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I have no weigh and 100% stock rig.
Built for Comfort
- Thread starter 7schulz
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My sig line shows the current suspension. Very comfortable. The aussies (OME is from OZ) drive alot of washboard in the outback. They call it "corrugated". OME developed a progessive rate spring which is great for this application. Whether you lift it 2.5 in., and put 33s like I did... or go for max comfort, which would be the OME stock height kit (actually 1 inch) shocks/springs/steering stabilizer (Man-a-fre.com) and stock size tires, it will be MUCH more comfortable than the very soft springs, and undersize shocks your stock ride now has.
Akella
SILVER Star
Here in Southern Ontario we dont have to many places to go wheeling so there was no reason for me to go with lift and bigger than 33 tire when LC spends 99.9999% on pavement
.
So here is changes i did on my LC since i got it:
135K on old tired suspension with P tires -- to soft and bouncy
145K changed to OME 861/862 with OEM TOYOTA shocks and the same P tire --LOVED the ride. It got stiffer but not to much. In my opinion was perfect ride
155K Changed P tires to LT (Duratrac)--Ride became very harsh compare to P tires. I have 42PSI in them which should be perfect for the weight of stock 80 according to P to LT PSI conversion chart.
165K Changed every singe suspension bushing with OEM and ride got better and much more stable on highway but i still can fill the harshness of LT tire -- Overall not bad, but i want to see how my 80 will ride with new bushings and P tires. Oh well, it probably wont happen any time soon as i love the look of Duratrac and their traction in snow and half frozen mud
(dont ask)
Not long ago i had to move all my tools from cottage to a storage place 300 miles away and i had easily around 750-900lb in LC and ride was perfect like a LX570 on sport mode i drove for 2 weeks prior the move, plus i had AIR LIFT bags in a rear at 30PSI.
So my suggestion if you want to keep your ride comfortable stay away from LT tires unless you have a lot of weight to carry, but damn that will limit you to fewer choices for you LX.
I hope that helps.
.So here is changes i did on my LC since i got it:
135K on old tired suspension with P tires -- to soft and bouncy
145K changed to OME 861/862 with OEM TOYOTA shocks and the same P tire --LOVED the ride. It got stiffer but not to much. In my opinion was perfect ride
155K Changed P tires to LT (Duratrac)--Ride became very harsh compare to P tires. I have 42PSI in them which should be perfect for the weight of stock 80 according to P to LT PSI conversion chart.
165K Changed every singe suspension bushing with OEM and ride got better and much more stable on highway but i still can fill the harshness of LT tire -- Overall not bad, but i want to see how my 80 will ride with new bushings and P tires. Oh well, it probably wont happen any time soon as i love the look of Duratrac and their traction in snow and half frozen mud
(dont ask)Not long ago i had to move all my tools from cottage to a storage place 300 miles away and i had easily around 750-900lb in LC and ride was perfect like a LX570 on sport mode i drove for 2 weeks prior the move, plus i had AIR LIFT bags in a rear at 30PSI.
So my suggestion if you want to keep your ride comfortable stay away from LT tires unless you have a lot of weight to carry, but damn that will limit you to fewer choices for you LX.
I hope that helps.
corn man
SILVER Star
Do tires first and go load D rated. This cleans up a lot of the yacht-like swaying on uneven roads on the LX450s. I actually bought the OME kit before buying tires and ended up waiting a while to install the kit as I too liked the stock ride with the new tires--reminded me of the fulll sized wagon I drove in high school. When I did install the OME lift with Nitrocharger Sports the ride was just too rough for me as it is basically a mall cruiser. Seriously was thinking of going to a 100. Ended up adding sand bags in the back to get some weight in to smooth out the ride. Finally I just bought OEM Toyota shocks and now enjoy driving it again. Yes I lose some travel, but for what little off roading I do, they are fine. And it is a little firmer than the LX shocks, but I don't nose dive into turns with OEM Toyota vs LX.
corn man
SILVER Star
Not enough seat belts, and it wouldn't look right when I do my poser pics on the curb in the cul de sac.
I think you'd be good with the 861/862 combo on the Tokicos.
