If I put on J springs, Do I need all the "other" stuff too? (1 Viewer)

[4dmalamute]

Ok, now I am wondering if I buy some J springs and put them on my 1993 fzj80 will I need to buy all the "other" stuff as well? Other stuff being castor correction, longer brake lines, sway bar drop, etc etc. I put J springs on my 1991 fj80 and nothing more...and the beast still drove the same! I am just not sure about an fzj compared to the ol fj80. Thanks for the input. Oh yes, im sure this has been covered many many many times before but I couldnt find anything...I am lame I know!

 

[elmariachi]

Ok, now I am wondering if I buy some J springs and put them on my 1993 fzj80 will I need to buy all the "other" stuff as well? Other stuff being castor correction, longer brake lines, sway bar drop, etc etc. I put J springs on my 1991 fj80 and nothing more...and the beast still drove the same! I am just not sure about an fzj compared to the ol fj80. Thanks for the input. Oh yes, im sure this has been covered many many many times before but I couldnt find anything...I am lame I know!

If you intend to get offroad, you'll need to address the brake line issue and the sway bar/driveshaft interference, both in some way or another. The caster correction is a matter of taste, but my experience has been 80s with Js can be a bit squirrelly without it, especially when braking in a turn at higher speeds.

 

[MLX450]

I was wondering about the same thing! to go with a 2.5 OME w/ mr gasket spacer + caster correction bushings or just plain J springs. On the ARB site it does tell you to extend the bumpstops (they do not supply it, must be out sourced), But definitely extend the brake lines..... longer and stronger plus you get to put new fluid in the brake system. I know there is more to it..... im still a newbee! cruiser addict though!

 

[nyk438]

Are you saying you just swapped springs and nothing else on you fj80??

 

[Kalawang]

Are you saying you just swapped springs and nothing else on you fj80??

It's possible to put in a 2" lift with springs alone on an old LC80. I'm unfamiliar with the later models if there have been changes, but, by experience, it's a safe enough bet for '90 and '91 deisels. I doubt more than the motor, wiring and minor parts change in Gas models. A 2" lift can be done with springs alone, but you're pretty restricted to road travel or very mild offroad, closer to back country road.

Very real rocks and off camber driving could cause some parts to give, or the discovery of inadequate extensions due to brake lines, short shocks and such, but that's far from the normal drive of most people.


Kalawang

 

[Tools R Us]

The OME castor correction is needed for sure and may not be enough with J's. If your just going for the look on the road no worries, if it's going to be flexed on the trail the bump stops will need to be adjusted to protect the shocks and the brake lines, e-brake cable bracket, breather lines and sway bar brackets will need to be addressed. Loads of info, just takes a little time in the search window.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=34665

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=39432

 

[4dmalamute]

On my 1991 fj80 I put J springs up front and heavy in the rear, by doing this the beast sat nice and even. I did have the OME shocks on it too. So that was an issue that I knew would have to be done right so I did it. As for brake lines, nope I never changed them out. But I did use the beast for offroad but nothing like rock crawling etc, more for cruising through the woods going fishing or camping or running the dogs. As for my fzj 80, I want to set it up for 90% offroad use since its not my daily driver. So I want to do it right, all of it. Thanks for the input so far, I am taking notes on what should be done. Thanks, Chans

 

[Beowulf]

4dmalamute,

The J springs achieve one thing and that is to raise the vehicle. If this is done with stock length shocks (read that as non-L's) then you have not changed the "droop" of the axle. That's the reason that you didn't need to lengthen brake lines and drop the sway bar. However, you did change the caster and should correct for that to return the vehicle's handling closer to normal.


When longer shocks are used regardless of spring height you must accomodate the increased axle droop. This means longer brake lines, longer diff breathers, dropped sway bars.

It's actually quite simple if you just think about it.

-B-

 

[Land Speeder]

It's possible to put in a 2" lift with springs alone on an old LC80.

This is true. I did this to my 91 FJ80. I purchased some OEM (not OME) shocks and 3 months later bought nothing but the 2" OME springs w/ Mr gasket up front and I have nothing other than that, no caster correction, no steering stabilizer, no brake extension, no dif breather extension. My only problem is the dif breather up front comes loose under FULL droop, and I need to address that at some point.
Look at my before/after here on my cheezy car domain page along with the spring-only lift in action...
http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/707497/3

 

[4dmalamute]

4dmalamute

It's actually quite simple if you just think about it.

-B-

WOW, Im not sure but I THOUGHT i did THINK about it, but I guess I was WRONG! Thanks for the suggestions Beowulf, Chans