Replacement Shock options for stock ride height

[BMC5150]

Hi all,
About to replace new rotors and wheel bearings and started to think about replacing front and rear shocks at the same time. It's a 2000 Land Cruiser with 100,000 miles, shocks have never been replaced and no other suspension work has been performed. Bumpy roads are a bit sloppy with the current stock shocks as I assume they're pretty worn.

This Land Cruiser is going to primarily be a highway road / snow trip car / minor off road, and won't see any significant off road use, so I don't currently need a lift. I won't be adding any armor / bumpers / additional weight at the moment. I prefer to keep a stock like ride quality, not too stiff. I would be ok with a 0-1 inch increase. I'd also like them to be long lasting. Currently running 285/75/16 Michelin LTX MS/2s.

So far, after researching my best options for maintaining a near stock ride height seem to be:

- Bilstein 4600 HD - heard these are the stiffest of the three options
- Fox 2.0 - heard these are in the middle, and a good option for ride quality while being an upgrade from OEM
- OEM Toyota - Are these Tokicos? Or something else? I assume these are good for my application, but want to see if there is a better option

Few questions:

- Anyone have experience with any of these three and what's your opinion?
- Any other suggestions?
- Assume these wouldn't need custom valving on a stock vehicle?
- Where would you order from?
- Additional parts needed at the same time? (bushings, cushion, retainer or reuse?)
- Springs? Any reason to change or are these typically not replaced?

Thanks in advance.

 

[AimCOtaco]

Best shock for you is the OEM stocker, great ride, great life, great price. Pretty common conclusion around here is stock is best for comfort at stock heights and low lifts. Not sure if you get all the rubber bits with the OEM's but a good parts guy will be able to tell you.

Search around here as there are a few great places to by OEM parts at discounted prices depending on where you're located.

 

[re_guderian]

Best shock for you is the OEM stocker, great ride, great life, great price. Pretty common conclusion around here is stock is best for comfort at stock heights and low lifts. Not sure if you get all the rubber bits with the OEM's but a good parts guy will be able to tell you.

Search around here as there are a few great places to by OEM parts at discounted prices depending on where you're located.

^^^ This. From the right location, CDan, Beno, or Camelback Toyota, you can get a full set of OEM for around $120. They come with new lower bushing and new upper rubber bushings, but NOT any of the metal washers on top of each front and rear shocks, so keep those for re-use. They also come with new top nuts. Decent ride, great price, 'nuf said...

 

[krice118]

If I get OME torsion bars, 30mm spacer with 865s can I run stock shocks? Looking to get around 2in lift

 

[re_guderian]

If I get OME torsion bars, 30mm spacer with 865s can I run stock shocks? Looking to get around 2in lift

You might be OK, but the OEM shocks might limit a small amount of down travel and you wouldn't realize all of the rear droop that you're enabling with that spring/spacer combination. Though maybe not? The 865 spring is actually shorter than the OEM one when uncompressed so it won't droop as much when unloaded as an OEM one would, so maybe it'd be OK. Can't remember what the uncompressed spring length difference is.

I actually am running 865's (no spacer) and OEM shocks on my 2000 right now. I like it. 865's alone should get you close to 2" of lift, especially if your OEM ones are saggy.

Also, are you going to add any weight to either the front or the rear? If so, I don't think the OEM's would be your best bet. If not, I still don't think the OEM shock paired with the stiffer t-bar up front would be a good match. If you're not going to add a front bumper/winch, I'd just crank the OEM t-bars and stick with the OEM shocks. Travel unaffected up front by t-bar unless you change out UCA, so OEM shock wouldn't limit it.

 

[Slickspawn]

I have icon remote reservoirs on my stock height 100. With SPC upper arms...not sure why I pulled the trigger but they're on and I love them.

 

[smokewrench]

I actually am running 865's (no spacer) and OEM shocks on my 2000 right now. I like it. 865's alone should get you close to 2" of lift, especially if your OEM ones are saggy.

Also, are you going to add any weight to either the front or the rear? If so, I don't think the OEM's would be your best bet. If not, I still don't think the OEM shock paired with the stiffer t-bar up front would be a good match. If you're not going to add a front bumper/winch, I'd just crank the OEM t-bars and stick with the OEM shocks. Travel unaffected up front by t-bar unless you change out UCA, so OEM shock wouldn't limit it.

This is good to know. I have 865's in the rear of mine with OME shocks, and the ride does not work for my setup. I was considering going back to OEM shocks, but wasn't sure if they would cut it with the 865's.

