LC 100 from 38 to 42" tires

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K

Kristmann

10 Year
Joined
Jan 4, 2015
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1
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Hi LC fans

We drive here in Iceland a LC 100 series on 38" tires. we have 10cm body-lift and flairs that fit the 38"
We have custom-made dana 50 front dif with 4.88 and ARB lock. 4.88 and original lock at rear.

So we have been riding with completely stock suspension (TEMS system)

the truck has been driven 140.000 km 1/3 of it on snow and off road with this mod and we have not had any problems so far.

Now the car is getting 10 years old and we want to stop using it as a daily driver and use it for traveling only. we want to lift it 2,5" and put 42" tires (Goodyear 42x14,5 R17)

I have been searching for suspension systems for the LC 100 and have found the Slee off-road suspension kit with the OME shocks. at only 1.645 dollar. http://www.sleeoffroad.com/products/100_suspension.htm

On the other hand we have been looking at the set from TJ
http://www.justdifferentials.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=JTOTLC100-SUPDLX
Here we seem to be looking at quite similar system but with more advanced shocks to chose from.
They set the price at 2.375 dollars with the basic Icon stage I and up to 3.669 dollar with the advanced stage III Icon shocks.

Since some of you guys seem to have experience with these two systems. I would like to get some good advise on what we should go for.
We for sure don't want to loose the ride and off-road quality of the standard suspension. we want an soft but aggressive suspension to ride on gravel ground on high speed. (kind of miniature trophy truck style)

have some of you tried out different types of suspension for the LC 100? Or do you recommend
something else?

Lets hear your opinion. Regard Kristmann

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Looks like fun. Do you have pictures of the custom Dana 50 front diff? How wide are the wheels and are you using spacers? Also, with all that deep snow travel, I'm surprised to not see a bumper with a winch or crevasse bar on the front.
You might want to consider the OME remote resivoir shocks that should be available soon but I don't know if a 2.5" lift will be enough for a 4" larger tire including the travel. Also consider upgrading the upper control arms to give yourself a bit more room for the tires.
 
Yes driving on glacier is a lot of fun :) I don't have any pictures of the Dana 50. It was custom made to fit the original LC 100 front drive house and the D50 has the same axle inputs, so we use the stock LC axles. We don't use any spacers we just cut out of the body what is in the way of the tire and seal it with some welding and a good layers of paint to prevent rust. Then we use the flairs to cover the cutouts and cover the width of the tire about 15cm wide. Driving on snow is all about the weight of the car vs the size of the tires and the torque of the motor. we put the tire pressure dawn to 2-4 psi and float on the snow so any additional weight is limited. The goal is to lift the car 2,5" and take of the flair and modify them a bit (make them longer) and cut more from the body. By addind 4" larger tires you should only need 2" of lift if you keep the same travel. But we would like to add to the travel as well so it means more cutting :) We will upgrading the upper control arm and drop the dif.

Do you know when the OME remote resivoir shocks will be available? We would like to make these mods befour next winter, beginning of November

One more picture of me towing my wife up the glacier so she can ski dawn :)
you can see some mad Icelandic mods on this site if your interested. http://www.jakinn.is/?album=jeppasyning-ferdaklubbs-4x4-2013&birta=allt

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Have you tried PM'ing Christos Slee?

sleeoffroad
 
^ I would try asking Slee directly via PM - from my experience he'll give you an honest answer about your needs rather than just trying to sell you his system. And like everyone else here he'll be fascinated by the trucks you guys are running...
 
I sent him an email and he replayed quite quickly that they don't sell products overseas at the moment do to guaranty problems.
I was hoping for more technical reply on the systems available, but at least he is honest about the guaranty.

I guess that if I order a suspension system from him i would need to settle with no guaranty and take the chances.
He also mentioned the system not being tested in extreme cold like we have in Iceland.
Most of the time we drive in -5 til -20. at least the original Toyota suspension is doing good in that temp, so I don´t see why some aftermarket system would not be good as well.
 
Just to clarify on this. We do not have guarantee issues, just that selling a very high end shock outside of the country that might need revaleving or rebuilding gets complicated when having to deal with shipping internationally. Also if warrantee issues should arise, shipping would be a deal breaker for most people.

The other issue is that we do not have any testing data on how the shocks perform at the extreme temperatures that the OP would see. I would rather be upfront with this than sell a product and have to deal with the repercussions later. We do see some cold temps in CO, but nothing near the extended periods and lows that the OP would see.
 
The lowest recorded temperature in Iceland is -40 °F/°C. In Colorado, −61 °F / −52 °C. Generally Iceland does not have extreme low temperatures, as it is heated by the relatively warm sea (and cooled by the relatively cold sea in the summer). (And no, apparent temperature does not count in this case)
Not saying this has any bearing on the ongoing discussion - just factual info, fwiw.
 
I would suggest going with Bilstein HD or similar caliber OE style shocks. The reason I suggest it is because I have worked directly with their ride engineers and know for a fact that their product validation and durability test schedule is far more comprehensive and developed than any of the smaller aftermarket players in the market.

Mr Slee's concerns are well placed and one must appreciate his honesty. Not to knock on anyone's product but this vehicle is being operated in extreme and very demanding conditions. If you contact their aftermarket support they might very well be willing to recommend other alternatives that suit your system better. I guarantee that your 42" tires will place different demands than a regular size on the damping, especially bump damping.
 
Lived in CO for 23 years now and never saw that temps. If we have it, it is for a couple of days, not extended periods. I would rather be preemptive vs. sending a set of shocks and the seals start leaking due to the conditions they are used in.

Those pictures are enough to convince me it is colder there than CO :)
 
Dear Christo
Thank you for the reply. You may not think that I'm spreading bad word about you. I can well understand your side of view.
If we talk a bout the suspension system you offer with the standard OME6000 shocks. We have good experience with that one here in Iceland and they have been used for the LC80 and Patrol with good outcome on tire up to 46".

Don´t you think the difdrop, upper control arms, rear springs and torsion bar should work just as well in lower temperatures.
At least I don't see why they should fail.

So that leaves us dawn to the shocks. if we want to go for high end shocks for example the Icon 2 or 3, King 2,5 or yours Slee SOF1227 and SOF1230. It would be hard to maintain or adjust them if needed and if we have some issues it would be hard to claim the guaranty do to high shipping cost.

Correct me if I'm wrong with this!

Regards Kristmann

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Nissan Patrol 2009 running 46" tires.
 
With all the custom suspension work that goes on in Iceland aren't there suspension shops that can work on high end rebuildable shocks? If you buy an Icon shock you would just have to have someone local revalve and service them as needed. I don't think I would want to send shocks back and forth from Iceland to Colorado either.

Or what about a company like FOX that also builds snowmobile shocks. They have plenty of damper experience in cold climates.

Your trucks are awesome by the way.
 
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