Best performance shocks that I can put on my fzj80?

[LS1FJ40]

@LS1FJ40 I'm glad you have had a good result.

they went through a period where they were having a lot of basic material and fabrication failures, lack lustre performance, and longevity issues that suggested poor quality control.

Maybe they have moved past this?

man people "must have" them because they are "the best" as promoted in some popular 4x4 magazines, and 4x4 TV over here that are barely better than advertorial and infommercial pieces. My brother inlaw is a classic example, if its advertised in the mags, or in the ARB catalogue, its got to be the best, hang the cost.

Well, I know they are actually made in Australia, unlike OME that are made in China. Not saying that everything made in China is bad...

I think the foam cell are a good middle of the road shock. Better than cheap gas shocks but not as good as a reservoir shock.

For the money they are incredible.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Tough dog are the best selling 4x4 shock in Australia, they are also the most heavily marketed.
They would be far from my first choice, they would not even make my short list, unless they have improved a lot in the last few years

I deal with many vendors in Australia and import from 9 different companies in 5 states there. I ask them their preference on off-road components. 80% say Tough Dog is/would be their first choice and OME or EFS is a strong second. For a kit out of a box on a broad shot cover, I prefer Tough Dog and did even before I was the North American distributor. It took me almost two years to get a distributorship back in the USA. Just because you have a company name doesn't mean you qualify like others out there to Tough Dog. They are very selective and research their distributors.

Now, is it the best out there for every application. Absolutely not. But for a stock upgrade to a mildly modified rig, IMO yes it is and I'll put it against any "kit" out there within the same specs and weight range.

I have many customers that are beyond the warranty ranges on their kits now without any issues. They continue to refer customers to me frequently. I'll take that advertisement over any TV commercial or magazine any day. A customer's word of mouth referral is the true sales promotion for me.

Tough Dog like any manufacturer has had problems in the past. Mainly due to supplier's empty promises and the availability of continued quality components. They have worked through them and continued to move forward. That is the sign of a good and reputable company to me. They continue to push the envelope on their designs and engineering. Their customer service is the best out of all my suppliers.

Lastly, as a distributor, I can pick up the phone and call the owner or GM directly and discuss anything. They always want to know if they can do something better or if I see anything that needs approved upon. Try that with any of the other manufacturers... Not a chance in hell you can get that direct contact with any of them.

They have proven to be exceptional in all categories.

J

 

[Brandon98]

Maybe I'm rube, but I find that the Toyota OEM Tokicos, when not 20 years old, are pretty adequate shocks for the truck and its intended usage. I replaced shocks along with the saggier-than-Lindsay-Lohan's-boobs springs with OME "Stock Height" and am very happy with the end result. Adequate damping and acceptable ride quality. It's a solid-axle coil spring truck riding on Load Range E tires...I'm a realist. And at $45/ea, the Tokicos are a good value. Remember, the last of these trucks is 20 years old. And lots of them are running around on dead OEM shocks or Cruddy Monroe/Gabriel replacements.

 

[Irish Reiver]

@reevesci Jason, What is your website address. I am close to pulling the tringger on a lift and i never really considered the tough dog set up.

 

[Tools R Us]

... the Tokicos are a good value. ...

Good shocks, but missing the important performance consideration, stickers, King has the best stickers, you get what you pay for!

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

@reevesci Jason, What is your website address. I am close to pulling the tringger on a lift and i never really considered the tough dog set up.

It's in my signature line. I have some partial Tough Dog products on the site. Let me know what you are needing and we can build a kit to fit your needs.


Featured Products


J

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

The owner of King asked Tough Dog at the last international expo they were at together (booths back to back) if TD would be interested in making King a custom foam cell shock product.


J

 

[scottryana]

Lets make sure we differentiate between King Springs AU and King Off-road Racing Shocks USA....

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Lets make sure we differentiate between King Springs AU and King Off-road Racing Shocks USA....

King spring AU doesn't make shocks.

 

[scottryana]

Correct which makes me think they would ask Tough Dog to make a shock for them.

King spring AU doesn't make shocks.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Correct which makes me think they would ask Tough Dog to make a shock for them.

From the email I got from TD, this is not the case. Have to remember that a majority of the TD shocks are USA/NAFTA made. Makes sense to me for King shock to inquire.

 

[Ali M]

@reevesci I am looking do this to my 80, so what would be the Tough Dog equivalent to OME 3" suspension lift kit with steering shock and front (heavy) and rear (medium)?

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

@reevesci I am looking do this to my 80, so what would be the Tough Dog equivalent to OME 3" suspension lift kit with steering shock and front (heavy) and rear (medium)?

Sent you a PM with details on a few kits.

J

 

[AutoCraft Aus]

Well, I know they are actually made in Australia, unlike OME that are made in China. Not saying that everything made in China is bad...

