Aftermarket Shocks- Which to get?

[gopriest31]

Im wanting to change the shocks on my 98'. Anyone have any reccomendations as far as brands and models? Im looking for a good replacement shock with similar to stock road characteristics. This cruiser will be a 99% on road machine. Any reccomendations would be appreciated! vendors also would help!

 

[98LXand99LC]

If you want stock road characteristics, why not get OEM replacements? I'm curious to hear what others will say as well.

 

[Cruiser4UGA]

If you are a 99% on road I would say definetely get the OEM shocks. They are cheaper and will last a pretty good while anyways. Thats what I would do.

 

[gopriest31]

Thanks for the input- I was hoping something aftermarket would be a better deal , but i'll check on OE shocks.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Though my focus was for off-road use, the OME shocks/SwayAWay torsion bars made an amazing on-road ride improvement I still luv today, 70K miles later. Still cushy, but firmer and better controlled....like a BMW Land Cruiser. You should snag Slee's torsion barsOME lift NOW while they're on sale for about $300 off! You'll gain a modest 2-inch lift in the doing so setting you apart from the rest.

http://www.sleeoffroad.com/products/products_specials.htm

Slee's got the whole setup for $830.00. It'll be the best money you spend on the truck!!!

 

[reffug]

Though my focus was for off-road use, the OME shocks/SwayAWay torsion bars made an amazing on-road ride improvement I still luv today, 70K miles later. Still cushy, but firmer and better controlled....

I hate to agree with Shottz but he is right. Go OME, my wife wasn't a fan of my lifted 60 but since aquiring the 80 with OME she has even gotten used to it to the point that she said when (can't believe I'm gonna say this) I get her "her UZJ100" that it will have to have OME or she just won't be able to drive it. Go ahead Shottz fire away . I think she really wants the front seats not the truck.

 

[Snook]

Though my focus was for off-road use, the OME shocks/SwayAWay torsion bars made an amazing on-road ride improvement I still luv today, 70K miles later. Still cushy, but firmer and better controlled....like a BMW Land Cruiser. You should snag Slee's torsion barsOME lift NOW while they're on sale for about $300 off! You'll gain a modest 2-inch lift in the doing so setting you apart from the rest.

http://www.sleeoffroad.com/products/products_specials.htm

Slee's got the whole setup for $830.00. It'll be the best money you spend on the truck!!!

Slee's torsion bars is now sitting on my driveway today after I saw this "Halloween" sale.

Cheers,

 

[gopriest31]

thanks all, I really do appreciate it, but I just want decent replacement shocks at this point, as im still dealing with the payments I have to start making next month just to own this rig to begin with!! haha

I'll keep record of your ideas - thx!!

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

LUV YA REFFUG! SMOOOOCH!


Gopriest31: Gotcha there. Yes, these things aren't cheap. You still should go to OME shocks then grab the springs and bars when you want to make the final change. (I'd use the Visa on the Slee bars though while the goings HOT!) Investing on stock shocks is a waste. J

 

[dclee]

Slee's torsion bars is now sitting on my driveway today after I saw this "Halloween" sale.

Cheers,

Jay -

I just ordered mine along with the step sliders. We should get together for a 100s suspension install party. I'm concerned about the T-bars (having never done these before!). We can get I4C4LO to oversee the operation, hehe.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Don't use air guns on the T-Bar bolts! Also, jack up the adjuster arm and tighten the bolts by ratchet to trim front end. Keep all pressure off those bolts. Many have had them break while adjusting and you're truck is down until you get another one (and they're usually not stocked).

 

[ryanjl]

If you do decide to go with the Toyota OEM shocks, pm CruiserDan on this site. He's a Toyota parts man and will cut you a great deal.

 

[Snook]

Jay -

I just ordered mine along with the step sliders. We should get together for a 100s suspension install party. I'm concerned about the T-bars (having never done these before!). We can get I4C4LO to oversee the operation, hehe.

Cool, I4C4LO did personally dropped off my slee T-bars & slee sliders on my driveway after he picked it up from San Fran. So I covered his favorite lunch expense on the same day.

Can we do that on my wide driveway next weekend since this weekend, I will be out of town. The best part is that I4C4LO do have FSM so it will help us to do those type of work properly.

Cheers,

 

[dclee]

Cool, I4C4LO did personally dropped off my slee T-bars & slee sliders on my driveway after he picked it up from San Fran. So I covered his favorite lunch expense on the same day.

Can we do that on my wide driveway next weekend since this weekend, I will be out of town. The best part is that I4C4LO do have FSM so it will help us to do those type of work properly.

Cheers,

What a guy! Are you guys caravanning from Los Altos to SnT? What time? We're leaving from San Jose around 7PM Friday.

And, not to hijack the thread, I'll check on my calendar for next weekend. Not even sure if the parts will be here by then. Well, maybe I can at least watch how it's done and help out!

 

[sk8rider]

First post...woo hoo!

I don't mean to thread jack but I have the same sort of question re aftermarket shocks. I bought a 2000 LC a few months back. I was on Edmunds not too long after that and saw a post about how great the TRD sways were (at least for street). As I wanted to try to eliminate the sloshy ride (to a reasonable extent) I ordered them from Japan but now I'm looking at that Old Man Emu pkg thinking "hmm, interesting!" I don't have any off-road mod experience but I'm assuming torsion bars are prefered over sway bars for off-road use due to sway bar limitation on wheel travel??

I'm not planning on taking my LC off road too much, aside from trips to Tahoe and maybe an occasional EASY trail or two. So, I think the sways should be okay. But, I know the OEM shocks also contribute to the sloshy feel on the road. I had heard good things about Bilstein. Any words of wisdom here? The only other thing I'm interested in addressing is the rear sag when hauling my dirtbike with the use of a rear mounted rack. I'm not sure if the Bilsteins actually lower ride height though?? So, I'm not too sure what to do there. Basically I want to firm up the body roll and find a solution to the rear sag issue without making the whole thing buckboard stiff. Thoughts?? Thanks!!!

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Look at my first post on this thread for a super on-road (and off-road) ride. As for carrying heavy weight in the rear....many have bought the in-coil air bags. J

 

[sk8rider]

How does the 2" lift look with 16" stock wheels/tires?

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

It actually looks good. Here's an old picture back when I had the 2-inch (now have 3-inch) with new BFG tires that were slightly larger than stock (285x75-16). Here it is:

 

[Landpimp]

I am in the same boat, I want no lfit for my 2000 UZJ, its nice having something "normal" but its time for new shocks, its gonna be OEM or OME. I have used OEM shocks on a 62 before and was pleased, not as happy with them on a 40 series however.....just not enough shock(they are tiny compared to a 62 shock)

anyone have a recomendation on which OME shocks for a stock UZJ, I recall they have a few flavors of shocks......and I am not current on the OME 100 series stuff.....ask me about a 40/45/60/62......I got that covered

 

[sk8rider]

Thanks for the pics Shotts! I agree, it looks good! Hmm, decisions decisions. Also, re the torsion bars, they are designed to reduce lateral body flexion without impacting wheel travel correct? Or am I completely off?!!!