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Suspension & AxleTechnical discussions regarding alignment, stock and modified suspensions, lift kits, axles, hub conversions, gearing and steering.
This is a discussion thread titled "Rough Ride? Suspension Upgrade? Possible lowering kit?", within the Suspension & Axle forum, part of the Technical & Vehicle Assistance Forums category.
Rough Ride? Suspension Upgrade? Possible lowering kit?
Hey everyone, let me introduce myself. My names Mehul, im 19, from Stamford, CT. I drive a 2001 Toyota Sequoia SR5 4wd. I'm not sure if anyone has asked this yet, I just joined this site, but I was wondering if anyone who owns a Sequoia has a horrible ride? Like, I feel every bump and crack on the road. Is this normal? Its been about 31 months since we bought the truck and we have about 42,000 miles on it. Shouldnt the Sequoias have a smooth and comfortable ride, I mean after all it is supposed to be Toyotas largest luxury SUV and I know I didn't waste $40,000 just for an under powered beast that seats 8 and has poor gas mileage. Is there a way to improve the suspension ride? Lately, I've been thinking about dropping the truck 2" maybe, I've seen one of our members do it and it looks great, I'd love to get rid of that ugly wheel gap. Do you know of any lowering kits or should I put on airbags, do you reccomend those? I'm thinking about putting on 20" or 22" chrome rims maybe with the spinners too. I've already started hooking up the truck, I have a nice system in it already. I have a clarion tv monitor w/dvd player in the front, 2 rockford fosgate punch hx2's in the back with custom built plexiglass box and a 1000 watt amp in one of the compartments. I'll post a pic below. I still have soo much to do to the truck before I'm finally done. I hope I can get your feedback on all of this is possible, thanks.
-Mehul
p.s.: Is there anyway to turn of the daytime running lights and still have the headlights and highbeams fully functional? Also if I put the truck in neutral and put on the emergency brake, is the truck still supposed to roll because it happens to me?? Sorry I asked a ton of questions in just 1 post, I figured I'd get everything out of the way.
Well, you can improve the ride quality a lot by changing the stock shocks to Bilsteins, and going up one size in the tires (to 275/70R16)(still fit on the stock rims). I don't think lowering would help because it would reduce your suspension travel; what you want is better jounce and rebound control.
As for the parking brake, that just needs an adjustment, it sounds like.
Lowering any vehicle and putting larger wheels with lower profile sidewalls is going to make the ride quality very very harsh..... At least that has been my experiences with my vehicles I have done that with......
Lowering any vehicle and putting larger wheels with lower profile sidewalls is going to make the ride quality very very harsh..... At least that has been my experiences with my vehicles I have done that with......
I was just about to say the same. But especially with lower profile tires.. your gonna feel even more bumps and cracks and nicks more than you do now.. For better performance... (tire grip, cornering etc etc) lower profile tires but you have to sacrifice a harsh HARSH ride... for more comfortable/smooth ride you have to sacrifice the good looks of a low profile tires.. and stick with a higher wall tire.
As for disabling the DRLs, I've done that and it's really easy--there's just one plug to disconnect by the battery. I put pictures and details on my page:
In stock form, I find the Sequoia pretty cushy and I agree with everyone else, lowering the Sequoia and plus sizing the tires will give you the opposite effect you want for your butt. It's all about compromise: what are you willing to give up to get what you want.
BTW, to take a look at a Sequoia with chrome spinners (and a pretty incredible paint job--not my thing, though) checkout the latest issue of Truckin's SUV.
Another thing I just realized about ride quality is to check your tire pressures. Running more psi is going to give you a much harsher ride. When I picked up my Seq from the dealership, they had the tires pumped up way over the recommended 32 psi.
The psi is normal. The thing is, when we first bought the car, the ride was great, nice and smooth like it should be over the months it started to worsen. I envy all of you guys who own sequoias and still have a nice smooth ride, lol. What do you guys think of airbags then?
There are so many different variation of Bilsteins, could you list the part number?
Oh, gosh, I had trouble even getting them here on the East Coast! Go to the Shock Depot (www.shox.com) and you can find them via the website. I called in the order to make sure I was getting it right and they drop shipped the items to the installer here (who couldn't even get them from his Bilstein factory rep!).
The psi is normal. The thing is, when we first bought the car, the ride was great, nice and smooth like it should be over the months it started to worsen. I envy all of you guys who own sequoias and still have a nice smooth ride, lol. What do you guys think of airbags then?
It's going to worsen as the stock tires wear down. Less tread, less rubber to cushion the road shocks. Worn down stock tires approximate what you'd feel with low profile tires and wheels!
Don't do airbags, they are really harsh as well... I had a s10 on bags and it was so rough it cracked my frame..... I would look into 1) new tires 2) new sturts/shocks.... That should help you out.....
It's going to worsen as the stock tires wear down. Less tread, less rubber to cushion the road shocks. Worn down stock tires approximate what you'd feel with low profile tires and wheels!
Actually, I bought a set of new tires last summer because the dunlops wore down quickly. I got the bridgestone duelers a/t and the ride quality is just the same as the ones with the dunlops.
Last article I read about them also covered the weight. They are at least 2 times the weight of the factory rims. The tires are also double the cost (and most are performance tires) which means REAL CRAPPY traction in the winter. CR had done the plus size test and I think tirerack also has info on it. With 41K on it the stock shocks are probably worn. Replace the shocks and possibly the coilover springs. Replace the Dunflops with Michelin Cross Terrain or LTX M/S. As everybody said here lowering and low profile tires will make your ride MUCH worse. I laughed my A$$ off this morning watching a lowered Mont Carlo and lowered Civic in traffic. EVERY bump and groove in the road had the cars bouncing front to back. I had a headache just watching it! Read all the tire posts here at TS and you'll find almost everyone recommends the Michelins for the smoothest/quietest ride (with Dueler Revo's being the better choice if you do some lighter off road but still mostly street). I don't think they make them for Sequoia's but I put Edelbrock Performer IAS shocks and LTX M/S on my old Explorer and it was an AMAZING difference in ride quality over the Dunlop / worn Bilstein combo that was on it. Weren't the 22" spinners like $2,000+ without tires? I'm thinkin' new tires, new shocks, 40k service including tranny flush, all diffs, coolant, belts/hoses, plugs, filters followed by at least a night or two at Foxwoods Casino with a couple hundred $ to possibly gain it all back.
The psi is normal. The thing is, when we first bought the car, the ride was great, nice and smooth like it should be over the months it started to worsen. I envy all of you guys who own sequoias and still have a nice smooth ride, lol. What do you guys think of airbags then?
I noticed the exact same thing but thought I was just imagining it!
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Rough Ride? Suspension Upgrade? Possible lowering kit?
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