Suspension Tensions - Please Help !

[Chaumpa]

Please cure my suspension tension. Im going crazy!!! I have read many of the posts (FAQs) here and on other forums and I am still undecided on the correct suspension for my vehicle. Any help would be greatly apprieciated.

I have a 82 FJ40 that is primarily used to drive on the sand for surfing. I live about 2 hours from the beach and really dont take the vehicle off road other than sand. I have an SLC soft top/doors and dont plan on putting the hard top on at all. Overall, Im just looking for a nice ride for the 2 hours (4 total) that I have to spend on the road. I know its not a BMW but it really shouldnt be that difficult/tiring to drive as it is now.

The vehicle came with an aftermarket shackle reversal kit with springs (4 inch lift). I removed the kit and put on a SOR 2.5 inch lift kit thinking it would improve the handling and lower the vehicle. The handling did improve but I believe that was mostly due to the fact that my existing bushings were shot. Overall, the ride did not improve. Oddly, the vehicle still appears to have a 4inch lift. I know that sounds odd but looking at all the pictures here and elsewhere it really stands tall. I dont care for a lift at all since I have to now climb all over the vehicle to put the surf boards on top. I would also like to get smaller tires but since its so tall that would just look silly.

I have spoken to SOR that have not offered too much assistance. They indicated that springs have to break in, give them some time. (Its been a year now and I know they arent going to soften THAT much)
They have mentioned that I have a soft top and that is making the vehicle ride stiff. (that may be true but I have loaded up the vehicle enough to match that wieght and no change in ride) The last thing they said was to spray wd40 on the springs. (I did that just as a joke, yeah, nothing changed)
So, in retrospect I think I just didnt do the research ahead of time and simply bought the wrong spring set for my ride. I dont blame SOR for this, just myself. (1000$ mistake...ouch!) :whoops:

So, I cant stand it anymore, I need a softer, more comfortable ride that doesnt give me a 4inch lift. It doesnt appear that no lift is possible for aftermarket kits. Rats.

I called CCOT and MAF and spoke to them about springs. MAF definitely offered the most help and tried to explain everything to me clearly. The guy mentioned to get either the OME dakkar springs or the Safari springs. For my application he thought the safari springs (light gauge) with OME shocks would be the best setup. 1.5 lift in the front. 2.25 in the back.

Before I go out and buy anything I would like some suggestions. I really only want to do this one more time. Again, getting the softest most comfortable ride possible. Thanks in advance everyone. This forum is really a great resource for finding information on FJ40s and others.

(Note: I know that the springs arent the only factor in a smooth ride. Center arm, steering stabalizer, etc... Those items have been serviced/replaced.)

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[greenfox]

I think your on the right track with the springs. I have bin swapping in and out springs for a couple of years trying to find the rite set up other than stock springs that work the best. I am on the fence with the OME springs, Just need to place the order.

 

[bsmith123]

springs

Add a leaf stiffens so you may be able to remove a leaf and get what you want. to break the springs in try loading it down with something heavy--sandbags etc

OME is known for a good ride especially the light duty

Also consider ALCAN --custom made springs to your requirements

Hope that helps

 

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

I'd suggest pulling a leaf from each spring pack. This will lessen the spring rate of the pack and allow the springs to break in much faster. May also lower the ride height of the vehicle a little bit.

If in a few years the springs sag too much you can simply re-install those leafs back intot he packs.

Good luck!

Alan

Please cure my suspension tension. Im going crazy!!! I have read many of the posts (FAQs) here and on other forums and I am still undecided on the correct suspension for my vehicle. Any help would be greatly apprieciated.

I have a 82 FJ40 that is primarily used to drive on the sand for surfing. I live about 2 hours from the beach and really dont take the vehicle off road other than sand. I have an SLC soft top/doors and dont plan on putting the hard top on at all. Overall, Im just looking for a nice ride for the 2 hours (4 total) that I have to spend on the road. I know its not a BMW but it really shouldnt be that difficult/tiring to drive as it is now.

The vehicle came with an aftermarket shackle reversal kit with springs (4 inch lift). I removed the kit and put on a SOR 2.5 inch lift kit thinking it would improve the handling and lower the vehicle. The handling did improve but I believe that was mostly due to the fact that my existing bushings were shot. Overall, the ride did not improve. Oddly, the vehicle still appears to have a 4inch lift. I know that sounds odd but looking at all the pictures here and elsewhere it really stands tall. I dont care for a lift at all since I have to now climb all over the vehicle to put the surf boards on top. I would also like to get smaller tires but since its so tall that would just look silly.

I have spoken to SOR that have not offered too much assistance. They indicated that springs have to break in, give them some time. (Its been a year now and I know they arent going to soften THAT much)
They have mentioned that I have a soft top and that is making the vehicle ride stiff. (that may be true but I have loaded up the vehicle enough to match that wieght and no change in ride) The last thing they said was to spray wd40 on the springs. (I did that just as a joke, yeah, nothing changed)
So, in retrospect I think I just didnt do the research ahead of time and simply bought the wrong spring set for my ride. I dont blame SOR for this, just myself. (1000$ mistake...ouch!) :whoops:

So, I cant stand it anymore, I need a softer, more comfortable ride that doesnt give me a 4inch lift. It doesnt appear that no lift is possible for aftermarket kits. Rats.

I called CCOT and MAF and spoke to them about springs. MAF definitely offered the most help and tried to explain everything to me clearly. The guy mentioned to get either the OME dakkar springs or the Safari springs. For my application he thought the safari springs (light gauge) with OME shocks would be the best setup. 1.5 lift in the front. 2.25 in the back.

