High-Mileage 200 Baseline & Build (1 Viewer)

[open country]

Hard to beat the OEM spacer for budget, so I'd say worth a shot to throw those in and see how it rides and sits. Re: 300k miles however you could probably benefit from a refresh. I'd look in to the Bilstein 6112 line, folks say it firms up the ride in a good way and the front height is adjustable to your preference and need.

 

[HighRanch]

Honestly I think it kinda looks better now

My 2016 came with a polished (not chrome) exhaust tip so it looks just like mine and clean! Nice truck and amazing that a stock with this mileage looks very well taken care of!

 

[JCliftonB]

Hard to beat the OEM spacer for budget, so I'd say worth a shot to throw those in and see how it rides and sits. Re: 300k miles however you could probably benefit from a refresh. I'd look in to the Bilstein 6112 line, folks say it firms up the ride in a good way and the front height is adjustable to your preference and need.

I have been pining for a set of 6112's but not sure it's in the budget at the moment! I am tempted to get a new set of OEM shocks in all four corners and a set of Timbren SES bumpstops up front to help stiffen the ride a bit during turning and braking. Throwing the OEM spacers up front as well to level it out and can go from there.

The problem is, with the cost of the parts and the cost of labor to rebuild the front struts with the new shocks, I may be about the same as a pre-built set of 6112's that I can just put in myself and save the labor...

 

[JCliftonB]

My 2016 came with a polished (not chrome) exhaust tip so it looks just like mine and clean! Nice truck and amazing that a stock with this mileage looks very well taken care of!

Thank you! It really was quite the find for the price and history! 500 miles of driving so far and all is well!

It would just be nice if I had the remote to the rear entertainment so that the kids can watch a movie on long drives!

 

[HemiAlex]

I'm going to go with these. I've used 4600's on my 62 and Tacoma and they were perfect. I'll likely go from the .25" oem spacer to a .5" by Dobinsons and then a .25" coil spring spacer in the rear. A little more height and a tight ride without spending a ton.

I'm also considering replacing all of my control arms with Delphi Loaded units at the same time for a true one and done.

 

[HemiAlex]

I bought a 200, but I'm used to driving Tractors. - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/i-bought-a-200-but-im-used-to-driving-tractors.1320751/#post-15186335 A before and after with the OEM spacer up front.

 

[JCliftonB]

I'm going to go with these. I've used 4600's on my 62 and Tacoma and they were perfect. I'll likely go from the .25" oem spacer to a .5" by Dobinsons and then a .25" coil spring spacer in the rear. A little more height and a tight ride without spending a ton.

I'm also considering replacing all of my control arms with Delphi Loaded units at the same time for a true one and done.

View attachment 3986483

I think I may go this direction as well, but stick with the OEM spacer. The wife is very short and would likely not be too happy that I lifted her DD any significant/noticeable amount! I'll probably also throw in the 16+ takeoffs I hope to still acquire from a member of my local club.

Appreciate the insight, as always!

 

[Valgrind]

I am looking for recommendations for shocks/springs to put under this 200.

I already have the OEM spacers for the front to level it out a bit, and that's about all I think I want to add to it, as this will primarily be a road-going machine, aside from some occasional camping trips over forest service roads.

My goal is to stiffen it up just a tad. I would not be surprised if the current shocks are original and blown at this point. I am afraid OEM shocks will still ride a little soft for my liking, but not sure. Have a lead on a set of low-mileage 2016 springs for free from my local LC group. Will probably swap those in, in place of the existing ones, for solidarity.

What would you all say I should look into? Not trying to spend a fortune on suspension as this is a very budget build for a very budget 200!

There is a great thread on the billstein, thats the favorite budget pick. My suggestion would be not to overdo the spring rate.... I got given some heavy springs, and I hate them; they make the truck way too stiff. I should have just bought medium springs.

Thread 'Bilstein 6112/5160 Installed'

Jun 8, 2020

Last Thursday, I picked up my LC from Bilstein with the 6112/5160 shocks and springs installed. (While I loaned my LC to Bilstein to test the heavy springs, they are not ready for release yet and I got the normal load springs.) The lift in front is 2.3 inches and 2.0 inches in the rear. The alignment was spot on without aftermarket UCA's. The truck looks great with a discrete but purposeful appearance, matching the overall look of the 200 series. On the road, the ride is controlled but still very comfortable. It does not pogo like Kings and is not as harsh as ICONS that I have had on...

• Robert B
• Replies: 1,046
• Forum: 200-Series Cruisers

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[JCliftonB]

There is a great thread on the billstein, thats the favorite budget pick. My suggestion would be not to overdo the spring rate.... I got given some heavy springs, and I hate them; they make the truck way too stiff. I should have just bought medium springs.

Thread 'Bilstein 6112/5160 Installed'

Jun 8, 2020

Last Thursday, I picked up my LC from Bilstein with the 6112/5160 shocks and springs installed. (While I loaned my LC to Bilstein to test the heavy springs, they are not ready for release yet and I got the normal load springs.) The lift in front is 2.3 inches and 2.0 inches in the rear. The alignment was spot on without aftermarket UCA's. The truck looks great with a discrete but purposeful appearance, matching the overall look of the 200 series. On the road, the ride is controlled but still very comfortable. It does not pogo like Kings and is not as harsh as ICONS that I have had on...

• Robert B
• Replies: 1,046
• Forum: 200-Series Cruisers

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• 

Thank you, sir! Will give this one a read!

 

[amitbh234]

Can attest to Bilstein 6112/5160 being solid options for the price. Makes the car feel more controlled and less wallowy without sacrificing too much comfort. I believe @ryanCA ended up going the Bilstein route too.

