New springs (OME 2.5") with stock shocks...will this work?

[whosthecoolguy]

I'm looking at doing my lift this weekend. on my '91 HDJ81. OME 850(heavy)/860(med) and new shocks all around.
I have my stock shocks still on the vehicle and they seem to still be providing a good ride. I like the adjustability of them (sport setting vs. normal setting) but what I'm wondering is would my lift 'work' if I kept the stock shocks on? What would the cons be, just less travel? Are the stock shocks any shorter than the OME ones I've boughten?
I'm not sure how to measure the length of the stock shocks vs. the new lift ... or maybe somebody knows if they would be too short with the new springs?

Let me know your thoghts if you have a second.

Thanks,
JK

 

[Capocaccia]

Your not going to get the travel you want off road with the stock shocks but for on road all the time they are ok.

 

[jditom]

Did not know stock shocks were adjustable?
I keept my Bilsteins on when I went to 2.5 inch heavy's and they are the same length as stock. They work great but will not have the extension of OME. SInce I do mostly offroad trails and not much crawling this works just fine.

 

[Capocaccia]

Yours arent. The HDJs are I believe.

 

[whosthecoolguy]

Thanks guys. It's mostly a length question I guess. I'd like to keep the adjustability of the stock shocks if possible. I don't know if I'd need all the travel of the OME ones for what I do.

Does anyone know the length of the stock shock vs. the OME shock?

 

[Capocaccia]

Well I think some other companys make fully adjustable shocks but I dont know if they make any for the 80s.

 

[whosthecoolguy]

My truck has a button on the dash to adjust them...I think the shocks are electric. I'm not familiar with other shocks that I could use in place of the stockers and I'd be a little afraid to see a price on them.

Well I think some other companys make fully adjustable shocks but I dont know if they make any for the 80s.

 

[Downey]

When we designed our USA manufactured 2.5" fj80 coil kit, we used the Bilstein shocks that were listed for stock applications for two reasons:
1. If a shock oil can were any taller, it would clobber the upper shock mount when bottoming. Same would apply with any other brand name of shock.
2. If shock extended any longer on extension, all pressure would be removed from the coils on full extension, and coil would simply fall out of the vehicle in certain situations. Again, same thing would apply with any other brand name.
So in reality, the suspension kits do sit the vehicle up 2.5" higher, but do not actually increase suspension travel.

 

[p8nt]

Yours arent. The HDJs are I believe.

Oohhhh, another JDM product I want. Has anyone retrofitted these?

 

[firetruck41]

I am running stock shocks with my OEM heavies, I don't do anything more extreme than FS roads and rutted dirt trails and they are fine.

 

[Tools R Us]

When we designed our USA manufactured 2.5" fj80 coil kit, we used the Bilstein shocks that were listed for stock applications for two reasons:
1. If a shock oil can were any taller, it would clobber the upper shock mount when bottoming. Same would apply with any other brand name of shock.

Toyota left some shock travel room, the axle hits the stop long before the stock and all other stock replacement 9" travel shocks bottom. OME took advantage of this and uses a ~10" travel shock with no need of bump stop mods.

2. If shock extended any longer on extension, all pressure would be removed from the coils on full extension, and coil would simply fall out of the vehicle in certain situations. Again, same thing would apply with any other brand name.

That is true on a stiff, short coil. OME's are designed for the longer shock, have a longer free length. I ran OME heavies and L shocks, longer ~11.5" travel, for about a year before switching to the J springs. Never had a spring unseat let alone fall out, but the extra travel, flex was nice.

So in reality, the suspension kits do sit the vehicle up 2.5" higher, but do not actually increase suspension travel.

True for Downey kits, but every other kit that I have experience with increases travel and flex.

 

[Wrench]

So in reality, the suspension kits do sit the vehicle up 2.5" higher, but do not actually increase suspension travel.