Lift recommended to run 35's

[RIDDLER]

I did check FAQ and none seemed to apply.

So here goes....We have a 97' 80 series.

What brand of lift do you guys recommend in order to run 35 12.5 15 with ample clearance?

Will 6 bolt rims with 4 inch BS fit a 80 series landcruiser?

thanks

Aaron

 

[mooker82]

15" rims wont fit on the front of an 80. You can run an OME lift and clear a 315/75/16 which is pretty much a 35x12.5x16.. it will rub though....do a search for "315"

 

[cruiserdan]

Do please read this excelent explanation from Slee Offroad:



http://www.sleeoffroad.com/technical/tz_35.htm

 

[wb1948]

Slee off-road is very conservative in talking about running 35s. If you do not want to drop 3000 on a 6" lift I would recommend J springs with some 10mm packers in the front. (use slee's castor plates for castor correction) J springs and 1 10 mm packer gave me 5 inches at closest point from wheel well in the front with stock tires, 29 1/2" mounted. I should have ample room to fit 35s in that sense. In order to deal with the other aspect of fitting tires(lateral movement while turning) I would recommend you keep your stock tires. Hope this helps. People do run the 650/663 heavies with 35s, and some are not having rubbing issues.

Also, slee is coming out with a 4" straight spring lift which seems like it would be perfect for 35s.

 

[MSGGrunt]

Get Slee's 6" system and you will have no problems. This assumes that money is secondary to quality and completness. I run 315's on my 97 and only get slight rubbing on the frame in the rear when the tires are fully stuffed into the wheel wells. Some wheel spacers may help this a bit and provide more stability. The whole kit isn't cheap but, you get what you pay for. I'm sure you could re-use your stock front arms and replace the bushings with OME to adjust the caster but, Slee's arms are super nice and they address the caster angles for you, this is the route I went. The one item I did not address right away was the front drive shaft. With 6" of lift she really complained. I replaced it with Slee's double cardan shaft and I have no vibrations at all.

Slee's site is where I gained a lot of information as my 97 is my first 80 series. 3 FJ40's, 2 FJ60's and a FJ62 and now the 97 FZJ80. I made the mistake, if you call it that, of buying a 1972 FJ40 as my first vehicle back 21 years ago and I haven't been without some model of cruiser since. I would love my next one to be a FJ45 but, that is getting off the subject.

Good Luck.

 

[landtank]

running 315s is not about spring lift it's about bumpstop position. If you drop the stops so that rubbing won't accure you can run stock springs if you want. Even if you put on this covetted 6" lift, you'll rub if the stops aren't dropped and you completely stuff the tire. Albiet stuffing the tire might be damn near impossible, the 6" lift just reduces the need for dropping the stops. Of course with stock springs there won't be much articulation.

 

[RIDDLER]

35's

thanks all.

I will have to research this.

Aaron

 

[robbie]

I ran 315 on a 4 inch lift for a couple of years, I loved it, stable, some rub that I could live with. But I moved up to the 6 inch to get the underbelly more off the ground and let me run the swampers with little problem. Not all tires are created the same. Some will not rub when others will rub. I will not go back to the 4 inch even thought the truck was smoother in many respects, But the extra height allows less banging over the more diffcult trails. later robbie

 

[sleeoffroad]

Indeed, the truck can be bumpstopped to prevent rubbing, however wheeling it like that sucks. I did that with 37" tires and 5" of lift in Moab. Hated the way it wheeled. We were on the bumps stops a lot and as soon as it hits, the weight is transfered to another point. This made the truck very unstable.

One of the keys to articulation is shock length and not springs. Yes, it can be set up to have a small lift with tall springs and have gobbs of articulation, but experience has shown the people not prepared to go to the expense of adding lift, will probably not do any custom shock mounts.

ShortBus has also proven that stability is way more important than articulation. Ben's previous truck was a ramp king, it could max out our ramp at the shop, however he would admit that it was not the most stable truck when wheeling it. Shortbus did about 1/2 the ramp, but it was way more stable in climbing or droping into things, as well as off-camber.

The happiest I was ever wheeling a full size 80 was with 6" of lift, 35" tires and all swaybars removed. That gives you the most articualtion, axles that move freely and a very stable body.

