KZJ70 Shock lengths

[BigDaveGrrr]

Does anyone know the ideal shock lengths for a KZJ70 (3litre 1kzt, Landcruiser II, coils all round, front shocks mounted inside the springs) with a 2" suspension spring lift?

I went for Ironman springs but wasnt happy with the shocks they supplied with the kit as they didnt seem long enough and I fancy adjustable shocks too.

I tried measuring I the articulation myself but the truck is in my garage half way through fitting the springs and my garage isnt tall enough to get it fully articulated.

Also can anyone recommend decent adjustable shocks available in the UK (or Europe) that wont cost the earth? Im looking at Rancho RS9000 series right now but I cant seem to find an up to date catalogue showing shock sizes with the correct fitments for the KZJ70 (loop top, stud bottom).

 

[BigDaveGrrr]

Bump.

Anyone?

 

[kbushnz]

Hi Yah
Here is some info for you.
Naturally your springs need to be long enough otherwise they will fall out under full articulation.
Here is some info I have gathered.
I have used OME, ToughDog,EFS shocks.
Measured from eye to eye.
OME N77 front shock 570mm ext, 340mm collapsed.
OME N79 Rear Shock 507mm ext, 325mm collapsed.
ToughDog FC41397 570mm ext, 350mm collapsed. (used these front and rear big lift)

Others have used Rancho's but you need to change the top connection for the front shocks to pins.

Also I have noticed if the coils are too stiff the shocks wont perform as expected.
I have a set in at the moment which are 220lb rated and it rides a bit hard.
Swapped in some 160lb rated for giggles and it felt great. shocks worked better and was like a spyder off road. But just a little too soft for road.
SO going to get a set of coils made at about 180 190lb rated.

Most aftermarket kits just up the lb rating to get the lift so you get a harder ride.

Removing the swaybars will allow more flex.... especially the front.

Cant recommend any particular adjustable shocks as in my opinion the more things to fiddle with the more chances of failure. Like to use the KISS approach.

Let us all know how you go.

 

[syche]

Hi

I used to own a KZJ73 before swaping for my 80.

I used it as offroad truck (sometimes hard ones) in the weekends and expedition truck for 2 weeks or month trip every year or 2 times a year.

I made a lot of mods on it, and sold it with regrets, it was a fantastic car and going anywhere

I tried many configuration of springs and shocks to het the perfect match.

In regards of shocks, go directly looking at landrover defender or old rangerover shocks. The rear one.

You can fit the rear landrover shocks int he front and in the rear of your KZJ iwht only very small mods and will get about 100mm more twist in the rear and 50 or more in the front (if you remove the sway bar).

Compressend they are about 340/350mm, and extended they are ~600mm.

The down rod is much bigger than the original on KZ shocks, so you won't break it again, they were easy to damage on hard offroad and small jumps on tracks, full loaded.

To be very safe i extended the rear bump stop by 20mm, but 10 was actually enough. Again it was for extra safety when driving heavy, fast and on track.

For the shocks, I tried OME, nive in offroad, but 1h on tracks, loaded in Atlas, Marocco and they were leaking hell.

Original land rover shocks, very nice offroad, heat up quickly on fast tracks, but do not leak, give it a rest and go again. Price is un beatable.

Blistein, very good for the front, but a bit too soft in compression for the rear. I kept the front one.

Koni serie 84 for the rear (special old dakar series in the 80's.) Perfect match for my use offroad and on tracks loaded.

FOr the spring, i had Eibach medium in +40mm front and rear, front was holding fine but the rear did not hold the load in the long run, i swaped for king spring medum (+200 or 250LBS) on +70mm.

This gave a very nice ride empty and loaded for trip. Loaded for trip i added a 30mm poly bushing on top of the spring to make the car sit horizontal. I had exellente confort on fast tracks loaded and not bottoming.

I think a set of OME medium spring can be a good go.

I have been trying a ironman spring set on a friend KZT70, that was a skate board, not confortable, stiff, and no twist. Ironman shocks have bad reputation on tracks in africa, just as OME.

I did not had to extend the brake hoses, only extended the bolt holding the rear one to the axle by 20mm, easy job in 5mn. Then readjust the rear brake compensator.