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03-31-07, 01:46 PM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Site Addict
Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Diamond Valley, Nevada
Posts: 1,069
| Best suspension components for best ride quality?
A friend of mine recently purchased a stock '72 FJ 40 and I was wondering what the concensus was on the best aftermarket setups in terms of springs and shocks for a slight lift and stock drivetrain cruiser. OME? Downey? MFE? Don't want much lift, don't want to go SOA just get some decent shocks, springs, and shackles to bring ride quality around. thanks
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'76 FJ40 - 2F,SO,SR,RDB,PS,4.88,Q78TSL,earlydizzy,mod'd carb,Aussie'd front,weld'd rear,MetalTech'd...still too fast in 4LO
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03-31-07, 02:20 PM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Site Addict
Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Madison, MS
Posts: 1,768
| I think the best bang for the buck is Hell Creek with their hydro shocks. Do a search for Hell Creek for lots more info.
If you're willing to spend a lot more, consider OME or CCOT - Hell For Stout.
Good Luck
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Lash
CottonLand Cruisers Treasurer
TLCA: 13533
Madison, MS
77 FJ40 "GunRunner": DUI, RDB, 4Runner Calipers, York/Mudrak OBA, Aussie, 8274, Saginaw PS, Hell Creek Lift, 94" WB, 35x12.50 Hankook MTs, MAF U-Bolt Flips, F-250 Towers, MetalTech Cage, Choctaw Sliders, IPOR Skid, 8" Tuffy, Tiburon Seats... and a great group of friends who make it possible!
78 Hilux Trailer
08 200 Series Tow Rig
Kaizen - Continuous Improvement
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03-31-07, 03:04 PM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Site Addict
Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: New Engrand
Posts: 2,190
| I've heard that parabolic springs have an excellent ride, but don't have great load-bearing capacity, i.e., sagging under a fully-loaded rig. They should net you around 2" of lift.
__________________ Quote:
Originally Posted by Atticus  I've never shared a picture of my wife with you and this board. If I did, I would pick one that did not give off the impression that she was hydrocephalic. | | |
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04-01-07, 07:26 AM
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#4 (permalink)
| | 250+ Club
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 334
|  TPI
I'm really likeing my TPI Smokey Mtn kit, Vast improvement over what I had before. Might want to check them out, Al
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'77 FJ40, 350/ SM 420 / 3spd t/case, TPI Smoky Mtn lift, 35's , Scout p/s, Tornado Alley Cruisers , 1966 Johnson Furnace Co M-416 trl
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04-01-07, 10:44 AM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Forum Lifer
Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: in the garage after dark in UT
Posts: 5,552
| ill stay out of this one | |
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04-01-07, 01:29 PM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Site Addict
Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Diamond Valley, Nevada
Posts: 1,069
| Quote:
Originally Posted by camcruiser13 ill stay out of this one |
Why? I'm looking for opinions, especially from those with real experiences with different systems. It won't be a SOA or linked rock crawler, just looking for some suggestions to offer about what to do when he realizes that the stock ride quality blows compared to my rig. I know that much longer springs and longer shackles are the real key - probably what I would do to my own junk next time rather than SOA
So do all the aftermarket offerings suck that bad?
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'76 FJ40 - 2F,SO,SR,RDB,PS,4.88,Q78TSL,earlydizzy,mod'd carb,Aussie'd front,weld'd rear,MetalTech'd...still too fast in 4LO
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04-01-07, 03:14 PM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Chat Whore
Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cherry Valley CA
Posts: 1,411
| Quote:
Originally Posted by haystax Why? I'm looking for opinions, especially from those with real experiences with different systems. It won't be a SOA or linked rock crawler, just looking for some suggestions to offer about what to do when he realizes that the stock ride quality blows compared to my rig. I know that much longer springs and longer shackles are the real key - probably what I would do to my own junk next time rather than SOA
So do all the aftermarket offerings suck that bad? | I will give you my experence,
started with some Superlifts, were on the truck when i bought it, rode like a forklift
went to SOR 2 1/2 with 1 1/2 shackles, rode like a forklift with soft tires
bought the CCOT HFS 4" springs with 1 1/2 4+ shackles, OME shocks, rides real well and flexes awsome, buddy running a similar setup with pro comp shocks is a little stiffer.
I love the flex and ride, the sway is there and its not a high speed highway truck, but offroad I rarely hang a tire
FWIW, | |
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04-01-07, 03:20 PM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Forum Lifer
Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: in the garage after dark in UT
Posts: 5,552
| just stay away from rancho springs.
crapola
ome are decent | |
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04-01-07, 05:07 PM
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#9 (permalink)
| | 250+ Club
Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: vancouver, bc
Posts: 585
| the ccot 4" springs/1.5" shackles rock, i would suggest using other shocks though than the ones ccot offers. grab some bilstein or ome shocks.
