Archive

[Hindle]

Hey!

I have a 2000 Toyota Land Cruiser with stock rear springs, torsion bars, and shocks (x4); I live in Denver, CO and do a lot pavement driving, some offroad, and a lot of [pavement] snowing

So far, I have been given or acquired (but not yet installed any of):

-Sway-A-Way 32mm torsion bars
-OME 2860 2" Rear Lift Springs
-Whiteline Heavy Duty Front and Rear Sway Bars
-2" Wheel Spacers

95% of my driving is on pavement, and I prefer a stiff ride with the pavement princess, offroad look (I know )

1) I do not plan on adding an extra weight like front or rear bumpers
2) Should I stick with stock torsion bars or will the Sway-A-Way ones I have give more lift than stock? Is it pointless to install these since I'm not adding weight or will it stiffen the steering by making it more rigid by decreasing the spring allowance?
3) What shocks do I want? I've been looking at Front: OME 60000 and Rear: OME 60002 but I am considering going with FOX in the front and stock (or something more squishy) in the rear -- any thoughts?
4) Do I NEED a diff drop or any other parts given the parts I have and want to install?

Thank you!

 

[2000UZJ]

1. Re-Index the OEM Torsion Bars for a little extra lift, with no increase in ride firmness.
2. 30MM Spacers on the rear coils for a little extra lift, with no increase in ride firmness. 860's will probaby be a touch firm, but nothing wild. I used to run 866's with no bumper and found the ride acceptable.
3. Bilstein B8 5160 Shocks for better control and shiny remote resi for that 5% off road (I run these and they are amazing, I'm "heavy" FWIW)
4. If you keep the front end around 1" lift, probably not. Anything higher it won't hurt to toss a diff drop in.
5. Sway Bar Bushings will be a nice upgrade if your current OE's are toast.

 

[Patassa]

95% pavement? New stock shocks, save your money for something else.

 

[Hindle]

95% pavement? New stock shocks, save your money for something else.

It may help to re-read my post, but thank you!

 

[GerLC100]

One question as everyone used the same word but has a different thing in mind: offroad = dirt roads in a forrest or offroad = rougher trails you can‘t take with 2WD and street tires?

Regarding 2) the lift is not depending on the torsion bar. There‘s an adjustment/ pretension bolt for the torsion bar towards the back of the car/ at the end of the torsion bar. Turning that screw in will push the lower control arm down and therefore the body up/ lift your car. Stock and aftermarket torsion bars don‘t really make a difference in how high you can lift. Main difference is stiffness.

Going 1“ higher front (using the bolt described above) would be my first step. Then shocks (can‘t help here too much, also just started with LCs ). And if that‘s not stiff enough for you you can do the torsion bars.

Based on what I know proper shocks could already give you the ride you want.

 

[Patassa]

It may help to re-read my post, but thank you!

Help how?

You're asking if you should add beefier springs and bars but you're not adding any weight and drive almost exclusively on pavement, so no, don't do that. If you just want a lift, follow the previous poster's advice with spacers and re-indexing your bars. Unless you lift over 2" you don't need to drop your diff. You don't need fancy shocks, the stock shocks are more than adequate for your use case. They are currently about 23 years old though unless they've been replaced, or they've been replaced and they are maybe 10+ years old? You left this information out. Either way I'd recommend a new set of stock shocks unless they have been replaced recently.

 

[awesomeissquid]

I think @liltexz is referring to the statement they want a stiff ride.

95% of my driving is on pavement, and I prefer a stiff ride with the pavement princess, offroad look (I know )

If a stiff ride is desired high spring rates are needed so thicker torsion bars and beefier springs for the rear. I am pretty sure that is going to not be pleasant to drive.

 

[Hindle]

I think @liltexz is referring to the statement they want a stiff ride.



If a stiff ride is desired high spring rates are needed so thicker torsion bars and beefier springs for the rear. I am pretty sure that is going to not be pleasant to drive.

