I have an '88 FJ62 with 228K. The suspension seems to be in good condition but the springs appear to be somewhat flat. I don't intead to do any serious offroading just haul my dogs and hunt. Can I get by with just replacing the spings and shocks (along with any worn bushings)? If so, any suggestions on what to use? Thanks in advance.
Springs
- Thread starter yellow dog 62
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First do a Search. You'll be reading for weeks.
Then go buy some new shocks and drive it till it drops or till you start having bottom out or load carrying problems. Use the saved $ to buy canvas for the seats (you did say "dogs" didn't you?) and maybe pay for 5 years of hunting trips too (with the money saved)
Then go buy some new shocks and drive it till it drops or till you start having bottom out or load carrying problems. Use the saved $ to buy canvas for the seats (you did say "dogs" didn't you?) and maybe pay for 5 years of hunting trips too (with the money saved)
What High D. said:
New shocks might be just the thing (and the cheapest). You might try a longer set of shackles in the rear. Next to try would be add-a-leafs, but by then you may as well just re-spring...
There's helper springs, but that's mostly a band-aid...
New shocks might be just the thing (and the cheapest). You might try a longer set of shackles in the rear. Next to try would be add-a-leafs, but by then you may as well just re-spring...
There's helper springs, but that's mostly a band-aid...
If you had a 60, we'd all be telling you to replace the springs for sure, since they are notorious for sagging. The 62's have a stouter springpack, and aren't really known for sagging - but could happen of course.
If it were me, I'd replace the shocks first (all around). Then drive it for awhile, assess the ride, compare to my needs. If some enhancement is still desired, installing a set of long (don't get the short) add-a-leafs isn't too hard, and the parts are cheap. But, I bet with new shocks you'll be really happy. OEM shocks are a killer deal by the way....
If it were me, I'd replace the shocks first (all around). Then drive it for awhile, assess the ride, compare to my needs. If some enhancement is still desired, installing a set of long (don't get the short) add-a-leafs isn't too hard, and the parts are cheap. But, I bet with new shocks you'll be really happy. OEM shocks are a killer deal by the way....
One more tidbit...
Leafs are surprisingly senitive to binding spring pins in the shackles or the frame perch. New (especially greasable) spring bushings may help your suspension "spring back" a little on it's own.
A couple years ago I came home from a 3K+ mile road trip, pulling a pop-up trailer the whole way. Even after removing the trailer and emptying the rig it sat low in the back. I figured my Alcans had finally started to sag. Next day I greased the spring pins, jumped on the rear bumper a couple times and the truck came back up to it's normal height.
Leafs are surprisingly senitive to binding spring pins in the shackles or the frame perch. New (especially greasable) spring bushings may help your suspension "spring back" a little on it's own.
A couple years ago I came home from a 3K+ mile road trip, pulling a pop-up trailer the whole way. Even after removing the trailer and emptying the rig it sat low in the back. I figured my Alcans had finally started to sag. Next day I greased the spring pins, jumped on the rear bumper a couple times and the truck came back up to it's normal height.
- Thread starter
- #6
Great info guys. Need to keep the labs happy you know. So, it looks like stock shocks and greasable spring bushings. Any recommended sources for these?
Cruiser Dan (aka c-dan)... see the vendors section ... can hook you up with 62 shocks or anything else OEM toyota you may need. He offers a great discount over what you'll get locally, even with shipping costs. I think when I ordered 62 shocks they were under 100 bucks for all four. A bargain.
New spring bushings can be found at Man-A-Fre and elsewhere (c-dan will have new stock ones for a couple bucks a piece). I'm not 100% sure how new greaseable bushings/shackles would work with stock springs, though. Anyone running this setup? If you're going to do that much work (removing the springs for the bushings/ shackles) I would almost think it would be worth it to replace the leaf springs with new ones. Just not a very cheap option...
Change the shocks out before you do anything else. It will take you about an hour and it's easily done with simple tools. After you can judge if you need to do any more dramatic or costly changes/upgrades.
New spring bushings can be found at Man-A-Fre and elsewhere (c-dan will have new stock ones for a couple bucks a piece). I'm not 100% sure how new greaseable bushings/shackles would work with stock springs, though. Anyone running this setup? If you're going to do that much work (removing the springs for the bushings/ shackles) I would almost think it would be worth it to replace the leaf springs with new ones. Just not a very cheap option...
Change the shocks out before you do anything else. It will take you about an hour and it's easily done with simple tools. After you can judge if you need to do any more dramatic or costly changes/upgrades.
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I'm running greasable pins and shackles, with new shocks (new from C-Dan), and the original springs -- and the ride is a noticable improvement. But it might be all from the new shocks.
After doing all the work, I wondered if I should have gotten new spprings too, but they broke the budget.
After doing all the work, I wondered if I should have gotten new spprings too, but they broke the budget.
- Thread starter
- #11
You guys are going to make owning this 62 alot of fun. Thanks