Low Lift FJ40-what did you do?

yOHda · 07-23-12, 08:33 AM

In the process of putting together my FJ40. FJ80 axles, FJ60 leafs rear, 80 radius arms up front, 37s. got the rear mocked up and with the 37s im about 21" to the frame. rear springs are flat and the shackle is getting there. It feels like a monster truck climbing in it. the leaves also dont look like they are going to last long when i get some weight back there.

my current truck is a first gen pickup that is fairly low on 37s, about 72" to the top of the cab, so im looking to achieve the same thing with this build.

Im wondering what others have done to stay low on a Sprung over 40 front and/or rear. Ideas im tossing around for the rear:

-move the hanger up on the side of the frame and run the shackle through the frame

-longer leafs and mount the shackle on the back of the frame

-modify perches to sit flat on the axle tube(going to try this first)

thanks for your suggestions

yOHda · 07-23-12, 08:54 AM

i saw these perches on pirate.

Synergy Suspension Leaf Spring Accessories - Pirate4x4.Com

i have an extra pair of ruff stuff perches im going to mod similarly and see what i gain(or lose, i guess). i think this is a good place to start with some added benefits.

Fast Eddy · 07-23-12, 09:50 AM

I've always thought you could notch the axle tube before welding in a perch like that so the bottom of the spring was tangential to the tube.

Now that I've done an SOA, I can see a bunch of ways to make it lower.

bustanutley · 07-23-12, 12:00 PM

You have all the right ideas, the only large thing I feel as I should add: You should take into consideration moving your rear fender-wells up to the sill, or, at least build your cage to allow this in the future. I didn't, and now I want to lower my truck some and still have lots of up-travel. It’s going to require a lot of surgery to make that happen.

yOHda · 07-23-12, 12:30 PM

i plan to get uncut budbuilt corners and take the fenderwell all the way up. id like to do raised metaltech fenders in the front as well.

Nutley, im with you, my pickup is low but 3.5-4" of uptravel in the front brings the suck. i do not want that with this truck.

yOHda · 07-23-12, 12:40 PM

Fast Eddy,

Here is what a guy did with his FJ80 front axle:

A lot of work but you could gain a lot.

Fast Eddy · 07-23-12, 01:49 PM

That is the best thing I've seen on mud in a while. Awesome!

Tapage · 07-23-12, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fast Eddy

That is the best thing I've seen on mud in a while. Awesome!

^^^^ X2 ..

mookie · 07-24-12, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yOHda

Fast Eddy,

Here is what a guy did with his FJ80 front axle:

A lot of work but you could gain a lot.

wow, that is some impressive fabwork

yOHda · 07-24-12, 01:24 PM

It was all done by binksfab in CA. I think he is a member here. Impressive fabwork indeed!

40TUDE · 07-26-12, 09:37 AM

Can you post pic of radius ARM mounts? What is the front pinion angle...I am working through the same thing

yOHda · 07-26-12, 09:06 PM

Im not there yet, but when i am at that stage i will. i am using modified ruffstuff hangers attached to their small platform, ballistic adj coil buckets, ruffstuff panhard mount. mounting the 80 series steering box this weekend, then i can finalize axle location.

After i get my 1uz in, i plan to swap to ruffstuff 9.5, 3 link/CO's. i realize now i should have planned ahead and done the motor swap first as ill end up doing the suspension twice, but this radius swap is cheap($160 in parts), fairly easy to set up, and the arms wont interfere with the v8 swap.

yOHda · 07-31-12, 08:18 PM

After fighting with the steering box and coil spring mount wanting to share the same space and not really liking how it was turning out, i decided to take the easy way out. I ordered 14" 2.0 FOA coilovers today. now its time to get this 1uz in here while they are getting assembled/shipped.

40TUDE · 08-01-12, 03:51 AM

Haha I had the same issue and just went to a saginaw box...I like your method better

yOHda · 08-11-12, 02:52 PM

i worked on an extra pair of perches and its a decent gain/loss in height for minimal effort.

with the perches in it only came down an inch or so, but it helps dramatically:

The panhard and drag link are perfectly flat at "ride height" with almost 5.5" until full bump. ill be happy with 5" of uptravel, but im keeping my eye out for a good set of used 2.0 bumps.

My coilovers ship Monday according to FOA. build thread to follow...

RockTactics · 08-12-12, 11:27 AM

Did your center pin sit in the perch nice? I found that you need 3/8'' from perch to axle tube so the center pin isnt rocking on the axle tube. If the center pin is sitting lower than the perch it can dimple the tube slightly when tightened. You did a nice job modifying those perches.

By the way you have a fine looking Cruiser! It looks like you trimmed the fenders slightly. Maybe trim the fenders closer to the wheel well in the back, and french the hangers for the leafs for less lift.

These are on Pirate. They give you 7'' of contact surface for axle wrap and total 3/8'' lift.

[IMG]

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waycrazy · 08-13-12, 03:09 PM

That extra inch would be nice. So no issues with the centerpin riding on the axle?

BigBlueCruiser · 01-12-13, 05:57 PM

Any updates?

BruntForce77 · 01-12-13, 06:52 PM

And not to get off topic, but are those pitbulls a mounted on 17 x 9's? What do they measure actual height? Radials right?

TLC76 · 01-15-13, 08:10 AM

Subscribed. I'm going through the same keep it low with uptravel battle right now.