking at the engine on startup now you'd think the mounts were bad but the engine is in good shape and the mounts are OEM. I suppose this is because the insulators are doing their job rather than just transmitting the engine movement to the frame. The car rides much better over bumps, particularly on things like rumble strips coming up to a roundabout. It's even reduced the exhaust noise. I'm thrilled to bits. I fitted Monroe struts on the front and KYB dampers on the back. I might treat myself to some Bilsteins.
I thought changing the engine mounts would be a difficult job but it only took three hours with a friend. Jack under the oil pan, raise the engine and wiggle it around to make room to get the old mounts out and put the new ones in. Lining up the bolts for the mounts was the hardest part and we resorted to banging them with a hammer.Z
Overall I've spent about £500 on OEM replacements and did everything myself including hammering out the old suspension bushes, which was easier than I thought it would be. At the same time I took the opportunity to clean up the control arms.
Someone said on here a while ago that if he bought an old car the first thing he'd do is replace every bit of rubber on it. That stuck with me and I'm glad I've done it, apart from coolant/vacuum hoses. I changed the CV boots a few months ago.
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