I think the foam cell are a good middle of the road shock. Better than cheap gas shocks but not as good as a reservoir shock.

For the money they are incredible.

You might want to research that "made in Aus" quote a little harder.


I wouldnt put them on my worst enemies vehicle to be honest, but Im not a fan of any twin tube set up on heavy trucks, and when you understand the engineering behind twin tube vs monotube, and gas pressures, and tunability, it all makes sense.

 

[mudgudgeon]

The OP is seeking the "best performance shock" (excludes TD IMO), but has a beer budget (cue TD).

I ask them their preference on off-road components. 80% say Tough Dog is/would be their first choice and OME or EFS is a strong second.

Pardon me if I take that with a large grain of salt.

I know of one suspension engineer (products well known to ih8mud) in Aus who stocks and sells EFS despite his own opinion of the product being extremely low, but many customers won't be talked out of buying them in favour of a less heavily advertised superior product.

I've had EFS shocks on a rig as a cheap stop gap for completely shot shocks (few options in the length I needed).
Putting TD in the same category as EFS is an interesting selling point

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

The OP is seeking the "best performance shock" (excludes TD IMO), but has a beer budget (cue TD).



Pardon me if I take that with a large grain of salt.

I know of one suspension engineer (products well known to ih8mud) in Aus who stocks and sells EFS despite his own opinion of the product being extremely low, but many customers won't be talked out of buying them in favour of a less heavily advertised superior product.

I've had EFS shocks on a rig as a cheap stop gap for completely shot shocks (few options in the length I needed).
Putting TD in the same category as EFS is an interesting selling point

Well I'll take your post with an even larger grain.... Anyone that has that kind of knowledge/experience as a "suspension engineer" that can't tell a customer NO is only about making a buck, IMO... Otherwise the "inferior product" would NEVER be offered from an ethical business person that was truly about quality and service from 25+ years of usiness experience. But, I'm sure the EFS owners/team would like to know this info.

As far as putting TD and EFS in the same category... That is several of your Aussie vendors/re-sellers responses. I've never run a coil system of EFS', but I have run a leaf spring system and I'll agree with their assessment. I'll always trust a NON-competitors opinion over a competitors or a competitors spokesperson.

I can tell everyone this, I have sold exactly 183 complete Tough Dog kits for 40, 60, 70, 80, 100, 200, E-Hilux, Land Rover D1, D2 and D110, Frontier/Navara, BT-50 Mazda, Jeep Wrangler and Ford Rangers with exactly an additional 143 pairs of shocks sold separately since May of 2016. I have yet to have a return for warranty or any mechanical failure or complaint. I have kits and components from day one install to 26K miles from Tough Dog. The only complaint I've had on 4 occasions is that the lift was taller than advertised; 2 on 80 series and 2 on 100 series.

If anyone has had an issue, it was never reported back to me or Tough Dog. I'm all over MUD and 9 other forums with an exceptional CS and product reputation and response time (less than 24 hours, yes I pride myself on this)

Also, I have a ZERO customer base with incomplete, missing or damaged pieces on full kits from Trail Tailor or Tough Dog since I have been the N.A. distributor. My order received to ship date is 48 hours at most (if they order on the weekend) on stocked items. Custom orders are less than 2 weeks if not in stock. Once again due to Tough Dog's excellent service and inventory control in Blacktown.

I'll stand by what, has so far been a 100% satisfied customer base (306 total customer orders, some repeat).

Have a nice day,

J

 

[jcardona1]

I meant 90 or 110 per shock

best-performance-shocks-that-i-can-put-on-my-fzj80

These two statements are mutually exclusive.

 

[hammerheadfistpunch]

The owner of King asked Tough Dog at the last international expo they were at together (booths back to back) if TD would be interested in making King a custom foam cell shock product.

TD will release their 50mm bore foam cell that is dual adjustable (compression and rebound) with a 9 stage adjustable firmness with remote resi soon. Not sure if these were in the works before the TD/King conversation, but they are on the docket for early 2018.

J

You have my attention. I don't need bypass and remote res but I can't stand being able to only adjust my TJM's bound/rebound in lock step. I like LOTS of rebound and just a hint of bound and the TJM's are having it.

 

[hammerheadfistpunch]

These WILL be a remote resi foam cell shock. They will be released early next year. I've had quite a few people inquire on these. The best way I can explain these is that they will be a foam cell similar to the OME BP51 style offering for the 80/100/200 series.

J

BP51's were my next choice. Though I can't really see how a foam cell and remote res work together... is the res foam filled? Also, are they bypass like the BP51? In either case, OME is taking their sweet time getting the 80 series BP51 released so it will be a matter of availability and cost WHEN it happens.

 

[DirtScaresMe]

I have OME, not sure if they're "performance" shocks but they suck up bumps and can handle what I throw at it with a heavy FJ80. Bumpers, winch, rack, tools, sliders, etc.