Old Man Emu Springs on an LJ78 (1 Viewer)

[tiresandals]

Just had my mechanic install Old Man Emu springs (light) from Cruiser Outfitters. With a couple of guys sitting on the bumper it levels the whole thing out. Outfitters told me to drive it for 500-1500 miles to let the springs settle in... This rake angle seems extreme. Is this normal?? The front springs were almost identical to the originals. The back springs with a little over 2 inches taller. I was expecting an even 2 inch lift across front and back.

Sorry about the guy. That's not me. He was hanging out at the shop...

 

[AirheadNut]

That looks very similar to the way mine sits with OME Mediums (I believe) in the rear and stock front springs with 30mm spacers. I measured approximately 60mm of lift in the rear with that setup over stock springs. I find it hard to imagine that coil springs will settle out much, especially compared to leaf springs, but I could be wrong. Were the frame end radius arm bolts loosened and then retorqued once the rig was on its own wheels again?

 

[tiresandals]

That looks very similar to the way mine sits with OME Mediums (I believe) in the rear and stock front springs with 30mm spacers. I measured approximately 60mm of lift in the rear with that setup over stock springs. I find it hard to imagine that coil springs will settle out much, especially compared to leaf springs, but I could be wrong. Were the frame end radius arm bolts loosened and then retorqued once the rig was on its own wheels again?

Thanks for sharing your experience. I don't know about the frame end radius arm bolts. I'll ask the mechanic. He replaced all the bushings as well. So Imagine he tightened them up, but I don't know if that happened in the air or after.

Now that you've got me thinking about spacers I may measure the required lift on the front and buy spaces to square things up front to back.

 

[misterclean]

I have a similar raked look with the newly installed ARB/OME setup on my LJ78. Went with new OME shocks as well. Originally the lift was pretty even, but whatever settling occured made the front sit lower than the rear.

 

[CRSWA]

Same here. I have the OME medium springs and my back end sits a little higher than the front. I don't mind it.

I know that a lot of truck suspensions have beefier rears than necessary so that it's not dragging ass when it's loaded down. I've noticed that with both dogs loaded and enough luggage for a weekend at the beach, my LJ78 sits nice and level and drives a lot better than when it's unloaded.

 

[tiresandals]

I was looking at 30mm spacers to place on the front springs to even things out. I can get them via Australia. Is there an equivalent US market vehicle like a 4runner or Tacoma that used the same size suspension? I can get those spacers locally.

 

[tiresandals]

I have a similar raked look with the newly installed ARB/OME setup on my LJ78. Went with new OME shocks as well. Originally the lift was pretty even, but whatever settling occured made the front sit lower than the rear.

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Thanks for the reply. I like the black and your wheels too. Are those wheels specific to the 70 series or is there another Toyota that has the same bolt pattern and cut out for the hub lock?

 

[AirheadNut]

I was looking at 30mm spacers to place on the front springs to even things out. I can get them via Australia. Is there an equivalent US market vehicle like a 4runner or Tacoma that used the same size suspension? I can get those spacers locally.

I don't know of any US spec spring that is the same as the Prado front. I believe that they share the same dimensions as the later coil front 70's like the 76, 78 Troopy and 79; lots of spacers for those on ebay AU like you said. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find anything bigger than 30mm, but I should probably just get some OME fronts and see where that puts me.

Here is mine with 150lbs of RTT/rack and a couple of hundred pounds of gear in the back. The ride was excellent with that load, but still a little higher in the rear.

 

[GTSSportCoupe]

When I had OME suspension the front sat lower too. I bought poly spacers from ebay australia to help level it a bit.

The Dobinson's lift was more even front to back, but the front ended up sagging on me within a year.

I have a feeling they leave the front lower on purpose to avoid messing too much with caster angle (making it unsafe and a liability). Castor correction bushings can correct this to some degree.

It's too bad there is such a poor spring selection for these trucks....

 

[misterclean]

Thanks for the reply. I like the black and your wheels too. Are those wheels specific to the 70 series or is there another Toyota that has the same bolt pattern and cut out for the hub lock?

Wheels meant for the 4Runner and 80 Series Land Cruiser, FJ Cruiser, etc. will fit

Check out this site for info on the bolt pattern and center bore which you can compare with other Toyotas of the same vintage: Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 1992 - Wheel & Tire Sizes, PCD, Offset and Rims specs - https://www.wheel-size.com/size/toyota/land-cruiser-prado/1992/#trim-24-dt-lj78g-jdm-95