How did 80s ride when new and stock? (11 Viewers)

[napir]

I've had my 80 for a long time and I have never been happy with the ride, especially considering they were marketed as a luxury item way back when new. Maybe I'm just getting old but I'm kinda sick of getting my ass kicked by every single expansion joint or speed bump or manhole cover, especially at low speed. What is the combo that can actually absorb and insulate me (and the wife...it's really just the wife who hates it) from all this, while still being able to absorb a hit at higher speed? Right now I've got Dobinsons variable lift springs (2.5" front/1.5" comfort rear), new Tokico shocks (temp, hoping for a real solution), new suspension bushings all around, E-rated 315 KO2s at 32psi. Over the years, I've had full OME suspension, then these Dobinsons with 30/70 valved Fox 2.0s (since blown), and now Dobs with Tokicos...all chasing a good balance of on and off road and never finding it.

I've ridden in Jeepspeed-prepped Cherokees years ago that rode like butter, so I'm not convinced its just because it's a solid axle. I've been in Wranglers that, once you get past them seeming to just want to fall apart, at least seem relatively civil enough around town.

I have a feeling it's because I keep my 80 pretty light and seemingly everything is for loaded up rigs. My 80 is back on DD duty for a while, but still used extensively for camping and off road touring. It gets used a lot, I just don't bring a whole lot of stuff with me and have no armor/winches/roof racks/fridges/toilets/kitchen sinks/3 months of food/etc. My 80 does ride better when it's more loaded but I have no interest in carrying all that all the time and there's gotta be a better way.

I really don't want to get rid of my 80, but I have been looking at 200s casually...I'm just not ready to give up yet. The only thing I haven't really addressed is body mounts, and still may, but I'm also wondering if I'm chasing something that never existed in the first place?

 

[ProjectTrinity]

I had OME heavies and just swapped to Dobinsons 3.5 variable springs with IMS shocks and it rides smother than our 2023 Tesla Model X. The E rated 315 KO2 I'm running feels kinda harsh but overall not bad. But Teslas aren't known for ride quality and I haven't really been in other LCs other than 100 series.

 

[Mandrake]

If you like how it rides when loaded but don't want to carry all that stuff with you all the time, get springs with lighter rates. I wheel light and the stock springs + spacers and some Gabriel shocks ride superbly on the road and off, flex great, and are still stable even without the sway bars. As for "absorbing a hit at higher speed," I think that's subjective; a hard hit to me may not be a hard hit to you.

 

[LXDOC]

I recently tried new Toyota/Tokico shocks for the 97.
They were harsh and a big disappointment. I took them off after 20 miles.
I currently run 315/75/16 Hankook tires, Dobinsons 2 inch lift “comfort” springs with spacers and a Whiteline HD front bar.
Currently running an adjustable hydraulic foam cell shock from Australia with stock shock bushings. The ride is less choppy than our GX460 with stock suspension.

 

[jonheld]

I drove my 1991 FJ80 off the dealer's lot in June of 1991, and it drove like a dream.
It was quiet and comfortable with a smooth ride.

You have to remember that every single part was brand new. Shocks, springs, bushings, etc. were not 30 years old, or have not been replaced with aftermarket parts. The stock tires were load range C Michelin LTX radial street tires that were soft as a baby.
All of these "modifications" that we love to spend money on affect the ride quality.

 

[Malleus]

I miss the LTXs

 

[White Stripe]

I have stock coils and toyota shocks. It rides great.

 

[napir]

If you like how it rides when loaded but don't want to carry all that stuff with you all the time, get springs with lighter rates.

Yeah I would, but other than stock, these don’t seem to exist, and I think ~1.5” lift all around is the sweet spot for travel and tire clearance. I thought the dual rate coils would be good for me, but alas…

I drove my 1991 FJ80 off the dealer's lot in June of 1991, and it drove like a dream.
It was quiet and comfortable with a smooth ride.

You have to remember that every single part was brand new. Shocks, springs, bushings, etc. were not 30 years old, or have not been replaced with aftermarket parts. The stock tires were load range C Michelin LTX radial street tires that were soft as a baby.
All of these "modifications" that we love to spend money on affect the ride quality.

I know the E range tires aren’t helping, but C range is so limited in anything above a 33”. I’m not necessarily opposed to sizing down when these wear out, but I’m just trying to cross my Ts and make sure I’m not missing anything.

 

[woody]

Our 100% stock 40th rides and handles great. Still on Michelins.

Tire pressure may be the quickest way to make a ride change, and it's free. Factory pressure numbers are designed for the factory tire, and are set to balance ride/control/handling/etc.

If each tire is rated for 3500# of load at 60psi, then 4 tires at max pressure can handle 14,000#. Your 7000# rig would only need half that pressure to be within range of the tire ratings. I'll guess a chalk test of your tire contact patch shows you are riding in the center due to high pressure.

Even a # or 2 may make a noticeable difference. I always adjust pressure based on load/terrain/etc.

 

[jpoole]

My '97 has:

• Stock springs with 30mm dobinson spring spacers
• Tokico / stock shocks
• 285/75/16 Michellin LTX around 35 psi
• ALL suspension bushings / rubber replaced in recent years
• Added a few degress of caster to increase front-end tracking stability
• Steering box that is tight with minimal/no play at wheel
• Weight that is usually close to stock, usually with a clean/empty roof

This 80 drives great in all conditions that I use it in (mostly pavement, occasional gravel, rarely off-road) and is very comfortable and sure-footed. I've replaced a number of door seals, added sound deadening, etc. so it's relatively quiet inside, AC was fully refreshed a few years ago, sound system updated and cup holders added so it's a very comfortable vehicle and my family prefers to take it on trips and we aren't worn out by time spent in it. If I moved it back to stock tire size and took the 1" spacers out it would drive even better but I like it on 33s so will stay on that tire size.

The larger lift/tire size setups look cool and add off-road capabilities but I've come to prefer the aesthetics of closer-to-stock height and tires, in part because of how well they perform for my typical use.

You should try tuning your tire pressure and also see if you could test drive a close-to-stock 80 to get a sense for what's possible before you make any rash decisions