Skyjacker 4" kit with shocks premeasured? (1 Viewer)

[pc4400]

Hi everybody,

I just got off the phone with 4wheelparts. They have a skyjacker 4" kit with either nitro or hydro shocks. I asked him if they have choices in shock lengths but he said skyjacker has premeasured everything and the shocks are made for this kit. But that goes against what Ive read, and was Downey says. Downey insists that I premeasure and choose between two different shock sizes. Should I trust Skyjacker's measurements? Or should I forget Skyjacker and grab the Downey 4" kit? Regarding the others (HFS, SOR, etc), they are a little out of my price range, besides I prefer the slightly softer ride of the skyjacker or the downey.

Also, many years ago my dad installed a heav heavy duty 2nd fuel tank in the rear of the fj40. Since I dont use it, should I remove it to curb any eventual sagging in the rear springs? I would leave it on at least for about 6 months with the new lift kit to help break it in though.

Thanks.

 

[John Smith]

I bought whatever Skyjacker shock that Skyjacker specified for the 4" lift kit and they were too short with extended shackles. I would buy shocks after flexing out the truck with no shocks and measuring.

Unless you have a bunch of weight in the rear there is nothing soft about the Skyjacker 4" ride.

 

[pc4400]

I bought whatever Skyjacker shock that Skyjacker specified for the 4" lift kit and they were too short with extended shackles. I would buy shocks after flexing out the truck with no shocks and measuring.

Yikes! Thats what I was afraid of. Yeah, I'll flex then buy shocks that are correct then, thanks.

Unless you have a bunch of weight in the rear there is nothing soft about the Skyjacker 4" ride.

Yours is not soft? Are you hardtop or soft top?
I'll keep the 2nd tank installed for now, as well as the spare, and of course the hard top.

thanks for the info

 

[tucker74]

I've got the 4" Skyjacker kit and mine flexes like a bandit, as long as you don't alter their setup you'll be fine. If you go with extended shackles, you'd obviously need longer shocks ...

Tucker

 

[John Smith]

Yikes! Thats what I was afraid of. Yeah, I'll flex then buy shocks that are correct then, thanks.




Yours is not soft? Are you hardtop or soft top?
I'll keep the 2nd tank installed for now, as well as the spare, and of course the hard top.

thanks for the info

I was not happy with the ride unless I was packed for wheeling with a lot of weight in the back. Soft top or hardtop I found the ride to be harsh unless I carried additional weight in the back.

 

[pc4400]

Arn't the shackles that come with the kit extended since they are longer than stock?

Or am I misinformed?

 

[tucker74]

I was not happy with the ride unless I was packed for wheeling with a lot of weight in the back. Soft top or hardtop I found the ride to be harsh unless I carried additional weight in the back.

Mine were really stiff as well until I broke them in, leaving the truck parked in a ditch (or ramps) fully articulated in opposite directions for a couple of hours each way The shackles that come with the kit are not extended ...

Tucker

 

[pc4400]

I see a difference in opinions, maybe some of you are nitro and the others are using hydro shocks. Wouldn't the nitro shocks result in a stiffer ride as well?

 

[mminter1973]

I see a difference in opinions, maybe some of you are nitro and the others are using hydro shocks. Wouldn't the nitro shocks result in a stiffer ride as well?

Forget the nitro, they will be rough. The skyjacker is a good lift you just have to endure the break in.

 

[Cruiser Cruisin]

I agree, They are nice springs once you get some trail time on them.

 

[74fjsemistock]

I have the 4" Skyjacker and it is stiff.I run a soft top in winter.It is getting softer now and I am going to install these heavy duty shackles that are 1 1/2" longer than stock.This will mean staying topless as this thing already brushes the weatherstrip as I pull in the garage.Airing the tires up and down to clear is going to be a PITA so I'm going to install the Warn Power Plant and have the air nice and handy.Now I hear I need to get longer shocks! When is this madness going to end?

 

[pc4400]

... this thing already brushes the weatherstrip as I pull in the garage.Airing the tires up and down to clear is going to be a PITA so I'm going to install the Warn Power Plant and have the air nice and handy....

You read my mind! Im planning the same thing. I'll have my air compressor near the garage door and will have to use it everytime I want in/out of the garage.

 

[74fjsemistock]

Yeah? My buddy paid like 1800.00 for the 9500lb unit.Bolted it to the front of his rockcrawler and was trying to figure a way to reconfigure it to use in an unusual way(he's got airbags on the rear)anyhow,looks like it won't work for his needs so I'm snatching it up for 1100.00 and hanging out in his shop while we fab a new bumper/stinger to mount it to!Probably Sunday since Sat. is already planned for a day of crawling at Grand Lake.For the record,That lift requires 1 1/2" longer than stock shackles and will actually raise the rig by 1".This comes from the rockcrawling Gods @Custom Offroad Equipment C.O.R.E. where I purchased only the shackles as the lift came off a donor rig that I saved from a life of pure misery down in Texas.No Cruiser deserves to die down there!!!

 

[pc4400]

Hi everybody,
Just wanted to let you know I've decided on get the OME 2.5" se from man-a-fre this week. I was really interestd in downeys setup but they dropped the ball. They have everything but their "special" bushings and have been stalling for a while. So OME it is .

Now Im thinking OME "soft" system since I want a cushy ride. But maybe I should get the OME "heavy" system since Im running hardtop, sparetire, aux tank and will eventually get a heavier rear bumper. What do you think; heavy or soft?

 

[Downey]

Skyjacker's and Downey's are the softest on the planet, ours just have a couple extra features the Skyjackers are missing. Overly stiff shocks is always 1,000% the problem, you need the softest shocks known to mankind!!!, these would be Bilstein 5100 series or Doetsch-tech MV-12's. And here's how to get the right length:
Don't buy shocks until you have installed the springs, and any other suspension device you are adding. Jack up vehicle frame until tires are off the ground (at full droop). Measure from top shock mounting pin to bottom pin. Now order shocks with an extended lenght about 1" longer than your measurement.
THERE IS NO OTHER RIGHT WAY TO DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[landcrusher909]

bushings

Skyjacker's and Downey's are the softest on the planet, ours just have a couple extra features the Skyjackers are missing. Overly stiff shocks is always 1,000% the problem, you need the softest shocks known to mankind!!!, these would be Bilstein 5100 series or Doetsch-tech MV-12's. And here's how to get the right length:
Don't buy shocks until you have installed the springs, and any other suspension device you are adding. Jack up vehicle frame until tires are off the ground (at full droop). Measure from top shock mounting pin to bottom pin. Now order shocks with an extended lenght about 1" longer than your measurement.
THERE IS NO OTHER RIGHT WAY TO DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did The Bushings Come In Yet ? I need to drive out there Monday and my cruiser Going Thanks and sorry to hijack your Thread

 

[pc4400]

Did The Bushings Come In Yet ? I need to drive out there Monday and my cruiser Going Thanks and sorry to hijack your Thread

serious! I really want the downey setup, so get the busings in!! . Downey is like 5 minuts from me, man-a-fre is like an hour. I would much rather pick up the the downey-soft lift and I have money in hand.