Land Cruiser Shocks and Set Up

[Seahawk]

It is time to replace the original suspension bits on my 1996 Land Cruiser.

I belong to IH8MUD and they do a great job with suggestions and advice but it is a little like an "oil" thread here for a newby.

I know some of you folks have had or have a series 80. I am looking for practical advice: The car will be driven primarily on the street and the occasional trail, nothing serious.

A long time friend of mine with Toyota experience will be doing the work. I traded him a piece of farm equipment for 5k worth of work. I want to replace the hoses, ignition wiring, other age items as well.

I was taking the equipment to auction and asked him if he'd help me load it. He did: Right on his trailer

[craigster59]

I put Toytec on my 4Runner. Do you want to lift or just replace shocks? This kit will give an additional 3" of lift....
https://www.toyteclifts.com/k53091-icon-1991-1997-toyota-land-cruiser-80-series-3-suspension-system-stage-1.html

Otherwise you can just replace shocks and struts with Bilsteins, the struts are adjustabble for 0-2.75".

https://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=results&selected_model=30506&selected_year=1996&type=T&selected_make=Toyota&model_name=Land+Cruiser

[vash]

no brainer.

full Ikon Stage four suspension upgrage..

[Seahawk]

No lift for me...Bilsteins on the list.

Thanks, Craig!

Originally Posted by craigster59

I put Toytec on my 4Runner. Do you want to lift or just replace shocks? This kit will give an additional 3" of lift....
https://www.toyteclifts.com/k53091-icon-1991-1997-toyota-land-cruiser-80-series-3-suspension-system-stage-1.html

Otherwise you can just replace shocks and struts with Bilsteins, the struts are adjustabble for 0-2.75".

https://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=results&selected_model=30506&selected_year=1996&type=T&selected_make=Toyota&model_name=Land+Cruiser

[vash]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

No lift for me...Bilsteins on the list.

Thanks, Craig!

hahha..i was just stating what i would want. hint hint.

happy thanksgiving bud.

i had great OEM results with OME shocks. very robust.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by vash

hahha..i was just stating what i would want. hint hint.

happy thanksgiving bud.

I was just kidding, Vash. I am so delighted this thing fell into my lap. I know Mr. Higgins and OWP have some ideas. I may just go OEM and forget about it!

Happy Thanksgiving...the Turkey flocks here will be culled next year for the first time. They are everywhere!

[Captain Ahab Jr]

I've got Old Man Emu shocks with a 1.5" lift and the lowest spring rate increase on the rear, from memory think it may only be +150kgs. Also removed the rear sway bar too

The set up has totally transformed my truck, can keep up and surprise a lot of folk on twisty country roads

[Jeff Higgins]

Not knowing where to start, and not wanting to put the same kind of time into learning all about it as I would with something 911 related, I took the easiest route possible. I simply bought a kit from Old Man Emu. I trusted them to properly match components. It appears they did - I've had it on my '93 for a couple of years now and I'm entirely happy with it.

I went with a nominal 3" lift, but only because I do find myself in our mountains mid winter, in some pretty deep snow at times. The stock ride height was just too low for that. It was dragging the spare tire and getting me well and truly hung up far too often. I was worried about an undesirable change in its on-road manners, maybe a reduction in gas mileage as well, but I'm happy to report that I haven't noticed a thing. If anything, it actually rides and corners better now, even on the open road. The IH8MUD guys kind of alluded to that, and it appears they are right.

Speaking of those guys, just like here, there are a few of them who criticize the component selection in this kit. The chief complaint is that the rear is just too stiff, and OME should have used different springs and/or shocks. Maybe, maybe not - the finer points of all of that are lost on me. I'm very happy with how it turned out.

[look 171]

I had Bilsteins on all four corners replaced at 130k miles. Ride is a bit stiff compared to stock, worn, shocks. Other then that, everything is stock but one size wider tires on stock rims. Grease the u joints and drive shafts often. Replace the seals at the front knuckles. They will leak eventually.

Belts and hoses? I only use Toyota factory items. I used Gates and others before in my Toyotas, but they go within 50,000 miles. Factory hoses and belts last forever, well over 100,000 miles. Some people modify them with larger roters and pads, I think. My stock front pads last 10,000-12,000 miles at best. I have a mile of down hill daily jsut to get to the large streets.

I can't think of anything else.

[Jeff Higgins]

[look 171]

I think you will see a big difference in the handling with just the socks. I think my springs were fine at 130,000 but I have nothing new to compare to. Drove it all over the western us loaded up to the eye balls with family crap and two little kids. Smoothed out the ride a little.

[look 171]

Old Man Emu make a good product. Bought springs with Bilstein socks for my kids 4 runner that had really tired coil overs. It made a huge, I mean, huge difference in the way it handled. Well, all rubber parts under there got changed out as well.

[pete3799]

Don't forget the snorkel

[LWJ]

You didn't ask. But, get the PHH done!

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by LWJ

You didn't ask. But, get the PHH done!

First thing I did!

Bought the kit off Mud, powered through.

[mattdavis11]

I went the cheap route with Monroe gas-matic LT (Oreillys Shocktober). Stiffened up the ride quite a bit. At first it was a little too stiff, but they got better over time.

I didn't want to lift it and don't have much interest in spending money on high performance shocks.

[chapo]

Pretty hard to beat Bilstein, I don't own a Land Cruiser but its the first mod I put on everything from my F150 to the BMW

[edgemar]

.5 old man emu kit. After 25 years the springs settle so it was at least an inch higher after installation. It really cleaned up the handling doesn't roll nearly as much in turns.

[onewhippedpuppy]

If it were mine (I wish!) I would go with a mild lift and shock package from OME. Going with the straight Bilstein shocks wouldn’t be a bad option but I strongly suspect that your stock springs have settled by this point as well. An OME package along with refreshing your suspension bushings would yield a really nice upgrade.

[Sarc]

I have a 100 and you have an 80, but since this is the internet, I'll give you my opinion anyway.

Very happy with my 2" Slee lift fitted with OME shocks. Ride quality is great on smooth sweepers believe it or not, but a little rough on city roads (less so now since I have replaced the hard K02s). Once the OMEs give up the ghost I'll swap on a set of OEM shocks per my research on Mud.