So I want to lower my FJ60...

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pimpm3

10 Year
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I figured that would get your attention.;)

I bought my Cruiser approximatly a year ago and the slight forward rake has always bugged me. It looks like the previous owner had a thing for the pre-runner look but it isn't my cup of tea. My question for the collective is what would be the easiest way to lower the front of my 60 an inch or two. I suppose the easy answer is just to put a spacer block in the back to level it that way, but that is kind of redneckish.

Is it possible to just remove a leaf or will that drop it to much?

The truck is a 1981 model and it has an OME spring over lift. It is sitting on a set of 35's at the moment. I have a Warn 9000 Winch that is in my garage waiting to be installed but I don't think that will drop the front enough....

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Try setting the winch (including te wire) on the front bumper and give it a look. If that's not enough you can remove a leaf from the front packs. I wouldn't add blocks to the rear cuz thts pretty hillbilly.

Truck looks really good though!
 
robustbambi said:
Try setting the winch (including te wire) on the front bumper and give it a look. If that's not enough you can remove a leaf from the front packs. I wouldn't add blocks to the rear cuz thts pretty hillbilly.

Truck looks really good though!
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Thanks I am really happy with it.

I agree with you about a block in the back and that is not the path I want to take, but my buddies keep telling me that would be the easiest solution. Lowering the front a bit would help the pinion angle and make it easier for my wife (5'4") to get into the damn thing.
 
The shorter the leaf the stiffer it will be, so those will have the most effect on ride height.
Be careful about removing a leaf that then allows the spring to invert it's arch and kink on the spring perch.
 
Yeah pull the second shortest leaf in the front pack, I run 37s and have 7" less lift than you.
 
Agreed on the winch and potentially pulling a leaf from the front. The smallest (bottom) leaf would be where I'd start, for only a moderate change in ride height.

Question, though; is there a traction bar in back? I ask because part of the problem could potentially be the rear packs sagging prematurely from being used in an SOA setup without anything to stop axle twist.

If you want to get the back end up to level with the front, an alternate option would be extended shackles in back. They're a lot better for the springs and ride quality than blocks, by a long shot, and even good ones are pretty cheap. That said, it wouldn't be a good idea if your rear shackle angle is already ideal (or close to it).

There are also OME add-a-leafs that you could add to the rear pack, but they're going to definitely affect ride quality, so, unless it feels too soft for you (or you plan on putting a lot of weight in back), I don't recommend it.
 
I wouldn't mess with the back, he's got a perfect shackle back there already.

It looks like the second smallest leaf in the front pack may be an AAL to begin with.

Good looking rig.
 
90FJ said:
I wouldn't mess with the back, he's got a perfect shackle back there already.

It looks like the second smallest leaf in the front pack may be an AAL to begin with.

Good looking rig.
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How can you tell that it is an add a leaf? Is there more leaves then one would normally find in an OME setup? It does appear to be a slightly different color.

I will put the winch on the bumper and see how much that drops it down, before I pull the leaf packs apart. I was thinking of adding a deep cycle bettery up front in addition to my staring battery to run the winch off of which will probably drop it a little as well.
 
Would a smaller shackle work or would that change the shackle angle to the detriment of ride / cause binding?
 
There is a formula to determine the ideal compression shackle length and those look to be about right. I wouldn't mess with them. Besides an inch shorter shackle will only be, maybe, 1/2 lower ride height and could be less than that depending on how centered the axle is on that spring.
 
^please don't do this, I feel like you want to drop the front as that is what you asked and it makes the most sense.

Your rig is very tall as it is which brings COG, stability, handling, durability issues into the equation. Your rear shackle angle is perfect, you clear your 35s easy (which is the point of the lift right?), if anything the front shackle angle is too steep so removing the second smallest leaf of the front packs levels your rig, and helps your shackle angle which will give you a better ride, more articulation, slightly better COG etc. All at zero cost, rather than buying something to screw up the rear.

Why anyone, anywhere, would keep advocating to lift the rear I have no idea.
 
Zack, you silly goof. Going SUA is not going to solve his problem.

I like the way you think though.
 
Show us a close up image of the rear shackles. In the one photo it sure looks like the angle is radically different (flatter) than the fronts. Doesn't look right to me. I think they're supposed to look like this. Of course, this one is extended with wheel drop, but...

cruiser with anti inversion shackle.webp
 
89GASHOG said:
Show us a close up image of the rear shackles. In the one photo it sure looks like the angle is radically different (flatter) than the fronts. Doesn't look right to me. I think they're supposed to look like this. Of course, this one is extended with wheel drop, but...
Click to expand...

shackles should typically be around 45 degrees depending on the arch of your springs.

his fronts are tolerable but should look more like his rears.

they should definitely not be inverted like the ones in your pic.
 
I've never seen a 45 degree angle with OME lift springs, and not sure it makes too much difference what the angle is, provided it isn't 90 degrees or more. But since the front and rears are different, it makes me wonder "why?", and also if this difference could be responsible for the added height in front. Perhaps the front springs have more arch. Any chance the rears aren't OME? But yeah, of course lowering the front is the best bet. Maybe you could ditch the OME fronts and use stock springs SOA. Good luck with your choice, OP, and keep us posted.
Me, I'd take pity on the little woman and consider Zach's suggestion.:D Besides, no need for a radical lift in Florida-right?
 
Shackle angle definitely matters, you want your shackle to flatten out right before your spring does. This provides maximum travel and a much better ride than a more vertical shackle. That said, you should do whatever makes you happy. I'm just trying to give the OP good advice, from experience.

Far better to sell it and buy a stock rig than reverse an SOA and buy new tires.
 
Thanks for all of the helpful posts everyone. I will try to mock up the winch and the second deep-cell battery on the truck this week. Maybe 130lbs of winch and battery will drop down the front enough to level the truck. If not the second leaf is coming out...
 
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It looks like there may be an add a leaf in the front. If they are OMEs, it should sit higher in the rear, not the front. Anyway, all OME leafs have plastic pads under the ends except the military wrap (second from the top) and the very bottom one on the front springs. If you have one in the pack that does not match that description, it would be a good place to start.
 
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