Reversing SOA lift to get back to stock/OME lift?

[Tonto18]

Hi all,

I’m a proud but very green new FJ62 owner.

Good condition in general but SOA lift is too high for my liking. Left front fender sits at about 42 in, right front at about 44. Rear sits a few inches lower (springs almost totally flat).

Custom shock towers were added by prior owner. Pictures below.

This may be impossible to address without seeing it in person, but would appreciate thoughts on taking this back to stock in order to go with an OME 2.5 lift plus perhaps a shackle kit to get to 4 inch. Right now the 7-8+ in lift is too high.

And thank you @orangefj45 and @cruiserfj45 also for ongoing help and guidance!

 

[FJACS]

That looks fairly well done. I’d leave it alone.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Looks easy to reverse since the spring perches are still there.

You'll need stock steering arms and the OME kit. Shocks I'll bet you can figure out-and you will likely need to fabricate new mounts.

It is hard to tell, but from the pics, it looks like they used an FJ60 axle, not an FJ62 axle. I wonder why?

A 2.5 inch lift makes for a much better daily driver. SOA is too big for a daily driver. (Just my unpopular opinion)

One other thing-if a cut and turn was done, you will likely need a different front axle housing.

 

[bridges]

You can probably find someone wanting to go SOA and swap axles, springs and steering with them.

 

[Tonto18]

Looks easy to reverse since the spring perches are still there.

You'll need stock steering arms and the OME kit. Shocks I'll bet you can figure out-and you will likely need to fabricate new mounts.

It is hard to tell, but from the pics, it looks like they used an FJ60 axle, not an FJ62 axle. I wonder why?

A 2.5 inch lift makes for a much better daily driver. SOA is too big for a daily driver. (Just my unpopular opinion)

One other thing-if a cut and turn was done, you will likely need a different front axle housing.

Looks easy to reverse since the spring perches are still there.

You'll need stock steering arms and the OME kit. Shocks I'll bet you can figure out-and you will likely need to fabricate new mounts.

It is hard to tell, but from the pics, it looks like they used an FJ60 axle, not an FJ62 axle. I wonder why?

A 2.5 inch lift makes for a much better daily driver. SOA is too big for a daily driver. (Just my unpopular opinion)

One other thing-if a cut and turn was done, you will likely need a different front axle housing.

You can probably find someone wanting to go SOA and swap axles, springs and steering with them.

You can probably find someone wanting to go SOA and swap axles, springs and steering with them.

That would be great. I’m in Central California it this could work for you.

 

[Randy88FJ62]

Tonto,
I have the original steering saved and it has been sitting in my garage since I went SOA if you end up needing it. I'm in SCV south of the grapevine.

The other option not mentioned is you can french the spring hangers into the frame. It's been documented on here. It gives you the clearance of a SOA at a lower overall height. Spring under on these trucks makes me a sad panda but understandable for those daily driving these gas hogs. (Buy a second car with good mpg's and it pays for itself!)

The bump stops have not been lengthened. The springs are probably toast regardless of how you end up with your suspension. Running with no bump stops is not good. Ask me how I know...

The front axle is off as 60 as mentioned above. You can tell since there is no truss on the longer driver's side. The upper front shock mounts look well done and beefier than the ford towers I welded on. I am going to say a cut and turn was not done (my personal guess).

 

[Randy88FJ62]

The middle picture you posted; Is the custom ran brake line bolted or mounted to the axle? The hard line looks like it's running loose. If that is the case that needs to be solved immediately since it's a major safety issue. Ask me how I know...

post some different angles of the front and rear. I like seeing what others have done to SOA their rigs.

 

[Tonto18]

Appreciate all the info, gents.

Any clear negatives to the fj60 axle having been swapped in?

It will hopefully be my daily driver but perhaps there’s other ways of dropping it down a bit without going as far as getting back to stock? Do want to be economical but also want it to be solid.

Springs definitely worn.

 

[Tonto18]

Don’t know about the brake like. Will check it out!

 

[Randy88FJ62]

Nothing wrong with the 60 front axle. The truss on the 62 axle doesn't offer amazing magical performance wheeling.

Kavik is the one who frenched the SOA hangers in to get the lift tuned lower. His pics aren't linked at the moment
Kavik's SOA

 

[Tonto18]

Ok good.

Sorry for stupid questions, but assume this means an axle seal job would require 60 seals? Or are they the same? One birf has a mild leak.

 

[Randy88FJ62]

They are the same front axles other than the truss. Same seals, same rebuild kits, same bearings, etc.

Buy the upgraded marlin crawler seals. Many of the landcruiser vendors stock them.

 

[Tonto18]

They are the same front axles other than the truss. Same seals, same rebuild kits, same bearings, etc.

Buy the upgraded marlin crawler seals. Many of the landcruiser vendors stock them.

Thank you! Will do

 

[CenTXFJ60]

You can probably find someone wanting to go SOA and swap axles, springs and steering with them.

My son (@mcguirejohnson ) did this. Was a win win as another mudder got a nice SOA set and McGuire had a bolt in fix vs. redoing all the perches and brackets. Not sure of your intentions but my belief is mods are awesome (and fun to do) but stock set ups (my opinion) will retain a better value long term. Good luck in what ever direction you go.

 

[Tonto18]

Thank you, CenTX! Not sure how it all will play out but ready for the adventure. Getting the frame squared up.

 

[Tonto18]

Thank you, CenTX! Not sure how it all will play out but ready for the adventure. Getting the frame squared up.

And will go from there!

 

[Tonto18]

Frame is a bit out of square in three spots, and front axel housing apparently slightly bent causing left front wheel to lean inward. Reputable frame shop quoted about $1200 to pull frame and axel housing square, and to square up one of the front leaf spring perches while they are in there.

First question: Does all of this sound reasonable to you all?

Second question: Would it make sense to have the shop drop in new stock leaf springs while they are at it? I'd ask them to pull the old saggy springs, and keep the add-a-leaf out of the front packs, and remove the shim (or whatever the block that adds lift) to the rear springs. As noted above, rear springs are essentially totally flat, and truck rear sits 2-3 inches lower than front. Thought is that all of this might bring the lift down a bit and level it out.

Third question: If the answer is have the shop do the springs, what stock spring make would you all suggest? This is going to be DD and weekend warrior, family camping mobile, not a hardcore offroad rig.

Thank you all!

 

[Cruiserdrew]

First question: Does all of this sound reasonable to you all?

Sounds plausible. It also sounds like the truck was in a wreck, tweaking the frame and bending the original front axle and thus the swap.

If it were me, I would let them straighten the frame, and find a different front axle housing that isn't bent. You could do the axle swap yourself pretty easily and learn how your front end goes together at the same time.

With regards to a suspension kit, I'd likely recommend something like an OME kit. It will provide a slight lift, better load carrying and will eliminate the low in the back pre-runner look.

 

[Tonto18]

Thanks for this.

Already has an SOA lift, and it's plenty for me. So, would rather go stock than add to the lift even more.

 

[White Stripe]

A route that you might consider is having deaver or alcan make you some stock springs but with reverse eyes. The reverse eyes should lower it to around 4" of lift overall while still being soa. If you modify the spring perches so that they mount the spring closer to the axle housing then that should shave off almost another inch of height. Spring perches are cheap and easy to modify. So those 2 things combined should bring you to less than 4" of lift overall and still be soa.