Thank you!

I don’t like pleasant — just a responsive bus

 

[Patassa]

I think @liltexz is referring to the statement they want a stiff ride.



If a stiff ride is desired high spring rates are needed so thicker torsion bars and beefier springs for the rear. I am pretty sure that is going to not be pleasant to drive.

Lord, so many reasons why that's a bad idea. But ok.

OP you could just go with some burley A/Ts if you want a stiffer ride and an offroad look without completely ruining the ride of your LC.

 

[Hindle]

Lord, so many reasons why that's a bad idea. But ok.

OP you could just go with some burley A/Ts if you want a stiffer ride and an offroad look without completely ruining the ride of your LC.

Do you need attention from me or someone in this thread? If not, cool

 

[Patassa]

Do you need attention from me or someone in this thread? If not, cool

I have no idea what that means, but
Ok dude, install a bunch of stuff you don't need and make your ride worse in every way. Why bother asking a question if you don't like the answers...

 

[Hindle]

I have no idea what that means, but
Ok dude, install a bunch of stuff you don't need and make your ride worse in every way. Why bother asking a question if you don't like the answers...

Your “answers” are emotional opinions

 

[GerLC100]

So let's add facts and keep feelings away

Yes, thicker torsion bar will stiffen your ride.
Yes, either stock or aftermarket torsion bars can be cranked/ used to lift your vehicle via the adjuster.
Yes, the stiffer springs will lift your vehicle and stiffen your ride.
Yes, shocks valved for higher weight will stiffen your ride.

And one point that was overseen up to now: bigger wheels and less tire will stiffen your ride (going from 16" wheel to 18" for example = less rubber than can possibly bounce).

But no: you'll not drive it like today BMW X5 in terms of responsiveness.

I had an oversprung Ford E350 and the shocks were not able to compensate. It was jumping around in the back... crazy. Yes stiff, but not nice to drive. And is was responsive... just by far too much

And I think that's what people here want to you make aware of.

 

[cbbr]

I have adjustable coilovers in my car for this exact reason - firm on the track/mild hooning on back roads and somewhat comfortable the rest of the time. It's awesome, but not available in a 3 minute twist of knobs for my LC. So there is a choice to be made.

I am going to be heavy in my LC - bumpers/sliders/winch/etc, but much of the driving will be getting places rather than being places so it still needs to be somewhat comfortable on road. So I am slowly working it both up and stiffer to the point that it has to be to compensate for the weight.

Past 4wd experience informs me that super stiff is not either comfortable on road or great off road. And my LC will never, in any world, be "responsive" - I have a car for that. Yours won't either, really.

It may be stiff, but its still a high center of gravity, heavy vehicle. Read what these folks are trying to tell yo and take it one small step at a time until you find the sweet spot between stiff and comfort.

 

[Hindle]

I have adjustable coilovers in my car for this exact reason - firm on the track/mild hooning on back roads and somewhat comfortable the rest of the time. It's awesome, but not available in a 3 minute twist of knobs for my LC. So there is a choice to be made.

I am going to be heavy in my LC - bumpers/sliders/winch/etc, but much of the driving will be getting places rather than being places so it still needs to be somewhat comfortable on road. So I am slowly working it both up and stiffer to the point that it has to be to compensate for the weight.

Past 4wd experience informs me that super stiff is not either comfortable on road or great off road. And my LC will never, in any world, be "responsive" - I have a car for that. Yours won't either, really.

It may be stiff, but its still a high center of gravity, heavy vehicle. Read what these folks are trying to tell yo and take it one small step at a time until you find the sweet spot between stiff and comfort.

I know it’s not going to be responsive — I said “I just want a responsive bus”

This thread… nothing but opinions instead of help. Good riddance

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Quality of ride is an opinion. And, given what you wanted, you've gotten some excellent help from some experienced members. It just doesn't seem to be what you want to hear? If that's the case, then do what you want to do.