Did I make a mistake w/ Bisltein shocks??

[andrewmacc]

I'm not new to my 1992 LC with locking center diff...but am a Newbie here and just beginning to think the LC needs some better equipment underneath. It's all original and mechanically great . No leaks or weeping and full service records from new. When it came to me it needed shocks desperately so, coming from a Porsche background, I put on a set of Bilsteins. It helped the ride but I think it still needs springs, at least in the rear. Have I precluded suspension mods with the mono tube Bilstein shocks? Do they have enough travel? Can I upgrade the springs to get a stiffer ride, better modulation and less body roll? I don't off-road it much but it's a workhorse for my rennovation business.

 

[Doc]

You have precluded SOME kits by purchasing the bilsteins. Not all.

slee offroad sells a heavy duty spring kit that lifts the cruiser only an inch or so, much firmer springs. I bet you can still use the current shocks with those.

For body roll the best thing you can do is get a stiffer rear sway bar. Those are hard to comeby, but perhaps you'll get lucky.

 

[tucker74]

You can replace your springs with the stock height OME setup and run those shocks - anything longer and you might be a bit short on travel. The OME springs will make a HUGE difference in the way your Cruiser rides/handles - I'd definitely recommend it. Here's a link to Slee's site - you'd need the 861/862 coil springs...and no caster correction would be necessary

Of course you can check out all the other options available too - but then you'd need new shocks IMO.



Tucker

 

[e9999]

and welcome to the forum too!
Eric

 

[cary]

I may be the only other guy running steins on the board. I ran them first with the stock springs and then with the 861/862 combo. They work great with the OME low lift springs.

Cary

 

[GXO]

I have steins with my lift. Love em.

I can get the specs and model info if you like...they allow nice flex on my almost 3" of lift.

 

[andrewmacc]

Thanks for the info and encouragement. My girlfriend's 93 FZJ80 rides much firmer than my 92. She has some sort of I think Monroe shocks. I think Monroe are junk but that's how we bought it and they seem very firm and haven't blown out yet. Of course that would only happen if she overloaded it at the mall with shoes.

Anyone out there want to sell a lightly used set of OME 861/862 springs?

 

[the shed guy]

I run Billies as well,
they have velocity controlled valving, which means they adjust dependent on piston speed, to control movement.

Koni would be the only other shock that is on a par with the bilstiens.