Suspension upgrade question/advice...?

[ElmoTheDestroyr]

Hi everyone,

I'm purchasing a 99 LC from out of state, and before I drive it home I'm having a local shop do a few repairs.

One of the needed items is new shocks. I do plan on lifting the truck 2.5 inches at some point in the near future, and of course I intended to upgrade the shocks at that time. Since I found out the shocks need to be replaced (I really don't want to drive 1350 miles home on completely dead shocks), I thought I would just buy some OME shocks and stick them in, then when I get money for the rest of the suspension (springs/torsion bars/diff drop), I could add those.

However it dawned on me that the OME 60000/60002 shocks might be too long to work with stock suspension?

Could someone shine a little light on this? I'd really hate to pay for cheap OEM style shocks/installation, only to remove them later when I have the money for the rest of the suspension.

I don't intend on doing any offroading until the suspension is completely done, so aside from speedbumps/entering parking lots, they shouldn't get compressed too much, but I'd hate to put OME shocks in and damage them by bottoming them out.

What would you do in my situation? Drive on dead shocks? Put OME shocks in? Put some super cheap shocks in to get by until I upgrade everything? Really hate wasting money putting cheap shocks in, knowing im going to rip them back out a few months later, but I'm not sure what other options I have...

Your advice/thoughts are appreciated, thanks!!

--ElmoTheDestroyer

 

[jLB]

Recently covered:

Shocks to reduce body roll?

I suspect you'd be better off with a set of OEM shocks on an otherwise stock vehicle.

100 too stiff after OME medium lift

 

[labcab]

OEM shocks are a good place to start. You'll get a reference point for how the truck should ride and 1350 miles to figure out if any bushings or other components of the suspension need addressed. The OME shocks will ride rigid without any additional weight and will likely mask other rattles. The OEM are cheap and also decent shocks, they'll make driving your new truck an even more pleasurable experience.

 

[ElmoTheDestroyr]

Right on... Hate wasting money on shocks I know will come off in the not-so-far-off future, but it sounds like it's the only option really...

Thanks for the input!

--ElmoTheDestroyer

 

[JonD]

I don't have any shock specific feedback, but I purchased my cruiser from afar (2300 miles away) and decided to wait on any repairs until I could have my guy take a look at it and was very glad I did. The guys who did the PPI were very highly rated on Yelp and spent 20 minutes on the phone with me, but at the end of the day they had recommend over $1500 worth of work (timing belt/ water pump/ leaking differential/ and a bunch of other things I can't remember) NONE of which actually needed to be done.

 

[abuck99]

Save your money for your lift. Just drive it home as is- unless youve got a broken shock, or a leaking shock you'll prob be fine for a highway trip.

 

[ElmoTheDestroyr]

Thanks for the input...

I did get a pre purchase inspection, I had the local Toyota dealership do the inspection. Their senior tech spent 3 hours going over it from front to back, so I'm pretty confident in their report.

I actually was doing some thinking, and I think what I might do is just have the Land Cruiser shipped. It will cost about the same as flying down and driving back, but I won't have any of the worries about unknown problems popping up, won't have to worry about the suspension, etc.... Kinda sucks cuz I was looking forward to a roadtrip, but I think this makes more sense...

I can just get it up here to WA and put the lift and everything in when I get around to it, don't have to waste money on temporary suspension or anything like that.

Thanks again everyone! Happy to be a soon-to-be-new member of the Land Cruiser club!
--ElmoTheDestroyer

 

[Hayes]

In regard to your original question:

No, the OME shocks are not too long and you will not damage them on an un-lifted truck. As you suggested, you could indeed install them now in anticipation of your later lift.

Hi everyone,

I'm purchasing a 99 LC from out of state, and before I drive it home I'm having a local shop do a few repairs.

One of the needed items is new shocks. I do plan on lifting the truck 2.5 inches at some point in the near future, and of course I intended to upgrade the shocks at that time. Since I found out the shocks need to be replaced (I really don't want to drive 1350 miles home on completely dead shocks), I thought I would just buy some OME shocks and stick them in, then when I get money for the rest of the suspension (springs/torsion bars/diff drop), I could add those.

However it dawned on me that the OME 60000/60002 shocks might be too long to work with stock suspension?

Could someone shine a little light on this? I'd really hate to pay for cheap OEM style shocks/installation, only to remove them later when I have the money for the rest of the suspension.

I don't intend on doing any offroading until the suspension is completely done, so aside from speedbumps/entering parking lots, they shouldn't get compressed too much, but I'd hate to put OME shocks in and damage them by bottoming them out.

What would you do in my situation? Drive on dead shocks? Put OME shocks in? Put some super cheap shocks in to get by until I upgrade everything? Really hate wasting money putting cheap shocks in, knowing im going to rip them back out a few months later, but I'm not sure what other options I have...

Your advice/thoughts are appreciated, thanks!!

--ElmoTheDestroyer

 

[ElmoTheDestroyr]

No, the OME shocks are not too long and you will not damage them on an un-lifted truck. As you suggested, you could indeed install them now in anticipation of your later lift.

Cool, good to know! Thanks!

--ElmoTheDestroyer