If you can swing it in your budget I’s that along with some upper control arms and the Dr. KDSS panhard correction bracket.

Extra points for replacing those tires controls arms during the refresh. I tackled this job after saving a little bit but was much needed. My control arm bushings, some of the shocks were toast after 175k miles without a squeak. I bet your control arm bushings (especially the fronts) are gone after 300k odd miles.

 

[JCliftonB]

Can attest to Bilstein 6112/5160 being solid options for the price. Makes the car feel more controlled and less wallowy without sacrificing too much comfort. I believe @ryanCA ended up going the Bilstein route too.

If you can swing it in your budget I’s that along with some upper control arms and the Dr. KDSS panhard correction bracket.

Extra points for replacing those tires controls arms during the refresh. I tackled this job after saving a little bit but was much needed. My control arm bushings, some of the shocks were toast after 175k miles without a squeak. I bet your control arm bushings (especially the fronts) are gone after 300k odd miles.

That's actually not a bad idea. Especially while I have the struts off for a refresh.

Does anyone know if the OME UCA's will work without any significant lift besides the leveling spacers?

 

[open country]

That's actually not a bad idea. Especially while I have the struts off for a refresh.

Does anyone know if the OMEs will work without any significant lift besides the leveling spacers?

In theory if you use the factory springs on OME struts, you wouldn't net any lift.

 

[JCliftonB]

In theory if you use the factory springs on OME struts, you wouldn't net any lift.

Whoops! My apologies, I meant to say the OME UCA's. It says they have a built-in additional caster to compensate for a lift, but wondering if they'll work without any significant lift.

 

[open country]

Whoops! My apologies, I meant to say the OME UCA's. It says they have a built-in additional caster to compensate for a lift, but wondering if they'll work without any significant lift.

In my opinion you don't need them for just the OEM spacer lift. Those are made for caster correction within the range of OME suspension lifts that are higher.

 

[JCliftonB]

In my opinion you don't need them for just the OEM spacer lift. Those are made for caster correction within the range of OME suspension lifts that are higher.

That's kind of what I was thinking, but I like the price point for the set. ARB is a little unclear if these will work well without a lift or if they're made for lifted applications.

OEM UCA's just cost too much not to go aftermarket in my application.

 

[amitbh234]

Not sure if this is a hot take but the ball joints on the OEM arms are much better than any aftermarket arm. I went with OEM UCA with my 6112/5160 setup but sacrificed a little bit of lift just to keep using the OEM arms. I’d put my bet on the Dobinson’s UCA that uses replaceable 555 sakei ball joints and OE-style rubber bushings if I had to go aftermarket UCA route retain OEM like quality.

You can get new set of OEM UCA’s for $400-$500 if you wait for a sale event. Aftermarkets run $700-$1000.

 

[JCliftonB]

Not sure if this is a hot take but the ball joints on the OEM arms are much better than any aftermarket arm. I went with OEM UCA with my 6112/5160 setup but sacrificed a little bit of lift just to keep using the OEM arms. I’d put my bet on the Dobinson’s UCA that uses replaceable 555 sakei ball joints and OE-style rubber bushings if I had to go aftermarket UCA route retain OEM like quality.

You can get new set of OEM UCA’s for $400-$500 if you wait for a sale event. Aftermarkets run $700-$1000.

Ah, good to know. I must not be searching for the right part number. Do you by chance know what the part numbers are? A dealership in Alabama is currently running a 25% off sale on OEM parts. I just bought new pads and rotors for all four corners and would like to capitalize while I can!

All the help has been much appreciated!

 

[amitbh234]

Ah, good to know. I must not be searching for the right part number. Do you by chance know what the part numbers are? A dealership in Alabama is currently running a 25% off sale on OEM parts. I just bought new pads and rotors for all four corners and would like to capitalize while I can!

All the help has been much appreciated!

@Boston Mangler did a really nice job listing all the part numbers for a full suspension refresh on his build. Attaching the build page here with the part numbers. Go crazy.

Builds Thread 'Manglers "Flying Egg" Resto-Build'

Mar 23, 2024

Guess who's back? Back again?

After a long hiatus, i am now back in the Cruiser game.

Some of you that have been around awhile (@KLF from our YT days) might know me from threads of stupid mods back in the day that ended up working great and getting stickied, such as:

-Retrofitting 80 series Elockers into an FJ60
-First US install of an LRA aux tank into an 80 using all OEM parts from OZ including overhead factory aux tank fuel gauge and OEM sub tank button
-Racing an 80 in the Baja1000 and giving that @cruiseroutfit fella a kick in the pants to start racing...

Anyway...

• Boston Mangler
• Replies: 363
• Forum: 200-Series Cruisers

• 

 

[JCliftonB]

@Boston Mangler did a really nice job listing all the part numbers for a full suspension refresh on his build. Attaching the build page here with the part numbers. Go crazy.

Builds Thread 'Manglers "Flying Egg" Resto-Build'

Mar 23, 2024

Guess who's back? Back again?

After a long hiatus, i am now back in the Cruiser game.

Some of you that have been around awhile (@KLF from our YT days) might know me from threads of stupid mods back in the day that ended up working great and getting stickied, such as:

-Retrofitting 80 series Elockers into an FJ60
-First US install of an LRA aux tank into an 80 using all OEM parts from OZ including overhead factory aux tank fuel gauge and OEM sub tank button
-Racing an 80 in the Baja1000 and giving that @cruiseroutfit fella a kick in the pants to start racing...

Anyway...

• Boston Mangler
• Replies: 363
• Forum: 200-Series Cruisers

• 

Thank you, sir!