Spring/shackle articulation test. (1 Viewer)

[Millardo]

I have done quite a bit of work to get these SOR Heavy Duty 2” over stock height springs to articulate. Here is a test I did with and without the ProComp Explorer ES 3000 shocks. My concern was/is that the stock shackles are too short. I like the ride height with the stock shackles.

Is the shackle angle okay, and is this decent flex.
I weight 230 lbs and I am bouncing up and down on the tow hitch.

33 x 9.5 on stock 15’s.

With shocks


Without shocks


https://youtube.com/shorts/kLxtx96lfjI?si=hY2TpMEPxKX-wuRO

 

[pb4ugo]

Your shackle angle looks great. You'll get more bounce and movement w/o shocks, because shocks dampen the movement. Yes, your shackles are probably to short. A good 4" lift needs longer ones. Usually they are longer than stk. If the spring were to max out(flatten) the stk shackle will prevent the spring to extend all the way and possibly bend the spring. A longer shackle will probably be more vertical.
It really depends how your going to use it.

 

[Millardo]

Your shackle angle looks great. You'll get more bounce and movement w/o shocks, because shocks dampen the movement. Yes, your shackles are probably to short. A good 4" lift needs longer ones. Usually they are longer than stk. If the spring were to max out(flatten) the stk shackle will prevent the spring to extend all the way and possibly bend the spring. A longer shackle will probably be more vertical.
It really depends how your going to use it.

The springs are 2” over stock…
The vehicle is used as a Sunday driver, driven 200 miles in the last 10yrs. My primary interest is softening the ride. If the shackles aren’t inhibiting spring flex, it’s probably a different shock I should consider.

Thoughts anyone?

 

[pb4ugo]

Your shackle angle is great for your purposes.

 

[Millardo]

Your shackle angle is great for your purposes.

Thanks! Now I just have to find a nice soft, forgiving shock.

 

[77mustard40]

As was discussed in your other thread, what’s your budget? It didn’t sound from the other discussion like there are many miles on this setup, leaf springs IMHO need to be flexed in order the settle in which could contribute to the firmness. For shocks there’s a broad range of options… City Racer has Bilsteins for a little over $100 a corner or you could probably find cheap Monroe’s at say NAPA vs. $600 a corner for Dobinsons adjustable MRA’s. You could also spend more for say Kings.

Bilstein Shocks for Land Cruiser FJ40 - With Lift

Set of 4 front and rear Bilstein B8 5125 shock absorbers for Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 with suspension lift. Factory shock mounting bolts are reused for installation. These shock absorbers offer Bilstein’s superior monotube gas pressure design for high driving dynamics and a perfect off-road...

www.cityracerllc.com

Dobinsons MRA59-A649 3-Way Adjustable Rear Shocks Pair for Toyota

Dobinsons MRA59-A649 3-way adjustable external reservoir shocks with high and low speed compression and rebound adjustment

exitoffroad.com

If you are looking for a really soft ride either work the suspension with some added weight or pull a middle spring from the spring pack. Without the top or gear in the back you’re most likely too light to generate a lot of natural articulation.

 

[dazerb]

That stiff ride is from stiff leaf springs IMHO.
I have med duty OME 2" lift which really took some flexing to get it "settled in". I am way too light in the back even with the top on.
I may be pulling a leaf before i change shocks as i believe that will soften that back end. Or get more gear .
Could also look at the newer parabolic springs - they seem legit. I want to try a set in the rear maybe. Wonder if i can drop them into my nice new greasable anti inversion shackles

 

[B y r o n]

Here is a good discussion on shocks.

 

[Millardo]

As was discussed in your other thread, what’s your budget? It didn’t sound from the other discussion like there are many miles on this setup, leaf springs IMHO need to be flexed in order the settle in which could contribute to the firmness. For shocks there’s a broad range of options… City Racer has Bilsteins for a little over $100 a corner or you could probably find cheap Monroe’s at say NAPA vs. $600 a corner for Dobinsons adjustable MRA’s. You could also spend more for say Kings.