 

[Norcalfamily]

OEM works for me.

 

[Bama80]

In a very similar boat as the OP in regards to setup and use, however I'm looking for shocks that will firm up the suspension to keep it from dipping and diving in the corners. Looking for a "sportier" feel to the truck when it's on the road. Bilsteins seem to be a common answer here but some comments make it seem like they are almost too jarring. Some descriptions liken them to the feel of a sports car set up that rebounds every small bump in the road. Can anyone speak to this? I can see where this might be an issue since there is little room for them to work with the stock tbars cranked.
I like the price point of the billys but am willing to spend more (though can't quite justify the Icons) if it means much better ride quality. Just bought the truck with 150k and I'm assuming it has the original shocks so I don't know how much better new factory ones would be. OME, Fox, Ironman? Any that I am missing? Thanks for any and all input, old threads have been invaluable to make the 80 to 100 transition a smooth one.

 

[yotasavg]

I'm in the same boat now. Went offloading yesterday and realized I need new shocks badly. The choices are killing me... I'd like to go OEM, but I'd also like to get some spacers in the rear and crank the stock tbars a bit so not sure if some longer OME's would be more ideal... what to do, what to do...

 

[chuckscap]

I'm about to do the 1.5 OME lift and was thinking of using OEM shocks too. Same question love to hear from someone who has done it, pros/cons.

 

[Ali FJ80]

I am running new OEM shocks with 30mm spacer in the back and torsions turned up. Was actually really comfortable and handled fine. After adding a bumper the ride degraded a bit. So if your not adding weight OEM shocks lifted 1.5" works fine. Adding weight seems to be an issue. Picked up a set of ironman foam cell I need to install and hoping that will get me back to smooth.

 

[yotasavg]

I am running new OEM shocks with 30mm spacer in the back and torsional turned up. Was actually really comfortable and handled fine. After adding a bumper the Ride degraded a bit. So if your not adding weight OEM shocks lifted 1.5" works fine. Adding weight seems to be an issue. Picked up a set of ironman foam cell I need to install and hoping that will get me back to smooth.

Nice that's great to hear! Thanks for chiming in!

 

[Sandroad]

Has anyone installed the Ironman Foam Cell shocks themselves and run into any issues on a stock height and stock suspension truck. Thanks!

 

[crimsonaudio]

I am running new OEM shocks with 30mm spacer in the back and torsions turned up. Was actually really comfortable and handled fine. After adding a bumper the ride degraded a bit. So if your not adding weight OEM shocks lifted 1.5" works fine. Adding weight seems to be an issue. Picked up a set of ironman foam cell I need to install and hoping that will get me back to smooth.

Let us know how that goes - my lifted OEM shocks are kinda rough now after hanging a Slee Blueberry and a 12k winch up front.

 

[Ali FJ80]

Has anyone installed the Ironman Foam Cell shocks themselves and run into any issues on a stock height and stock suspension truck. Thanks!

I put some on myself on stock springs out back with 30mm spacers and just torsion bars adjusted to bring the front up about the same and all went on easy so don't see why stock height would be an issue.

Let us know how that goes - my lifted OEM shocks are kinda rough now after hanging a Slee Blueberry and a 12k winch up front.

Actually did put them on not too long after that post and they have worked out very well and ride relatively smooth.

 

[crimsonaudio]

Actually did put them on not too long after that post and they have worked out very well and ride relatively smooth.

Smoother than the OEM with the TBs cranked and the extra front end weight? My LC is currently riding like a TRUCK, which is fine, but my wife's GX460 is SOOOOOO much smoother, I'd like to get a little of that ride quality...

 

[Ali FJ80]

Yeah, my OEM shocks were no longer smooth with the bumper/sliders over rough terrain or pot holes/bumps. Was getting that jarring feeling. The ironman shocks took the ride back to smooth. There was a washboard dirt road I had to take a few times and did it with OEM and then foam cells and its was night and day. It still feels rough compared to our lx but a lot better than stock shocks.

 

[Kofoed]

From your description of the intended use, the stock shocks are for you. Hands down.

You asked for opinions of people who have used the three options.

I ran the stock shocks that came with the vehicle when I bought it 1.5 years ago. The fronts were pretty worn and chatter bumps, whoops, big hits were too much for them.

 

[tbuck]

Since there's an active thread, I'll pile on ...

Assuming I decide to pull the AHC system from my LX, I'll be replacing with stock stuff. Not interested in a lift at this time.

Searches show I'll need to replace the torsion bars also. Correct?