Newby Needing help!? suspension vs soa (1 Viewer)

[cruiser lover]

Hey sorry im new to 4x4ing....

Ive recently bought a BJ70 landcruiser and have gone round getting quotes for a SOA conversion from a machanic but found it will cost me far to much for what im willing, (Wont do conversion myself il probably stuff it up!) Just wondering would new bigger shocks and what inch body lift would be a good height to lift my truck for it to fit 35" tyres and look like more of a beast truck but not be to high it tips over easy?? cheers, also is this a reasonable thing to do as a cheap version of raising my truck or other better options? cheers

 

[roscoFJ73]

Shocks wont lift anything,they only dampen the suspension.
My advice is to save your pennies,by a quality SUA suspension kit to take 35 inch tyres,however,33inch tyres work fine 99% of the time.

Body lifts are for Cheap Charley's and look crap
Its not height you need,its articulation.

If you just want that monster truck look with no regard to anything else,ignore my advice and go here for inspiration.
http://128.83.80.200/taco/scarysteering.html

 

[Radd Cruisers]

It do what Rosco says.

By some high quality springs, shackles, shocks, and stick with 33s or so. 35s is a bit more work to make it fit properly, I would not suggest going to larger than 35s unless you're prepared to really modify the sheet metal etc.

Body lifts are something to avoid at all if you can. I really dislike them.

SOA trucks mostly end up getting sold a year or so after the conversion gets done... they are not practical for day to day driving unless you spend a lot of time in the bush.

To properly do an SOA is a very time consuming job, it really is. Allow about 35 to 40 hours of working time to do it properly with a cut and turned axle, anti-wrap bar for the rear, properly set out geometry etc. I've done lots, but don't get to do that kind of work much any more - a well-done SOA is a joy to drive off-road, a badly done one is just scarey.


~John

 

[lux055]

I'm also new to 4x4 and have recently developed a new found love for cruisers! I've always been a Toyota guy but after moving to the mountains ive outgrown my lowlux with her 20" billets. I have also recently purchased a BJ70 as my new daily. I understand the look you're going for cos im after the same! I looked into SOA also but unless you're a metal fabricator it's seriously not worth it! From what I've seen u can get plenty of height and flex out of the leafs!

I managed to achieve the look I was going for and fit 35's under with just some big shackles. Unfortunately it now tracks crazily and unpredictably as I have been told the offset on the 15x10s is wrong? This makes sense cos u guys say fitting 35's under is a mission (with the right offset wheels). My question now is can I use spacers with rims with the right offset to achieve the same look? I'll post a pic of the shackles and the tyres on the truck so u know what I'm looking for.

Sorry to post this in your thread but u guys seem to know what I need too! Cheers

 

[crushers]

i like the 2.5" lift kit with 1.5" longer shackles and you can clear 36" skinnies (first pic)
or you can run 35" fats (second pic)
or you can run a 2.5" lift with a 1.5" block body lift (INSTALLED PROPERLY) and run the 35s or 36s (third pic)

 

[NGray]

36 skinnies look great.

 

[Clint79]

Those rims looks really suited to that troopy Wayne,nice pics

How do you go folding that front glass down with the snorkle any quick release

 

[crushers]

of course you can also run 36" tractor tires, skinny, tall, with plenty of traction ... with this 2.5" lift and 2" longer shackles ... you do need caster shims if you want to run the longer shackles.

 

[crushers]

they do look good, on most Cruisers, so i have found.
i have no idea the make or model but i have had them for quite a few years now.
to fold the front glass, there is two ways with factory snorkel.
unbolt the 2 bolts from the windscreen and the 2 bolts at the coupling and remove top section
or just run with the top section still attached to the bottom if not heavily over grown with tree branches.

it seems i don't have a pic of the snorkel top section removed ...
sorry

Those rims looks really suited to that troopy Wayne,nice pics

How do you go folding that front glass down with the snorkle any quick release

 

[wongtsenhin]

they do look good, on most Cruisers, so i have found.
i have no idea the make or model but i have had them for quite a few years now.
to fold the front glass, there is two ways with factory snorkel.
unbolt the 2 bolts from the windscreen and the 2 bolts at the coupling and remove top section
or just run with the top section still attached to the bottom if not heavily over grown with tree branches.

it seems i don't have a pic of the snorkel top section removed ...
sorry

What about the wiper?

 

[roscoFJ73]

What about the wiper?

You have to unbolt them.

 

[crushers]

actually, there are 3 types (that i know of) of wipers for the 7* LC.
there is the usual that you find on the 75, 73, 74, and the hard tops ... and then the ones that come on the factory soft top 70.
the ones on the 73,74,75, you need to remove to drop the windscreen.
the ones on the soft top 70 has an extra joint in them that allow you to lay them down without removing them.

85211-60050
85211-60060
85211-60120

 

[cult45]

I'm also new to 4x4 and have recently developed a new found love for cruisers! I've always been a Toyota guy but after moving to the mountains ive outgrown my lowlux with her 20" billets. I have also recently purchased a BJ70 as my new daily. I understand the look you're going for cos im after the same! I looked into SOA also but unless you're a metal fabricator it's seriously not worth it! From what I've seen u can get plenty of height and flex out of the leafs!

I managed to achieve the look I was going for and fit 35's under with just some big shackles. Unfortunately it now tracks crazily and unpredictably as I have been told the offset on the 15x10s is wrong? This makes sense cos u guys say fitting 35's under is a mission (with the right offset wheels). My question now is can I use spacers with rims with the right offset to achieve the same look? I'll post a pic of the shackles and the tyres on the truck so u know what I'm looking for.

Sorry to post this in your thread but u guys seem to know what I need too! Cheers

I had a HJ47 that had home-made shackles installed and tracked like a dog. So much so I got duped into test-driving the car in a paddock 'cause it wasn't insured and he didn't want to run the risk of me writing his truck off'. Wasn't til he kindly delivered it that I discovered the issue. It had to go to suspension specialist to have caster wedges installed and even then it didn't fully correct it.

So in your case I'd say it's less about the tyres and more about the suspension mods that are making it track badly. Get them sorted and you should be abel to run a 35" safely. Unless the boys think differently??

As for cruiser lover, x 3 on Rosco's advice. Forget the body lift it'll look s*** and be a pain in the arse. I paid $2100 for a new EFS 2" lift, EFS shocks, damper, bushes, shackles, pins and u-bolts - fitted. Included in the price were 5 new tie-rod ends - fitted. It's a different car.

 

[lux055]

So in your case I'd say it's less about the tyres and more about the suspension mods that are making it track badly. Get them sorted and you should be abel to run a 35" safely. Unless the boys think differently??

Thanks for the reply cult45! Only problem with ur suggestion is now that I have put the original wheels back on it drives fine!? The shackles I put on have been on the car before, they only took them off to get a roadworthy certificate for the sale. It actually drives better now, there was vibration in the tailshaft at certain speed/revs/load but that's now gone with the shackles installed?

There could be something wrong with the wheels/tyres tho, I did get them off eBay pretty cheap?

 

[crushers]

you can get the tires dismounted off the rims and run the rims up on the balance machine. this will allow you to see if the rims are true or if they are the culprit.
if they are true then remount the tires and get them balanced again.
that would eliminate that possibility.