GX 470 Conversion and Lift. Need some advice and education (1 Viewer)

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Jun 6, 2017
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Hello everyone. I am new to the forum, and to the USA. After discovering that it is almost impossible to find a Land cruiser Prado Diesel in the USA, I decided to go for the American Prado, Aka GX 470.
Over the past three months, I have put 10000+ miles on her, and except for the pesky range problem, this is a very very nice vehicle.

However, she is old. At 165000 miles she is very very old. Surprisingly the Rear suspension Air bags work fine. Factory original! But the rear dampers (Or shocks) have just given up the ghost, and now every bump filters through, and she often gets wavy on the not so good bay area freeways.

I first throught, I will buy some standard shock absorbers, like Bilstein, and throw out the bad OEM shocks(400$ a pop).
After speaking to a few people, and install shops in Bay area, it was clear that labor charges for coil conversion and just shock replacement do not differ much. Its not a question of "if" but "when" I will need coil conversion.

So that brought me to researching coil conversion. Here is what I discovered.
There are two types of kits
1. Conversion kits (~ 50-70$)
2. Coversion kits with top isolater (200$)+ - I can also get some Toyota OEM Isolator and save 50-60$ total

Along with conversion kit I need
1. Springs
2. Shocks

As I researched this, I thought, why not lift her front and rear, do everything in one go (you see where I am going...).

Asking around on Toyota120 forums, and GX 470 facebook group, and another forum by the name of clublexus, i got to know of a shop called Toyconnection, which is actually in a junkyard, and something called exact motorsports, which is frightfully expensive. Also there is a third shop which I use and nobody recommended which is called Japanese beetle. For reasons of cost, and lack of trust on my part (unsubsiantated of course), exact is out.

That leaves me with two guys Jeff of Toyconnection, who is a Landcuriser expert. I mean, its the last place you would find a landcruiser expert shop, but strange are the ways of this country.
And then Japanese beetle is a Japanese car expert.

So its one of these two I will get my work done, as I feel them earnest and honest.
Jeff recommends an OME kit if I want to stay under 900$ part budget.
Japanese beetle (also named Jeff!) recommends.. well nothing. He says, get me parts , I fit for 400$.

So 400$ labor, and 900$ parts.

Now coming to my requirement, first and foremost I want some education on this lift stuff, and please correct me if my understanding is wrong.

I can go for a "kit" or Ala Carte
I need 2 pairs of shocks and 2 pairs of coils. I can go mix and match brands? Or I can go for a kit from one brand eg dobinsons (Kyle Fogle of treatyoffroad is what I know as a source), or OME kit (Jeff of Toyconnection will source it).

Should I go for a kit?
Or mix and match will give me better results.

My goals with lift are
1. Fit 33" narrow tires (255-275) after fender trimming
2. Soft and comfortable ride
3. Reliability for very bad dirt tracks and some mild rock crawling

I won't wheel for the sake of wheeling. I will go offroad because that is the only way to get to my destination.
And I will find a lot of snow.

So in Kits what should I go for
1. Dobinsons 2.5" kit
2. OME 2.5" kit
3. Ironman Kit (which kit?)

If not Kit, if you recommend bilstein shocks. What coils? What do I mix with what.

Last but not the least, what is long travel. Will it mean better ride if I go long travel at rear?
Any other advice you have for me?

Another shop I should check out?
 
I'm interested to read what others say. I bought my 470 with Bilstein 6112s coilovers in front and airbags on rear. I will be getting a spring conversion on rear, but not sure what.
 
Sounds like you have done sufficient research on the steps, the next step being picking your lift kit. Very few users can tell you from experience how the various combos feel compared to one another on the exact same truck.

Based on what I've read and researched, I went with the SSO conversion, reused OEM tops, FJ Billsteins with FJ springs. Some people on GXOR love this combo; I feel that it is too soft for me, but it is all relative to your expectations. To me, this combo was the same as my OEM 5th gen 4runner suspension, which i thought was way too soft and bouncy. Some folks love OME and the base Dobinson's, but you don't know if they have ever driven in an Icon or Fox-equipped rig to compare to. The $890 delivered Dobinson's is pretty tempting.

Find a group or other owners in your area and try to wheel with them, or ask them for a ride in their trucks. That might be the only way you can really tell how your truck may ride with a specific suspension in mind. Good luck!
 
I have run Iron Man (nitro, not FCP) single Icon 2.5 non-resi, 2.0s rear, and 2.5s with S2 resi secondaries and 2.5 resi rears with jounce.

I have run Iron Man springs, Icon expo springs (rear), Icon 600,650, 700 front, MT med LT springs rear, MT HD LT springs rear.

The basic lifts are stiffer than stock and are "good enough." If you are really wheeling or adding weight or towing, investing in the right lift can make the truck ride like a cadillac, or very much like a truck.
 
Thanks
I think I will either go for all OME, or OME springs with Bilstein 5100s medium duty

I also have another question. What does an isolater do? (Top of rear springs)
 
Thanks
I think I will either go for all OME, or OME springs with Bilstein 5100s medium duty

I also have another question. What does an isolater do? (Top of rear springs)

It dampens the energy going to the cabin, it reduces clanking noises, and helps keep them secure
 
I have the OME springs and Bilstein 5100 with Heavy springs since I have a steel front bumper and eventually a steel rear bumper. The ride is VERY much better than the stock set up. I would highly recommend that set up. Paid $1300 installed.
 
It dampens the energy going to the cabin, it reduces clanking noises, and helps keep them secure

I have the OME springs and Bilstein 5100 with Heavy springs since I have a steel front bumper and eventually a steel rear bumper. The ride is VERY much better than the stock set up. I would highly recommend that set up. Paid $1300 installed.

Thanks guys!
I think the standard OME kit should also do fine. At 1300$ installed seems fine. Will get 4runner/FJ Isolators from the Junk yard next door to toyconnection
 

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