__________________  drew merryman
even toyota canvas rusts | |
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04-01-07, 05:51 PM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Site Addict
Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Diamond Valley, Nevada
Posts: 1,069
| I doubt that he wants to go with a 4" lift, probably more like 2" honestly. I see that manafre has OME Dakkars on "sale" maybe they didn't move well as a product who know maybe he'll just throw in an air ride seat from one of his semi's and call it good thanks all for your suggestions
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'76 FJ40 - 2F,SO,SR,RDB,PS,4.88,Q78TSL,earlydizzy,mod'd carb,Aussie'd front,weld'd rear,MetalTech'd...still too fast in 4LO
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04-01-07, 07:34 PM
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#11 (permalink)
| | Forum Lifer
Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: OC, CA
Posts: 6,861
| Quote:
Originally Posted by haystax Why? I'm just looking for some suggestions to offer about what to do when he realizes that the stock ride quality blows compared to my rig. | I think that the stock suspension is about as good as it gets in terms of ride quality. It is certainly not known for being particularly bad, so that is not the primary reason that people change springs. | |
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04-01-07, 11:47 PM
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#12 (permalink)
| | 250+ Club
Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Northern California
Posts: 613
| Another vote for HFS
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1983 BJ42
1978 FJ40-Sold
1975 FJ40-Sold
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04-02-07, 07:18 AM
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#13 (permalink)
| | Forum Lifer
Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 9,169
| OME or custom Alcans. How much does he want to spend?
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Andrew
1971 FJ-40 Rubicon tested, 2F powered, SM420, some mods
1976 FJ40 almost gone
1984 FJ-60 H41, Toybox, 4.56/ARBs, SOA, twin sticks and more
1989 FJ-62 125k-Stock, daily driver
1997 FZJ-80 Driveway queen, with door dent
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04-02-07, 07:28 AM
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#14 (permalink)
| | The Anti-Leafer
Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Dallas, Georgia
Posts: 2,383
| It won't be a SOA or linked rock crawler
So, if a vehicle uses links to locate the axle rather than leafs, it's a "rockcrawler"? 
I used coils & links to achieve a much better ride & the same height lift than I had with the sh!!tty leafs, shackles, etc. If you're thinkin cheap bolt on & a short term harsh ride, then stick with waht you want to hear = leafs  | |
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04-02-07, 07:46 AM
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#15 (permalink)
| | 250+ Club
Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: ste-anne-des-lacs
Posts: 364
| Quote:
camcruiser13 :
just stay away from rancho springs.
crapola
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X 2 I just HATE them. Rides like if the axles were welded to the frame 
__________________ 02 / 1971 Fj-40
40VP97040
TLCA 10441
...and a lot of work to do  | |
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04-02-07, 10:16 AM
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#16 (permalink)
| | Site Addict
Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Diamond Valley, Nevada
Posts: 1,069
| Quote:
Originally Posted by LC_Hamma It won't be a SOA or linked rock crawler
So, if a vehicle uses links to locate the axle rather than leafs, it's a "rockcrawler"?
I used coils & links to achieve a much better ride & the same height lift than I had with the sh!!tty leafs, shackles, etc. If you're thinkin cheap bolt on & a short term harsh ride, then stick with waht you want to hear = leafs | whatever...
__________________
'76 FJ40 - 2F,SO,SR,RDB,PS,4.88,Q78TSL,earlydizzy,mod'd carb,Aussie'd front,weld'd rear,MetalTech'd...still too fast in 4LO
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04-02-07, 12:15 PM
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#17 (permalink)
| | The Anti-Leafer
Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Dallas, Georgia
Posts: 2,383
| Quote:
Originally Posted by haystax whatever... | Hey  nowhere in your original post did you mention "leaf" springs nor did you mention any budget, so don't get sand in you vaynay when you ask for other "spring" options & I give you my .02  | |
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04-02-07, 02:33 PM
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#18 (permalink)
| | Site Addict
Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Diamond Valley, Nevada
Posts: 1,069
| Quote:
Originally Posted by LC_Hamma Hey nowhere in your original post did you mention "leaf" springs nor did you mention any budget, so don't get sand in you vaynay when you ask for other "spring" options & I give you my .02 | Seriously dude, go fuck yourself. I don't have time for your e-pissing contest right now okay.
Thank you everyone else for your opinions and suggestions, I'll pass them along.
__________________
'76 FJ40 - 2F,SO,SR,RDB,PS,4.88,Q78TSL,earlydizzy,mod'd carb,Aussie'd front,weld'd rear,MetalTech'd...still too fast in 4LO
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04-02-07, 03:19 PM
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#19 (permalink)
| | Forum Lifer
Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: in the garage after dark in UT
Posts: 5,552
| whoa whoa whoa,
what did i miss here,?
yes alcans are very nice, but the price tag is not, best spring ride will be the stockers, but if you wanted to lift it with thos it will only be soa,
look into hfs maybe the best deal?
im not sure though | |
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04-02-07, 03:46 PM
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#20 (permalink)
| | Forum Regular
Join Date: May 2005 Location: Germany
Posts: 77
| I've seen Pics from a german FJ40 with modded OEM-Springs (yes, i know it's a SOA setup) ...
here ya go:  
The owner seperated the single leafs and put them together with 5mm strong metal plates in the middle of the spring.
On the second pic you can see some PE or PP stripes originally from the old Mercedes-Benz MB100 van on the end of each leaf. This MB100 "anti-friction-pads" are so special, because they came with pins on each side - so you have to drill some holes into the leaf which keeps the pads in place.
The idea is similar to parabolic springs and the ride should be as smooth - you only have to find some good shocks like for the parabolic-springs. Works for SUA for sure.
This setup lasts for now over 10 years with some heavy loading for iceland once.
Hope i could help you and you can understand my miserable english.
greetings
__________________ '89 Toyota LandCruiser BJ70 - 3B-II 98HP engine - FF Rear with LSD - 2" Leafs - OME- (front) and IronMan- (rear) Shocks - costum frontbumper -
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