Why does my FJ40 LEAN left?!

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Just Cruised

Just Cruised

10 Year
Joined
Oct 2, 2011
Threads
10
Messages
40
Location
Dallas, TX
Why is my FJ leaning to the left? I've been told by a few people that it's normal (for some reason) but why is it normal? Is there no way to fix this? I haven't really noticed other FJ's doing this. At first I thought it could have been a combination of the shocks/lead springs so I replaced both since they needed to be replace anyway, but that doesn't fix my left lean. Thoughts?
 
Definitely in the FAQ. There's a reason it has all kinds of stars and stuff on it to attract your attention.
 
Do a search on "cruiser lean" and you will have more than enough reading material to put you to sleep. Very common and it seems everyone has their own opinion as to why it happens. Bottom line, Toyota put a service bulletin out about it long ago. CCoT (and possibly others) sells a block to put under the spring pad on the high side to level out the cruiser. You could probably just as easily make your own.

Good luck!

:cheers:
 
fj404life said:
I thought they were supposed to lean????
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It helps with the 40's cornering ability. Unfortunately it's only when turning left. The engineers have all gone on to very lucrative careers in nascar.
 
Second reason I'm considering going to coil overs. First would be ride quality, but I have owned 4 fj40's now, and they have all leaned. Even with putting new spring on, within a couple of years, they lean again. At least with coilovers, you can fine tune it out pretty easily. Bummer is hacking an otherwise "stock" 40 series, but hey, suspension technology is way better now than it was in 1978! :)
 
A straight frame will still lean left. My land cruiser has the toyota administered "fix" of the small plate that goes in between the top leaf and the spring perch.

Theory I have read in case you are too lazy to read, is that the original fj40 was designed to be right hand drive with the tire carrier on the right as well.



NO reason to buy coilovers to fix lean, I installed the lift I just bought and removed the Toyota "fix." My Cruiser did not lean with the stock springs and this part. after the lift it leaned a ton. I reinstalled the blocks. on both passenger side springs and it is now level.
 
FJsnoozer said:
A straight frame will still lean left. My land cruiser has the toyota administered "fix" of the small plate that goes in between the top leaf and the spring perch.

Theory I have read in case you are too lazy to read, is that the original fj40 was designed to be right hand drive with the tire carrier on the right as well.



NO reason to buy coilovers to fix lean, I installed the lift I just bought and removed the Toyota "fix." My Cruiser did not lean with the stock springs and this part. after the lift it leaned a ton. I reinstalled the blocks. on both passenger side springs and it is now level.
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My understanding is that this block pulls the high side down...how far down did it pull it? I have the same problem, but don't want to lose a lot of lift height either.
 
FJsnoozer said:
I reinstalled the blocks. on both passenger side springs and it is now level.
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Davis, were those leveling blocks installed by the PO, or are you saying they were from Toyota?
 
leaner

FJsnoozer said:
NO reason to buy coilovers to fix lean, .
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Agreed, but the lean wasn't my number one reason, it was ride quality. Fixing the lean was a nice side effect of going coilovers. Reason three would be flex. Not that a leaf can't flex, but mine don't. If I'm gonna drop $1,300 to fix the leaf lift, then still battle the lean, that will just piss me off. :grinpimp: Eventually, even with the toyota "fix" of the shim, I would still battle my other issues with the leaves. That said, I really like the suspension set up on the ICON's. Not too high, but nicely tucked under there giving the illusion of stock.
 
caboulto said:
My understanding is that this block pulls the high side down...how far down did it pull it? I have the same problem, but don't want to lose a lot of lift height either.
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Enough to level it! Suspension is a funny thing. Lowering one side can raise the other, some times.

The block was about 14 mm I believe.



Lee, we are the PO. I believe they were the Toyota fix. I assume you have read this article?

http://coolfj40.stores.yahoo.net/booktoylancr.html
 
would longer shackles on the lean side work? Maybe a 1" longer shackle?? The lean is really irritating. I notice most SOA Fj40's don't have any lean. Just the Fj40's with SUA. HMMMMM!
 
FJsnoozer said:
Lee, we are the PO. I believe they were the Toyota fix. I assume you have read this article?

Manual - Book - Land Cruiser
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I knew your family was the PO but didn't know if they were the original owners. Yeah, I've read the article. In fact now that you mention it, I own that book. Loaned it to someone several years ago and it never came back. :mad:

My understanding is that the correction plate was installed by Toyota dealerships upon request, and when it was installed there was only one plate place at the right rear corner. You mentioned having plates on both PS springs and I wondered if that was done by a dealership. Never heard of using those leveling plates on front and rear springs.
 
LRChops said:
would longer shackles on the lean side work? Maybe a 1" longer shackle?? The lean is really irritating. I notice most SOA Fj40's don't have any lean. Just the Fj40's with SUA. HMMMMM!
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NO, and do NOT do this. I dont want to get all "engineer" on you, but dont. You would basically have the springs at 2 different angles relative to the spring perch.

The 40 dollar leveling blocks are the ticket.

Just order them from CCOT, you will be happy. Or you can see if toyota can source them still!
 
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