FULL LENGTH ADD-A-LEAF FOR FJ40 - BEST BUDGET SUSPENSION LIFT FOR SUA FJ40?? (1 Viewer)

[DOUGNSTEIN]

As I build my budget FJ40 I'm gravitated towards the $500 4" Procomp or Rough Country lifts available when comparing them to the prices for the OME. I understand the reasons to avoid the cheaper alternatives but there has to be another way. I'm also a little confused why one of two people have posted that they love the Rancho Add-a-leaf (RS60612) short leaf springs while the majority run for the hills to get away from these. I've had good experiences in the past with using a "full-length" AAL on the rear suspension of previously owned trucks and a jeep cherokee.

My big question here is can a leaf spring be used from a donor toyota pickup or another FJ to add lift on front and rear of the FJ40 without the sacrifices associated with too stiff suspension? I haven't been able to find the usual inventiveness that I am used to seeing on IH8MUD on this topic.

I'm not looking to gain 4-6" from using an AAL. Realistically I would like to see 2", maybe 3" and achieve this without too abusive of a ride quality.

I haven't ordered anything but would intend to order:
Bilstein shocks for 3-4" lift (~$350)
Rancho U-bolts kits - RS77011 from Rock Auto - $50

The short length Rancho AAL that most everyone seems to hate are RS60612 ($101 for all 4 springs from Rock Auto)

I like the idea of this setup but would like to substitute the short Rancho AAL for 4 full length AAL springs or some other cost effective combination of additional Any suggestions??

Any thoughts out there?

 

[Rustic76]

a couple affordable options you could look at-

1. Go to a local spring shop and have your stock leaf springs re-arched and swap to a larger shackle.

2. Buy the individual Old man Emu springs and a bushing set. Reuse your stock shackles. You would need to also get a new set of U-bolts. You could piece your own kit together. This is what I did on one of my previous 40's I owned. Cost me about $600 and I was super happy with the outcome. I even got away with using my old shocks.

Good luck.

 

[White Stripe]

A lot of people like the skykacker lift kits. You can buy just the leaf springs themselves from skykacker from 4wheelparts rather inexpensively like 120 or 150 each I think. Pickup at store saves shipping. Then supply your own bushings etc.

 

[ginmtb]

Why are you yelling in the title of your threads?

 

[SteveH]

I'm also a little confused why one of two people have posted that they love the Rancho Add-a-leaf (RS60612) short leaf springs while the majority run for the hills to get away from these.

This works because you remove the 2 bottom-most leaves in your FJ40 spring pack before installing this short leaf. You will not get 3" lift - more like 1.5". In the Rising Sun club (Denver), there far more than 1-2 happy users. I have done this to two FJ40 rear springs myself. No, it's not like OME, but it gives a nice ride and is dirt cheap. I have never used it on the front of a '40, so I cannot comment there.

 

[Curt]

The skyjacker lift works well and is affordable.

 

[bugsnbikes]

has anyone removed a leaf or two from your SKyjackers to soften up the rear end? if so which one would you recommend removing from the springpack?

 

[topsljack]

Which add-a-leaf is used to do this to the rear springs (remove two & add the add-a-leaf?)

 

[70fj40]

Seems like there have been some past posts that talked about the Pro Comp Springs ride well and are reasonable.