 

[Tooth Fairy]

15" rims wont fit on the front of an 80

Actually, the front clears okay, but, it's the rear calipers that have clearance issues. You'd have to do a lot of careful grinding to get a 15" wheel to fit on the back. I've considered it, but...

 

[sleeoffroad]

Make that a lot of grinding, carefull or not.

 

[Junk]

Want to run 35s? I'll give you 2 great options:

A. Buy them then make them fit
B. Read even one or two of the countless posts in the 80 forum asking the same exact question

If this was your first post that would be one thing, but c'mon, you have some posts so you must know how to search right?

 

[RIDDLER]

Thanks a ton

JUNK-

Did you try the search yourself that you are recommending?

I did. FIVE flippin tries, Got two responses- they said "nothing available, try again". Then the other three searches came back very vague with obscure comments about fender trimming at Tellico and all kinds of crazy links into the words I input like "FJ80, Lift, 35's, tires" etc. nothing specific?

So yes I do know how to search but this is my first 80 series post in maybe 5-8 months. Mostly I stay in the 40 series tech page as it is mellow.

Also just to be clear I did check the FAQ (twice) and nothing was as specific in the FAQ as I was hoping for.

I can see that you might look at my posts and expect that I use the "advanced search" button but I didn't. I have never been able to get the advanced search to work well.

Is this a "pick a fight" email? or do you need a freaking ######## to calm nerves?

Again thanks

Aaron Riddle

 

[Junk]

Take a chill riddle.

Yes, search a little. It may help you find some answers to your questions. This has been covered extensively and you would likely discover a lot of usefull information in prior posts. Thing is, that for folks to cover as much as you'd find by searching would require folks to spend hours answering when they have already done so.

If you can't use the advanced search, then that is a different question.

So, if you would like help with using the advanced search, then you could ask.

Naw, I don't need to pick a fight with anyone. I just assume every post of mine provokes one.

 

[RIDDLER]

Hmmm

Junk- I can chill. I read you loud and clear.

As far as searching goes I sort of draw the line at page 5,6, maybe I should not have?

I know how to use both search, adv. search, and FAQ. Maybe the standard is different from 40 tech to 80 series. Sometimes the accuracy someone is seeking ends up in just a few words. I see the same questions week in and week out over on the 40 side of things.

I see your point either way.

Aaron

 

[Junk]

No worries dude. Usually I go out of my way to be a jerk since it's what I do best

Seriously though, there's been a lot of great info in here talking about panhards, front control arms, castor, gearing, upper rear control arms on and on. I wouldn't go back page by page, but I'd go to advanced search and search the 80's section on 315 or 35.

 

[RIDDLER]

35's

Junk- thanks for the help. I sometimes get a bit rough also. No worries.

Seriously I have a ton to learn I understand the basics but you have me lost on the following: "panhards (?), front control arms, castor( general idea), gearing( I know this one), upper rear control arms on and on."

I guess I had better keep this 80 stock or buy a 80 series repair manual in a hurry. I try to be ultra honest in my posts and I have to admit I don't know much about the things you mentioned.

No reply required

Thanks

Aaron

 

[Junk]

These are all things mentioned in previos posts and the article on Christo's site. These are additional components of suspension on a coil sprung truck vs what you see discussed in the other forums regarding leaf springs. It will start making sense to you pretty quick and we're all here for any questions.

 

[Riley]

Quoting the Junkster -

"Naw, I don't need to pick a fight with anyone. I just assume every post of mine provokes one."
AND

"No worries dude. Usually I go out of my way to be a jerk since it's what I do best"

Man that's funny...I'm rolling on the floor.....

Junk - When you were between jobs last year, ever consider doing Standup?

It would be kinda of Rodney Dangerfield with a LandCruiser twist gig.

Pretty limited crowd I guess - "Did you hear the one about the PHH?"

 

[Curran]

. . .One of the keys to articulation is shock length and not springs. Yes, it can be set up to have a small lift with tall springs and have gobbs of articulation, but experience has shown the people not prepared to go to the expense of adding lift, will probably not do any custom shock mounts. . .

Christo,
So for those of us who have gone through the work/expense of adding lift, is there any thought of making custom shock mounts for longer travel shocks?