Tires, Wheels and Suspension?

[bjsurveyor]

I would first like to say that I really appreciate this site. I had a few questions about my 80 that I was able to answer without having to post my own thread. However, you always run into that one question that is specific to your situation...

I have a '91 FJ80. It is bone stock. At first I was a little discouraged at the fuel economy, but then I remembered I didn't buy it for that. I bought it because is was an awesome Toyota truck. I haven't really used it for off-road yet, but I plan to. I first got the bug this winter when a friend of mine tried to climb a snowbank in a local parking lot with a Ford Escape (I know, it's really a Taurus station wagon with 4wd!), but his front tires never left the icy ground. I thought I'd mess with him a little and see how far I could go with the LC... It was like a tank, and I had a Kool-Aid grin from ear to ear!! No hesitation, just work. So...

It's looking like it will need new springs in the near future. The lines seem to lean a little to the left. I was thinking of going stock, but saw I could buy a Skyjacker 2.5" spring lift (front and rear) for around $280, then the Skyjacker shocks anywhere from $34-90 ea.
Thoughts?...

I also have a line on a set of BFG M/T's 32x11.5-15... will they fit the 15x7 stock wheel? BFG recommends a wheel width of 8-10 inch for that size tire? Is it safe? Will it rub (stock or not)? I haven't seen much in this tire size, but a lot in the 16's, so any insight would be much appreciated.

I love what you do for me...

 

[Brian Macgyver]

Do the lift. No question. There is no reason to buy stock springs. Also, a spacer for the front to correct the "rake" is sometimes available when enough can be made. PM toolsrus this site. Most use OME lifts, Skyjacker I don't know.
For tires, I have seen 32's on 6" rims. Handling is not so good, but bead safety is good on a 7". A 7" rim is ideal for a 31" but pushing it for 32". BFG anything is not as great as advertised, but M/T works OK.

 

[ginericLC]

There was a guy in Idhao a few years back who ran that tire on his 91 without issues. Tire pressure is key to maintaining decent wear though. They will want to buldge and sort of ride on the center if you put too much air in them.

Skyjacker lift for an 80? I've never seen them advertise a lift for an 80. Old Man Emu is sort of the standard lift and it can be had for about the same price as what you are looking at for this one.

 

[Romer]

I had to go and check their web site, but Skyjacker does make a coil lift for the 91-97 landcruiser.

Skyjacker makes great leaf springs (on my FJ40). but crappy shocks (broke one after about 1000 miles).

OME or Slee springs is recommended and tested

OME or Bilstein shocks would be my recoomendation

You can but an OME kit with Shocks, Springs, replacement bushings and castor correction. I would recommend a full kit with whatever you do.

 

[Walking Eagle]

I think the Skyjacker coils have come up before. I don't think anyone has ever run them. Not that they're bad, (or good), it just is that OME is such a standard deal for 80's that any time anyone asks, that's what's recomended. It'd certainly be interesting to see someone use them and review them, just don't know who's willing to be the first.

Oh, and the reason you see so much on 16's, is '93 on has disk brakes in the rear that won't accept 15" rims.

 

[PHAEDRUS]

Well, I have th ome 2.5 lift med rears and the ome shocks, Love teh set up on my 91, as far as the tires go the 32 will fit on the 15x7, as stated pressure is key, they will fit on the truck without a lift (as long as the springs are not completely gone) but will rub on articulation, primarily at the rear door openings inthe back. I would lift it and thin long and hard about 33" bfgs, I bought some cheep steel wheels in a 15 x 8 with about 3/4" less backspacing than stock and love the set up.
Dave

 

[bjsurveyor]

Thanks for all the input. I will look into the OME. I've seen it before, but never really priced it out. Are there any recommended on-line stores for them? Ultimately, at some point in time I would like to add ARB front and rear lockers. If it's comparable to the Skyjacker I'll have to rethink my options. The tire situation will have to be rethought as well...

Either way it looks like I may need to replace the rims or go with a tire that will fit. I would rather not have to worry about pressure all of the time. Since 16's are pricey vs 15's, I may look for a 15x8" rim... any suggestions? I found a couple listed with American Racing, but without seeing them it's hard for me to make a decision. Would 16's from a '93+ bolt up?

