Off-roading is exciting and fun, but not all vehicles are built for this activity. The 4Runner is among the vehicles to consider if you love off-roading, and it’s a welcome addition to the garage of car owners who prefer a DIY approach. Car owners who love getting hands-on with their vehicles have many opportunities to improve their time on and off the road.
Of course, that’s because what’s better for each driver is different. Everyone wants the ideal experience, but what’s the perfect experience for you? Exploring these details will help you determine why you need to upgrade your 4Runner’s suspension components. Even if the suspension currently runs well, it can always run better.
Not Meeting Your Needs
So, when should you explore the possibilities of upgrading a 4Runner suspension system? Simply put, the need for an upgrade begins with a lack of performance. It may be time for an upgrade if you feel like the car is holding you back instead of opening exciting doors. Suspension systems impact performance significantly during drives on all terrain, so they are a great place to start optimizing.
More specifically, a performance that isn’t meeting your needs or standards on the road. After all, the car itself may function fine, but maybe your needs are changing, and 4Runner has to change with you. No matter the specific issue, if you feel like the 4Runner isn’t quite accomplishing everything you need, start browsing the available upgrades. Let’s highlight the excellent upgrades available today in this quick rundown.
The Suspension Upgrades
Many components comprise a vehicle’s suspension system, including the control arms, springs, and shocks. Thus, enhancing performance requires focusing on these components and making specific adjustments. This step isn’t too complicated since upgrades for the components above are not hard to find. For instance, our 4Runner accessories at Trail Grid Pro include various lift kits for adjusting suspension systems.
The Westcott Designs pre-load collar lift kit is compatible with 4Runner models between 2010 and 2022. Moreover, this pre-load collar lift kit allows drivers to add 3 inches of lift in the front end and 1.25 inches in the rear of the vehicle; no upper control arm replacement is necessary. You can impact driving capabilities without changing the factory ride quality or suspension geometry. This is only one of the upgrade paths available to you, so let’s focus this discussion on lift kits.
Learning More About Lift Kits
In general, lift kits do exactly what it sounds like; they lift the car further above the ground than when you first bought it. This convenient process gives the vehicle more clearance, ensuring it can handle off-road terrain better. The off-road paths aren’t always as flat and even as the typical road.
When dealing with rough terrain, your suspension system must be ready to handle the issue efficiently. If you’re too low to the ground and a rock smacks into the bottom of your car, the damages may put a dent in your off-roading plans for the day. Don’t worry; this doesn’t mean you have to feel nervous every time you want to go off-roading. This information is here to help you prepare the 4Runner successfully so you can have more peace of mind, not less.
Lift kits exist for specific makes and models, making it even easier to find one that will fit your ride and deliver the performance changes you’re looking for in the upgrade. Even if you’re running into the same suspension issues with a car that isn’t a 4Runner, explore your enhancement options.
Lifting is undoubtedly helpful for off-road driving, but height adjustments can also affect your rides on the road. The correct suspension upgrade depends on what you will primarily use it for, whether on the road, off it, or a hybrid of both.
Checking All the Boxes
Now that we have covered the primary reasons you need to upgrade your 4Runner’s suspension, we can dive more into the details you should consider in your search. In other words, what are the critical boxes to check? You can even make a physical list of the essential details if that helps. We already mentioned some vital details, such as the multiple driving styles to factor into the purchase (on-road and off-road). We've also discussed the importance of matching your make and model to the upgrade, whether one component or a comprehensive kit. Regardless, we still have some essential info to cover, but it will be easy to find.
For instance, you can browse our kits for 4Runners online to find them in multiple finishes—you can go with a raw design or a black anodized finish. This variety helps us tune the upgrade even further to meet your preferences. Another detail to consider is weight since that will factor into a vehicle’s performance, regardless of the terrain.
No, this doesn’t mean you have to buy a scale and weigh everything yourself. Reading online listings for suspension upgrades should provide the information. If you have trouble seeking that information, contact the manufacturer and solidify the facts. Clarifying this information will help you avoid buying a suspension upgrade that hinders performance instead of improving it.
The Keys to a Better Ride
Now that you’re finished reading our comprehensive guide on the motivators behind 4Runner suspension upgrades, you have the keys to obtaining a better ride. The 4Runner can accommodate various terrain, but aftermarket upgrades allow you to take that accommodating performance further. Thanks to the context established above, you can narrow your upgrade search to find the performance fix your ride needs.
Again, needing an upgrade doesn’t mean the car’s performance is bad; it simply means it’s not suiting your needs at the moment. Gather details from the suspension kits available online today to see the difference between each and to understand which is best suited for you and the 4Runner. You don’t have to settle for a car that isn’t meeting your standards—make the changes you want when you want them done.