I ended up going with the Nitro Sports up front because the Tokicos wouldn't dampen the coils adequately with the extra weight once I added the winch and 2nd battery. I did this all pretty much at once, so didn't really drive it much with the Tokicos and not at all without the winch and just the Tokicos.
Not sure if there's a plusher spring available for up front at stock height, but a check with a OME dealers should yield answer.
Another option to consider is getting a set of new LandCruiser factory coils and install them. I don't recall if there is a difference in the coils between the LC and the LX450 (I'm pretty sure the shocks are different), but old coils lose a lot of their performance and just going back to factory will help. Here, the Tokicos are probably a good match again.
The comments on tires as a factor are interesting. I'm pretty sure my 255-85 KM2s are Load Range E. However, with the skinnies tire pressure is your friend. Want plush around town? Air 'em down to 35 lbs and you should be good (pretty sure that an 80 won't exceed the rated load at that pressure, but always good to check those things.) I run mine at 42 lbs around town. When loaded with the trailer, I go up to 50 lbs. I can't say this will work as well with the wider aspect ratio tires or a different carcass than the BFGs, but with the KM2 skinnies it's the cat's pajamas as far as dialing in the ride I need. So you don't necessarily have to go with a light-duty tire to get a plush ride.
I agree with the Ironman 2" performance. I didn't notice much difference with my stock size tires. I'm still searching for the right 285 75 16
Another vote for the stock height OME springs and OEM shocks. Been very happy with them on my 94. I'm going to add 1in spacers and move to 285s here shortly, which I think will put it right where I want it. It's still a truck though, no doubt about it.
vote for tjm adjustable
I've got similar criteria with my truck, and I'll be going 861/862/stock e-adj struts w/ 285's before fall. It's my DD, it has to fit in parkades, it has to stand up to light wheeling once in a while, drive well on the street, and tow my 2 place snowmobile trailer without squatting, and at the end of the day it has to fit in my garage. From what I've read on here, it should be a good fit for my needs.
For the most comfortable ride, I would think stock springs, 1" spring spacers, and stock shocks on a 265/75/16 P-metric road tire like the michelin ms2's. The less unsprung weight the better the ride quality will be.
Seems like most of the aftermarket springs are designed for at least a little extra load carrying ability, which, with no weight, would make the ride a little more harsh. my 2 cents.
Seems like most of the aftermarket springs are designed for at least a little extra load carrying ability, which, with no weight, would make the ride a little more harsh. my 2 cents.
For me, the stock springs are too soft, lots of bodyroll, etc. I do have an OEM winch, dual batteries, and diesel (not sure what the weight difference for this is compared to gasser) up front though. I'm expecting to really like the firmer springs.
Previously I had a '96 Hilux Surf, and changing the rear springs to OME 906's (OEM '99 talls up front) netted about a 1/2-1" lift, but no more sagging when loaded, far less bodyroll, and much improved/predictible handling. It transformed the truck.
Don't disagree with what you said there, but the OP wanted "...a mild lift with all emphasis on ride quality, quietness, and smoothness over pot holes etc."
If the OP is adding a 150 lbs to stock springs on the very front of the vehicle like yours, I could see how they might not be stiff enough.
Don't disagree with what you said there, but the OP wanted "...a mild lift with all emphasis on ride quality, quietness, and smoothness over pot holes etc."
Fair points.
if you're cheap like me....... go with spacers all around and air bags in the rear..( i can easily get a few inches in the rear with them)....maybe replace the oem springs with fresh ones...
It's just that the OME product is designed specifically for the Land Cruiser, and the valving in the Nitrocharger "non-sport" shock have valving that is forgiving on pavement, and automatically stiffens up offroad. Very cool.
I got you covered! Obviously you need the JDM special order springs that were only available in 95, they are made of a special alloy of unobtanium. MOT is the only one who knows how to get them, and he has to be sent to Japan to pick them up in person and give the secret handshake. So, all in, you will be out only about $3500, the cool thing is, the ride/height difference between them, and your stock springs is so subtle, you won't even be able to tell the difference!
I would give the progressive Ironman springs a shot, if I were to start over