The BFG MT's that I have run in the past were on an '02 Taco and they were cut for racing, so they hooked up awesome compared to stock, but they wore quickly.

 

[alkaline747trio]

Yea, the rims from a 93+ do fit. It would be better though, to stick with a set of 15" rims if cost is an issue since 15" tires are usually about $30-50 less per tire.

OME is not "comparable" to SkyJacker, it is far superior. Another option is the Slee 4" kit, but it is slightly more expensive than a standard OME Heavy lift.

Since you are installing lockers, you could run an Aussie rear (very inexpensive), and then later add an ARB front.

 

[bjsurveyor]

Aussie Rear?

Where would I find something like that? I'll check here first... what model years would fit? Obviously the lockers are not first priority, but since it's such a great platform to work from I have to keep my options open. First and foremost are tires and suspension.

I will be doing some research on here for the differences in OME heavy vs medium. Feel free to "chime" in.

I saw an on-line retailer with OME medium or heavy for both around $680... (Rocky Road Outfitters, any luck with them?) That was a lot more reasonable than I was expecting.

 

[alkaline747trio]

Medium and heavy are the same spring rates, but the heavy is 1 inch taller. www.sleeoffroad.com and www.man-a-fre.com are where most of us get our goodies.

For the locker, it fits almost every Cruiser made. http://www.aussielocker.com/

 

[bjsurveyor]

Unless I'm mistaken... I went on to the Aussie Lockers site, and checked out the locker for the FJ80. Reasonably priced, but according to them it should be used on the front and only with manual or unlockable hubs... not for use on full time 4wd vehicles. Would I have to change the front end to manuals?

FYI - This 80 is also my daily driver. I would like to maintain it that way, but still use it for some moderate off-road use and eventually only off-road use.

I think I am going to go with the OME mediums.

 

[Tools R Us]

Kurt @ http://www.cruiseroutfitters.com/ has good prices on OME.

 

[Brian Macgyver]

Where would I find something like that? I'll check here first... what model years would fit? Obviously the lockers are not first priority, but since it's such a great platform to work from I have to keep my options open. First and foremost are tires and suspension.

I will be doing some research on here for the differences in OME heavy vs medium. Feel free to "chime" in.

I saw an on-line retailer with OME medium or heavy for both around $680... (Rocky Road Outfitters, any luck with them?) That was a lot more reasonable than I was expecting.

Agreed. If 15" rims will fit, keep them. The only reason to use larger diameter rims is if you need to clear larger brakes, as newer 80 owners do. Big brakes are great if you have them. If you don't then the wider sidewall provides more flex and the 15" rim has more tire size selection at lower prices.

 

[Brian Macgyver]

Yea, the rims from a 93+ do fit. It would be better though, to stick with a set of 15" rims if cost is an issue since 15" tires are usually about $30-50 less per tire.

OME is not "comparable" to SkyJacker, it is far superior. Another option is the Slee 4" kit, but it is slightly more expensive than a standard OME Heavy lift.

Since you are installing lockers, you could run an Aussie rear (very inexpensive), and then later add an ARB front.

OOps! Meant to quote this one on my reply, Sorry for confusion!

 

[alkaline747trio]

Unless I'm mistaken... I went on to the Aussie Lockers site, and checked out the locker for the FJ80. Reasonably priced, but according to them it should be used on the front and only with manual or unlockable hubs... not for use on full time 4wd vehicles. Would I have to change the front end to manuals?

FYI - This 80 is also my daily driver. I would like to maintain it that way, but still use it for some moderate off-road use and eventually only off-road use.

I think I am going to go with the OME mediums.

The third option (1969-1997) in the list of LandCruisers is the rear locker for what you need, if you had just read 2 lines down!

 

[bjsurveyor]

Well... after opening my eyes, I see the light!! What can I say, it was late... That's awesome. So from the looks of it, after installing, it's full lock all the time in the rear? How does it work? Have people been pretty satisfied?

 

[alkaline747trio]

It acts like a ratchet. When you turn, the wheel on the inner radius has power, and the wheel on the outer is allowed to turn faster. This means either tire (probably one at a time though) can turn faster than the other as long as the slower tire is matching the gear speed, but when one tire loses traction, the ratchet action locks it from spinning slower than the gears.