Bilstein Shocks for Land Cruiser FJ40 - With Lift

Set of 4 front and rear Bilstein B8 5125 shock absorbers for Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 with suspension lift. Factory shock mounting bolts are reused for installation. These shock absorbers offer Bilstein’s superior monotube gas pressure design for high driving dynamics and a perfect off-road...

www.cityracerllc.com

Dobinsons MRA59-A649 3-Way Adjustable Rear Shocks Pair for Toyota

Dobinsons MRA59-A649 3-way adjustable external reservoir shocks with high and low speed compression and rebound adjustment

exitoffroad.com

If you are looking for a really soft ride either work the suspension with some added weight or pull a middle spring from the spring pack. Without the top or gear in the back you’re most likely too light to generate a lot of natural articulation.

Thank you for this, I checked out the shocks. I don’t know the answer to the budget question. Whatever it takes within reason has always been my motto.
I don’t see having this rig loaded with gear of any kind, or the top on. It’s biggest adventures are “Coffee and Car” get togethers, and car shows.

Leaning towards removing a rear leaf, then consider shocks from there.

Does this seem like a reasonable path?

 

[Millardo]

Here is a good discussion on shocks.

Very good, thank you for this.

 

[Millardo]

That stiff ride is from stiff leaf springs IMHO.
I have med duty OME 2" lift which really took some flexing to get it "settled in". I am way too light in the back even with the top on.
I may be pulling a leaf before i change shocks as i believe that will soften that back end. Or get more gear .
Could also look at the newer parabolic springs - they seem legit. I want to try a set in the rear maybe. Wonder if i can drop them into my nice new greasable anti inversion shackles

View attachment 3715944

View attachment 3715945

I like those shackles a lot. Can you post a link where you purchased? Are they stock length, and your height gain in the springs only?

I may consider pulling a leaf from the rear springs also, then a choose shock after I see how the pulled leaf affects the articulation.

 

[Millardo]

These SOR heavy duty springs only have 5 leafs in the rear and 6 leafs up front. They are thicker steel than the stock 6 leafs in the back and 7 up front…

Removing a rear leaf would leave just 4 leafs in the back. Removal of one leaves a fairly large gap in staggered leaf length, depending on which leaf I remove. It would be least visually “strange” to remove the shortest leaf, but would I get much benefit (articulation) from its removal?

In hindsight I wouldn’t have purchased these springs. But I installed them before the project spiraled into a body off restoration, before it became a Sunday driver.
No mud

 

[White Stripe]

How does it ride without shocks besides being bouncy? Is the ride softer? If not, then it's the springs. You can adjust spring ride by removing leafs or cutting leafs shorter except for the main leaf. Also loosening spring clamps may help slightly. Or just get some leafs that are softer. I've heard good things about dobinsons

 

[dazerb]

I like those shackles a lot. Can you post a link where you purchased? Are they stock length, and your height gain in the springs only?

I may consider pulling a leaf from the rear springs also, then a choose shock after I see how the pulled leaf affects the articulation.

These are the OME shackles that came with the 2" kit. Cruiser Outfitters.

 

[77mustard40]

These SOR heavy duty springs only have 5 leafs in the rear and 6 leafs up front. They are thicker steel than the stock 6 leafs in the back and 7 up front…

Removing a rear leaf would leave just 4 leafs in the back. Removal of one leaves a fairly large gap in staggered leaf length, depending on which leaf I remove. It would be least visually “strange” to remove the shortest leaf, but would I get much benefit (articulation) from its removal?

In hindsight I wouldn’t have purchased these springs. But I installed them before the project spiraled into a body off restoration, before it became a Sunday driver.
No mud

View attachment 3716253

Pull the middle leaf and see how it rides, don't worry about the appearance.

 

[dazerb]

I like those shackles a lot. Can you post a link where you purchased? Are they stock length, and your height gain in the springs only?

I may consider pulling a leaf from the rear springs also, then a choose shock after I see how the pulled leaf affects the articulation.

I think the lift comes from both- more arch and longer shackles.

I have the MEDIUM duty springs and they are very stiff...
They have softened after a few Flexy rides
And i would still consider a terrain tamer parabolic spring for rear. But may just pull a leaf.

 

[Millardo]

Watching videos on how to pull a leaf

 

[dazerb]

Watching videos on how to pull a leaf

Me too, lol
If i watch about 10, I'll see most of the mistakes.