Before I go out and buy anything I would like some suggestions. I really only want to do this one more time. Again, getting the softest most comfortable ride possible. Thanks in advance everyone. This forum is really a great resource for finding information on FJ40s and others.

(Note: I know that the springs arent the only factor in a smooth ride. Center arm, steering stabalizer, etc... Those items have been serviced/replaced.)

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[edhCO]

I like my Bilstein shocks and greasable shackle bolts + new bushings. much, much better

 

[Chaumpa]

I have actually put a few bags of water softening salt in the back (6 x 40lbs) and it didnt really effect the ride too much. When I stand on the side of the front bumper and jump up and down it only goes down an 1/8th - 1/4 of a inch max. I simply bought the wrong kind of springs but it would have been nice if SOR indicated that little bit of info. Not, "improved highway driving", which it obviously does not do.

Thanks for the info on the tire size. That makes sense.

So, this is really want baffels me. Here is a pic of a cruiser with a 2.5 lift. the link is http://ep.yimg.com/ip/I/coolfj40_2058_309345789.jpg

If you look at mine above they dont even look close to the same.

 

[Chaumpa]

I have entertained the idea of simply removing some springs. Unfortunatly that isnt something I can do myself and I feel that the cost/time alone would almost be the cost of a new setup. Especially if I had to do it more than once. (1 leaf spring...2 leaf springs?) It is also possible that I could sell my existing system on ebay and recoup some of the cost since its only a year or so old. Anyone interested?

Here are some pics. I measured the vehicle and it is 34.5 inches to the bottom of the front fender. Curious what others that have a 2.5 inch lift show?

 

[John Smith]

Those are great shackle angles. Perhaps you just don't like how a SUA FJ40 rides with no weight in it? Throw a few bags of concrete or something else heavy in the rear and report back on if you still feel it rides too much like a truck.

I would not go with a smaller tire size unless you are going to swap in a overdrive of some type. If you drive on the hwy at speed your motor will be screaming with something smaller than a 31".

 

[Chaumpa]

I have actually put a few bags of water softening salt in the back (6 x 40lbs) and it didnt really effect the ride too much. When I stand on the side of the front bumper and jump up and down it only goes down an 1/8th - 1/4 of a inch max. I simply bought the wrong kind of springs but it would have been nice if SOR indicated that little bit of info. Not, "improved highway driving", which it obviously does not do.

Thanks for the info on the tire size. That makes sense.

So, this is really want baffels me. Here is a pic of a cruiser with a 2.5 lift. the link is http://ep.yimg.com/ip/I/coolfj40_2058_309345789.jpg

If you look at mine above they dont even look close to the same.

 

[John Smith]

I bet you would love the ride of a SOA 40, too bad you would hate the height...

 

[fireflyr]

I bought the MAF 4" safari springs with OME shocks and believe me it isn't a soft ride. I hear the parabolic springs ride really nice, not sure who carries them.
Here's mine:

 

[Chaumpa]

Well, the MAF Safari 4inch lift springs are actually different than the 2.5 inch. The lift is actually done by the leaf springs and not extended shackles. Not sure if that is what causes your ride to not be as "Soft"?

Funny, your 4inch lift looks about the same as my 2.5 inch lift. Go figure eh? Still trying to figure out that enigma?!?! What DID I DO WRONG !

I know that OME sells "light guage" springs. The guy from MAF indicated the Safari 2.5 inch were actually a little softer. Now reading the post above, Im not so sure.

Still very very confused...

 

[sparkplug]

I have OME 4 inch springs with Nitro shocks, 2 1/2 inch SOR springs with Pro comp shocks, and ALCAN 4 inch springs with Bilstein shocks and all on 40 series.

My OME 4 inch lift is an OK ride and I can't complain.

My Sor lift is a very rough ride and I frequently put over 1000 lbs of S**t in the cruiser (it has been years and these springs are not going to soften up with time or extra weight). When not driving off-road but in heavily pot holed areas I always carry 150 lbs of sand bags on the front bumper and 150 lbs of sand in the back seat (this helps a lot). Also, this lift appears to be almost as high as my other two 4 inch lifts. I bought this kit knowing it would be rough and purchased it to be used as such.

The ALCAN is the best ride of the bunch. It is not only the Springs that are great for a soft ride but the Bilstein shocks make a great difference as well.

So you can try Bilstein shocks (not cheap), remove a leaf from your springs, or buy an new set of springs. There may be more options for you but that is all I can tell you with my limited knowledge.

 

[Chaumpa]

Nice to see Im not going completely crazy with my SOR 2.5 inch lift. I was like WTF, what did I do wrong to make it a 4inch lift?!?! Thanks for the clarification.

 

[77cruiser]

are your shackle bolts tightened to the right specs? if they are too tight that can make a difference.
I would say that Pro Comp shocks sort of suck and when I changed mine over to OME that helped. I have a heavy lift on my 40 so its still stiff but has great highway manners.


On my 62 I have 3.5" Alcans and I have to say they are incredibly soft, maybe too soft for what I want but probably along the lines of what you want.

Play with the shock/spring combos. I dont think you can go wrong with Bilstein or OME shocks and I would be that the light duty OME or some Alcans will be the best solution for you all together. Buy them from Kurt at Cruiser Outfitters....

 

[S4Cruiser]

I like my Bilstein shocks and greasable shackle bolts + new bushings. much, much better

X2 made a big difference with my skyjackers and worn out Rancho shocks!!