The shocks barely have anything to do with ride height. The ride height is 95% in the springs. Bouncy ride is a sure sign of bad shocks. If you take the shocks out of the vehicle and collapse them, they should readily extend by themselves. Of they don't automatically extend then the gas has been discharged and they are no good.

 

Stomping the brakes will always dive the front end, any car every time. People used to say park it and jump on/off the bumper - if the car rises back once and settles, no further motion, shocks are good. Don't know what the buzz is for good shocks in this digital age.

 

Well, I have over 1 3/4" difference between front and back. I did the pumping of the breaks because it freaked out my puppy, but now thinking about it, it could be a symptom of time to replace the front shocks. I really don't want to lift it, but as said already, did replace the rear shocks (not the springs) earlier.

 

The FJ has a lower stance in the front to accommodate the leveling effect when the rear is loaded, cargo or towing, so the difference is normal. Milage, driving style, and conditions would be a good indicator on whether you need new front shocks. With bad front shocks you will feel a bit more body roll and push when taking corners as well as more pronounced bouncing over rough roads or terrain.

...and if you bounce the front end a few times and it keeps going after you stop...get new shocks.

 

'The bounce' has always been a reason the wife doesn't like the FJ. And, yes the front is lower. I was concerned that in another thread, people were showing the front/rear difference in height as being a lot closer than what I've got, and all the talk about using lift kits to 'level' it too. And bouncing on rough roads? We have some of the worst roads in some areas. One in particular seems to set up harmonics and the FJ almost bounces sideways at times. It freaked me out the first time I experienced it. The creepy dealer said I had a 'leaking seal' on the driver side front, but I couldn't see any evidence of that. (Figures. It was definitely about 'the shock', and not spring(s). Those weasels! Pre-buyout I felt I could trust them, believe them, yeah I know it sounds odd, but now? I feel like I've had to step it up to not be their next victim. They've tried to oversell my wife on junk services)

But the bouncing at a red light goes down and comes back up to nearly the same level, so it would seem that, even with the phantom leaking seal, the front seems serviceable, usable. With the engine issue, at least the suspension seems okay.

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out for issues.

 

You might be a good candidate for some new Bilstein 5100 struts...can lift the front slightly to 'level' the truck out.