2014 vs 2018 ride quality (2 Viewers)

[Kid]

Picked up my 2014 GX with 138K miles and compared to my 2018 GX with 80K miles , the 2014 rides a lot rougher over city streets . Almost seems like it was used on dirt roads a lot, maybe not , hoping something is worn out , like suspension .
Is suspension the same on the 2 vehicles ?
Is there something I can replace to make the 2014 like the 2018?
Thanks

 

[Acrad]

That is close to 60k mile mile difference.

Either one equipped with AVS (Adjustable Shocks)?

Have you gotten under the '14 and looked for any leaking shocks or obviously worn bushings through the suspension?

IMO... probably want to start shopping for shocks on the '14 based on mileage alone

 

[Banandalorian]

Only real way to test this is to put 60,000 more miles on your 2018 real quick and see how it rides...

Unless one of them has AVS (rear air springs) and one does not, the suspension components are the same between the 2. The 2014 just has way more time and mileage on it than the 2018 and the shocks are worn out. They may have visible leaks, they may not, but the shocks are definitely not damping like they should anymore.

 

[r2m]

Have you looked at the tires?
If one of them has LT tires, the side walls will be thicker, read: stiffer. Also what are the tire sizes? A lower profile tire will drive harsher than a taller side wall.
So if your 2014 has 18" wheels and the 2018 has 19" wheels that may be part of the issue.
Also tire brands may differ in ride quality.
Perhaps try changing the wheels on both GX's and drive them and see if you get the ride quality to switch. Then you'd know it was the tires.

 

[BigSwede]

I would guess bushings are worn.

 

[re_guderian]

I had a 2000 and 2004 100 series land cruisers at the same time. Both within 20-30k miles. The 04 was "tight" and the 00 you felt every single crack in the road. After changing out everything, it turned out to be lower ball joints on the '00. After putting in new LBJ's, it was night and day difference. Not exactly the same suspension, but close enough that if you have tried the obvious, you might want to jack up the truck and lever the tire up and down to test ball joint play. I lived with it for years, not even suspecting until they started creaking audibly over bumps and squeaking in turns...

 

[re_guderian]

...Is there something I can replace to make the 2014 like the 2018?
Thanks

There's a LOT of things you can replace, but better to start with things to test. Test easy, cheap, first. Do you work on your own rig? Jack it up, and start pushing and pulling on shocks, kdss bars, knuckle, wiggle the tire from 12 and 6 to check bearings, 3 and 9 to check steering rack/tre's. Then do the same to your 18 for comparison. Aside from maybe having air bags in the back in one, and not the other, they are largely identical, if not completely identical. Spend 100 bucks on a used GoPro and a magnetic mount and drive around with it stuck underneath. You could literally spend 10 grand easy replacing parts. Test, test, test first.

 

[re_guderian]

I will also add that my '11 has 193k miles, I beat the s#!t out of it, and it is TIGHT. WAY better ride at the same mileage than my land cruisers ever were. Still does 100 effortlessly on the freeway, and soaks up every bump. I HAVE had to chase down things, most recently drivers rear fender liner rattle, when bearings, fixed parking brakes, Cam tabs, etc etc, but these rigs have the capability to be fantastic on AND off road.

 

[Kid]

Thanks for all the advice !
Lucky for me I do none of the work , I'll take it to Big O with y'all ideas .
Not sure I want to keep it cuss of the color
The 2014 is white with beige interior , the 2018 gray with black interior , the 2018 so much nicer in color .
FWIW , my 2008 GX470 with 196K miles drivers better than anything I can remember owning .

 

[r2m]

Thanks for all the advice !
Lucky for me I do none of the work , I'll take it to Big O with y'all ideas .
Not sure I want to keep it cuss of the color
The 2014 is white with beige interior , the 2018 gray with black interior , the 2018 so much nicer in color .
FWIW , my 2008 GX470 with 196K miles drivers better than anything I can remember owning .

You never did mention what the wheel size and tire size/type were on both GX's

 

[Kid]

The 2018 has Goodyear assurance tires 265/60r18 road tires
2014 has 18" KO2 A/T tires ,
Tread on all 8 tires are quite good

 

[Kid]

I have the KO2's on my 2008 Gx , no change in ride quality
I am taking it in to Big O Tires today at 2PM , there's a guy there that does their lifts , hope he can find something

 

[re_guderian]

You sound like you already know, but there's very little money for shops - especially chain ones like Big-O - to do decent, meaningful diagnosis. They'd rather just throw part$ at you, claiming they need to be replaced based on mileage or whatever, with no guarantee that it fixes the problem. Good luck.

 

[Kid]

I hope you're wrong as I know them , the owner was into GX's having owned a few .
I do not believe they'd do that to me

 

[re_guderian]

I hope you're wrong as I know them , the owner was into GX's having owned a few .
I do not believe they'd do that to me

Better that you know them. As the dad to three adult daughters, it f'n pisses me off what car dealers and repair shops do to the uninformed, especially women. Not sure how they sleep at night.

 

[r2m]

Better that you know them. As the dad to three adult daughters, it f'n pisses me off what car dealers and repair shops do to the uninformed, especially women. Not sure how they sleep at night.

Yep, I've challenged a few places when I thought they were BS'ing me. Either I had the personal knowledge of what was correct or I'd go somewhere else for a second opinion.
Really grinds me when they try that, especially since I'm a car guy and engineer.

 

[Kid]

They had my GX for a week , looking it over , drove it . Decided there was a problem but they did not know what .
They said it was not that bad and I should just forget about the harsh ride as it's such a nice vehicle , anyway.
So , guess I'll sell it
Considering a 4runner , maybe , they are so expensive

Big O did say maybe change the struts , might help, cost $1K

 

[r2m]

They had my GX for a week , looking it over , drove it . Decided there was a problem but they did not know what .
They said it was not that bad and I should just forget about the harsh ride as it's such a nice vehicle , anyway.
So , guess I'll sell it
Considering a 4runner , maybe , they are so expensive

Big O did say maybe change the struts , might help, cost $1K

Have you test drove any other GX's around the same year for comparison?
Also, what's your tire pressure? I know when I'm running too high a pressure, my ride quality declines a wee bit.
Try running your tire pressure on the low side of factory specifications. Remember that tire pressure will increase when the tires warm up from driving by about 2 - 3 psi, so drop your tire pressure about 2 or 3 psi below the lowest suggest pressure rating.
You should notice a difference.

 

[Kid]

Sold it , could not take the harshness , going from the 2018 to the 2014 , the difference was too much .
So , I am trying to figure out my next vehicle , do I wnat a 5th GX ?
I rented a 4Runner recently and liked it but I think they cost more than a GX .
There's just something about the GX that I like .
Especially the width , y'all will think this is weird , I love the 74" width , very maneuverable .

 

[Acrad]

That suspension must have been really worn out on that ‘14 from the previous owner. Do you know vehicle history? Care to share the VIN now that you got rid of it?