Quote: "How stiff are the Bilsteins? I've had them on other vehicles where they seem to have too much compression damping and ride too stiff...." skopiec
When I first got my LC I loved the ride, after the FJ 60 it felt downright plush. Once I got used to it, I grew to hate the side to side sway of the stock suspension. I also didn't like the way the front end tended to dive on higher speed sandy trails with ruts and bumps.
I installed Bilsteins from Perf. Prod all around and loved the results. No more side to side motion. Throw the truck into a turn and it follows the line. Loved it on curvey mountain roads. Front end dive went away. The Bilsteins are a firm shock which is noticed most at slow speeds. Go over a pot hole a 5mph and you know you have heavy duty shocks. Hit the same pothole at 35 and you won't even feel it.
When I lifted the Cruiser I went to OME shocks, the firm option. Wish there was a Bilstein option. With the OME's the side to side sway is back but not as bad as the stock shocks. Softer ride then the Billies but I don't like how they react to things like speed bumps. With the Bilsteins hit a speed bump at speed and the rear end cruises right over and anything in the back stays put. With the OME's the back end jumps up and so does every thing back there.
For those of you not thinking about a lift but are looking a replacement shocks Iwould recommend you consider the Bilsteins. It will corner like its on a track and have great offroad handeling. Trade off from stock, stiffer ride at slow speed.
My .02
