Shocks & Springs

[PJHunter]

Hi folks,

what are the dangers of having standard length shocks with springs that'll increase the ride height of my 70 by about 40mm?

I want to try some Rancho shocks but they state they'll give 0mm lift. However, the heavy duty springs from Dobinsons will apparently life my vehicle by 40mm. Hence my question above.

If it's not a good idea to have shocks that are standard length with springs that'll give a lift... Dobinson's do sell 'extra long' shocks with their 3" lift. I don't want a 3" lift though... so is it better to have 'extra long' shocks or standard length shocks with springs that'll give a lift of around 1 1/2" ?

thanks for your help people.

 

[Stone]

A 40mm lift is very mild...I would think that any Rancho shock listed for your vehicle would be able to handle a 1.5" lift? Just guessing though.

My question would be, "why Rancho?" Why not better shocks like Bilsteins?

 

[roscoFJ73]

PJ I think youll be ok with the shocks you got for a 1/1/2 inch lift but rember they will be close to their maximum.
I would leave it till you get the springs and check the articulation then.

Your 70 will probably come up a lot higher. Dobinsons advertise a minimum lift above the factory height. By now youR old springs may have sagged an inch,which should be added to the 1 1/2 inches.
However if you have factory shocks they should sill be ok

 

[crushers]

i like rancho shocks they have served me well over the years...
the only down side of running stock shocks with lift springs in the possibility of reduce downward travel due to shock topping out...
i am running stock shocks on Bernis bush truck with a 2" lift and am not worried at all...
not saying it is right, just what i am doing...
cheers

 

[PJHunter]

Hello all,

many thanks for your answers.

Stone - why Rancho's? I thought they were a good shock. I didn't think they'd be a bad decision. On my Range Rover I had de Carbon shocks that were a mono tube and I thought [due to marketing] that a tripple tube shock would potentially be better. Why no Bilsteins? I didn't think they did shocks for a KZJ70 LandCruiser II vehicle? Do they do standard and/or lifted shocks?

RoscoFJ73 - so do you think the 40mm lift will be a bit of marketing with the reality being perhaps more like a 15mm lift above what the vehicle originally left the factory with? Also... aren't you running Dobinson's equipment on your vehicle? Are you running their shocks and springs or just their springs? I am wanting to replace both shocks and springs really for safety sake as they've done the best part over 120,000 miles now and I figure it's time to give the ol' girl a makeover - she's in the bodyshop now as i write this.

Question to all - if the only concern of running a slightly shorter shock than springs is the fact that it might top out on an axle articulation test, would it be ok then to right a slightly longer shock than the lift the springs quote?

 

[crushers]

or run a limiting strap...

 

[PJHunter]

or run a limiting strap...

I don't understand this. What do you mean by this?

 

[crushers]

in some applications it is a good idea to run a limiting strap from the top of the shock to the bottom mount, it should be about 1/2" shorter than the total extended length of the shock, this prevents the shock from topping out or over extending.
you can use strap material, chain (not recommended in my books) cable. the wieght that the strap will hold is quite small, about 300 lbs so it doesn't need to be that beefy.
cheers

 

[PJHunter]

so you'd recommend this if the shocks are shorter than the springs?

What is your opinion then on running shocks that are longer than the springs?

 

[crushers]

longer shock is a good idea in my books. i usually run about 2" longer than full droop of the suspension.
seems to work for me...
cheers

 

[TFS55]

why dont you go for a full OME set-up on your bundera/LCII?

have installed a lot and all the customers are happy witht he set-up. Dobinsons are way too soft you need hard shocks so that it would not sway during turns.

 

[crushers]

got a price on the ome?

 

[wesintl]

I would not run shocks that are too short for leafs. I've seen shocks that are too short installed on a 60 and ruined the shock mounts on the frame. In this case the topping out pushed them up through shock mount. I think he ended up cutting them off and having to put on ford towers. I can't remeber if it destroyed the shock too.

 

[PJHunter]

having looked around I think I might try full Ironman Suspension just because they appear to be more reasonably priced. Anyone had experiences with this manufacturer?

 

[PJHunter]

btw.... this is my vehicle that the suspension is to be fitted too. I'm well chuffed as it's just come out of the body shop. It went in looking partially like a hand drawn straight line [all over the place] and it's come out ok in my books!