Hello All,
I too am in the market for a new suspension kit for my 1978 FJ40 (mostly stock). 33 tires
From multiple searches on this site, below is what I have gathered thus far. Please feel free to correct me or make any edits.
OME/ARB Kit - $1800-$2200 Seems to be a really popular, high quality kit but recent reviews indicate they are possibly a rough ride?
Dobinsons Kit - $1600-2800 - Another high quality kit, very similar (the same), as stock springs? Good initial reviews, but then reports of squeaking springs? Has this been corrected? Looks like the IMS kit is a great ride?
Redline Cruisers Kit - 2.5” - $1800-$2100 - Currently on back order, and have been for months. I was told a few weeks ago that they were coming in on a boat and that they were expecting them in what should be another few weeks from now. High quality, stock like ride kit? Maybe, but no one knows what the new springs will be like? The previous versions were a good ride?
Rough Country - @$650 - Less expensive of a kit and as the name would suggest…they are a rough ride. Like really rough?
ProComp - Cost?? - Currently no longer available? There is speculation that these springs may have been the same springs Redline was using in their kits? It is interesting to note that ProComps are NLA at the same time we are waiting for Redline to receive an import.
Sky Jacker - 2.5” and 4” - @$1200 (doesn’t include shackles) at jackit.com. not as popular as the other kits? Is it the name? It seems like the people who have them like them. A few stories of people who have installed multiple kits, or installed kits years ago with great reviews. Nice soft and quiet ride? Some of these reviews may have been from kits people put together themselves (like with Bilstein shocks?) versus the kit at Jackit.com. One important point has been made that these springs are a little bit longer than the stock springs, which helps better center the rear axle/wheel in the wheel well. Also pushes the front axle forward @ 3/4”.
Terrain Tamer - 2.5” Lift? Full kit with standard shocks ($2900 plus shipping). See
@wngrog ‘s recent review, it’s excellent. Sounds like these parabolic style springs have a great ride. And the yellow shocks are much bigger and better than the standard yellow shock.
Do we know how they hold up over the long term?
Hell for Stout. $1700+ for a 4” lift kit, but does not include shocks? They have an “Extreme Kit” that is not currently in stock. Not many reviews? Except that they're military wrapped on both ends, you have to buy the whole kit and they're warrantied for life? Good ride or bad ride?
Shackles: Seems like the crowd favorite (if purchasing separately) is Cruiser Teq’s greasable shackle and pin kit for about $180.
To be continued…