If you're going to reverse your shackles, don't get the kit. It turns your front spring mounts into giant rock catchers.
FJ40 springs
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Rzeppa
Rising Sun Member
Matt, there is a super inexpensive and (relatively) easy way to lift a 40 to fit 33s (around 2-3"); about $120 not including shocks. My 71 has been riding on it for four years and no issues. Flexy and supple. I have yet to drive or ride in a 40 with 4" springs that I thought were comfortable. If I wanted to run 35s or larger I'd do a spring over (or coil over).
Jim Chenoweth makes an excellent engineering argument on why reversed shackles on Land Cruisers are a poor design choice. Note that the reversed shackles on early pickups and runners are with relatively flat springs from the showroom and a different shaped frame. I'll have to dig up his post from the LCML several years ago but it makes you think. There are certainly differences too, between the "kit" shackle reversals which are rock finders, and custom ones which put the spring eye directly under the frame.
Jim Chenoweth makes an excellent engineering argument on why reversed shackles on Land Cruisers are a poor design choice. Note that the reversed shackles on early pickups and runners are with relatively flat springs from the showroom and a different shaped frame. I'll have to dig up his post from the LCML several years ago but it makes you think. There are certainly differences too, between the "kit" shackle reversals which are rock finders, and custom ones which put the spring eye directly under the frame.
I ran BDS 2.5" Springs with a slightly longer shackle and loved em, wheeled with them numerous times and always held up nicely.
The Man a Fre web site has some interesting pros and cons (mostly pros) of the different spring/shackle setups, but of course they are trying to sell their product.
Jeff - what are you running? Is it the equivalent of some type of spacer lift, or an AAL?
I guess a lot of the decision depends on the condition of the stock springs, and whether they provide adequate ride support and flex. I hate trying to forecast these things, because usually what I think now won't be the same as what I think in 6-12 months.......
Jeff - what are you running? Is it the equivalent of some type of spacer lift, or an AAL?
I guess a lot of the decision depends on the condition of the stock springs, and whether they provide adequate ride support and flex. I hate trying to forecast these things, because usually what I think now won't be the same as what I think in 6-12 months.......
I believe Jeff is running an AAL, with one or two of the smaller springs removed. So total spring count is the same or one less, but the dinky ones get replaced by bigger ones. His green 40 sits at the perfect height, IMO.. 33x10.50's stuff no problem without any fender cutting 
When I got my 40 the first thing I did was lose the 4" lift, much to the chagrin of the PO
. But I thought it was too stiff and too sketchy particularly with the skinny tires, and the truck was much more fun to drive and ride it back down at stock height. Had I not sold it in favor of a commuter vehicle, I'd have put on the 2.5" OME Dakar springs by now.
Coolest thing in that section from MAF, IMO, is their u-bolt flip kit, if you're poking around in there check that out... just puts all the nuts on top so the only thing underneath the spring to catch rocks is the actual u-bolt.
When I got my 40 the first thing I did was lose the 4" lift, much to the chagrin of the PO
. But I thought it was too stiff and too sketchy particularly with the skinny tires, and the truck was much more fun to drive and ride it back down at stock height. Had I not sold it in favor of a commuter vehicle, I'd have put on the 2.5" OME Dakar springs by now. Coolest thing in that section from MAF, IMO, is their u-bolt flip kit, if you're poking around in there check that out... just puts all the nuts on top so the only thing underneath the spring to catch rocks is the actual u-bolt.
Rzeppa
Rising Sun Member
No, it's modified spring pack design my good friend Wayne from Calgary showed me. You take the bottome two leaves off the stock spring packs, then put a Rancho add-a-leaf which is for a YJ application under there in place of the two bottom stock leaves, then a new center pin. One of the cool things about this method is you don't even have to remove the shackles or spring pins, saving a HUGE amount of work.
When I did mine, I went ahead and put new poly bushings all around and greasable spring pins anyway, but that was just "while I was in there" anyway. Bottom line is just enough lift to clear 33x10.5s, excellent articulation, very nice on-road ride and handling, and super-inexpensive!
I have the Rancho P/Ns around somewhere. The add-a-leafs are about $60 for a pair, and they even come with new center pins.
nuclearlemon
Hard Core 4+
for a daily driver, i'd definitely do the shackle reversal. as mentioned, i wouldn't use the kit. use your rear spring hanger on the front and cut the tube from the front hanger and french it into the frame in back.
the shackle in front is great for off road because it helps you bump up things, but that's what makes it suck on a rutted highway.
since you'll probably want to fix it up nicely before you drive it, check/replace tre's and rebuild center arm and see if you like the shackles in front. if not, you can always move em later.
the shackle in front is great for off road because it helps you bump up things, but that's what makes it suck on a rutted highway.
since you'll probably want to fix it up nicely before you drive it, check/replace tre's and rebuild center arm and see if you like the shackles in front. if not, you can always move em later.
Maybe on the old kits? Wanna see my rock catchers?
I think the newer kits have it so the hanger is angled back so it is more of a rock "slider" than a catcher...Mine are the old style and you can definitely see where they have taken on the rocks...
Maybe on the old kits? Wanna see my rock catchers?
I think the newer kits have it so the hanger is angled back so it is more of a rock "slider" than a catcher...Mine are the old style and you can definitely see where they have taken on the rocks...
The kits have always been dubbed "rock finders." The fact is they do not protrude much over the stock shackle length. A front mounted shackle will bend the spring when it impacted that hard where as the "rock finders" will either stop you in your tracks or skid up on the rock. If you mount the "RF's" backwards and flip your front spring you will gain an incredible amount of approach angle!
Rezarf
Hard Core 4+
FWIW, I have 4" springs and they ride great... just like an empty dumptruck 
If I did it over again, I would only go OME or the new Parobolics on the scene, I don't have any experience with them but they seem to be loved by those with them on their rigs
just another thought.
Drew
If I did it over again, I would only go OME or the new Parobolics on the scene, I don't have any experience with them but they seem to be loved by those with them on their rigs
just another thought.
Drew