Taking the coilover plunge! Advice Needed

1694 Views 11 Replies 10 Participants Last post by BZB Cruiser, Jul 9, 2008

FJcrawler304

Discussion Starter · Jul 8, 2008

Well I want to beef up my front end more. I currently have a rc 3" lift but I am going to get a new bumper and winch here soon which means extra weight. I am confused on the spring rate on coilovers, does the rate not matter on coilovers due to their adjustability? I was looking at the fox or toytec coilovers for the front but am confused as to what will be good for a heavy bumper and winch?

Do I have to order a specific heavy spring with the coilovers? Is there a good website to order from that shows all of these options. Most I find is just coilovers that dont show the spring rate or mention anything about it. I just want my front end to sit 3 plus inches with my 33's I have on now. I know it will sag with more weight though cause my lift kit now is only a spacer up front with my current rc lift kit.

Is there an alternate way to keep the front end up without spending tons of money on coilovers? Like two real stiff springs up front?

Sorry for all the questions any help would be greatly appreciated, I searched up and down but I am still confused.:rocker:

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DocME

· #2 · Jul 8, 2008

Aftermarket coilovers such as King, Fox, Sway A Way, and the like are adjustable. That means that you can adjust the preload on the spring. So, if you add a bumper and the front end sags, you can twist one end of the spring retainer to compress the spring just enough to compensate for the added weight. This is how you can adjust ride height. If you add preload by compressing the coil just a little, you can raise the vehicle. This can result in a "stiffer" ride, but if you are adding more weight, like a bumper, you shouldn't notice a stiffer ride if you restore the loss in ride height.

Aftermarket coilovers typically provide you with:
1. A stiffer than factory coilspring.
2. Preload adjustable for setting ride height and ride quality.
3. Increased shock diameter, providing longer dampening ability.
4. Specific and changeable valving that controls dampening characteristics.
5. Most units can be rebuilt or serviced.
6. Better performance in prolonged cycling of the suspension. ie desert and prolonged off road excursions.

The other option is replacing your factory springs with "stiffer" after market units such as OME -Old Man Emu. The stiffer springs will appose the added weight of an aftermarket front bumper. The down side to this is you lose all adjust ability. It is a cheaper alternative, so if it suits your needs, this might be your answer.
Do a search for ome and should get 50 pages of info and similarly offited FJ's with a variety of OME combo's to research.

best of luck,
Doc

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DocME

· #3 · Jul 8, 2008

Here's a link to the sticky that is on the top of suspension forum:
http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/suspension-tech/52113-old-man-emu-ome-options-guide.html
Here's a link to the discussion on coil over spring rates:
http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/foru...oil-over-spring-rates-extra-weight-loads.html

You don't need to specify a stiffer spring with most aftermarket adjustable coil overs. If you were adding a ton more weight up front I would think about going with a higher spring rate. Most of these units will suit you well.

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jeshua

· #4 · Jul 8, 2008

The best bang for your buck would be to go OME, but some of the more expansive ones will give you a better ride. Its all about what your budget is.

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FJcrawler304

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 8, 2008

Wow thanks so much Doc, you went above and beyond.

So nobody requests stiffer springs when ordering coilovers? I think I can get away with my rc springs in the rear and just get a set of toytec or fox coilovers for the front. I am planning on getting the expedition one bumper and just a regular sized winch for it.

I hope I am not wasting my money cause Im going to get the coilovers first then wait a while for the bumper and winch. Just dont want to have droop by the time I get the bumper and winch on and be back in the same situation. Thanks

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fj4M&E

· #6 · Jul 8, 2008

DocME said:
Aftermarket coilovers such as King, Fox, Sway A Way, and the like are adjustable. That means that you can adjust the preload on the spring. So, if you add a bumper and the front end sags, you can twist one end of the spring retainer to compress the spring just enough to compensate for the added weight. This is how you can adjust ride height. If you add preload by compressing the coil just a little, you can raise the vehicle. This can result in a "stiffer" ride, but if you are adding more weight, like a bumper, you shouldn't notice a stiffer ride if you restore the loss in ride height.

Aftermarket coilovers typically provide you with:
1. A stiffer than factory coilspring.
2. Preload adjustable for setting ride height and ride quality.
3. Increased shock diameter, providing longer dampening ability.
4. Specific and changeable valving that controls dampening characteristics.
5. Most units can be rebuilt or serviced.
6. Better performance in prolonged cycling of the suspension. ie desert and prolonged off road excursions.

The other option is replacing your factory springs with "stiffer" after market units such as OME -Old Man Emu. The stiffer springs will appose the added weight of an aftermarket front bumper. The down side to this is you lose all adjust ability. It is a cheaper alternative, so if it suits your needs, this might be your answer.
Do a search for ome and should get 50 pages of info and similarly offited FJ's with a variety of OME combo's to research.

best of luck,
Doc

I went with Kings and they are wonderful. I have the ARB Bumper lights on it and the winch which added a lot of weight. King did a great job and I would highly recommend them. They knew exactly which springs to use and the ride on my FJ is great.
June 08 I have had the FJ for two years, I had the kings put on about October and I can not say it enough the ride is great.

Mike

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JDEMELLO

· #7 · Jul 8, 2008

FJcrawler304 said:
Well I want to beef up my front end more. I currently have a rc 3" lift but I am going to get a new bumper and winch here soon which means extra weight. I am confused on the spring rate on coilovers, does the rate not matter on coilovers due to their adjustability? I was looking at the fox or toytec coilovers for the front but am confused as to what will be good for a heavy bumper and winch?

Do I have to order a specific heavy spring with the coilovers? Is there a good website to order from that shows all of these options. Most I find is just coilovers that dont show the spring rate or mention anything about it. I just want my front end to sit 3 plus inches with my 33's I have on now. I know it will sag with more weight though cause my lift kit now is only a spacer up front with my current rc lift kit.

Is there an alternate way to keep the front end up without spending tons of money on coilovers? Like two real stiff springs up front?

Sorry for all the questions any help would be greatly appreciated, I searched up and down but I am still confused.:rocker:

The simple answers.

OME makes a stiffer front coil but be careful, one of there coils allows to much droop in the front end and will cause binding and wear out parts faster. I believe there medium duty is what you want.

For Coil over’s go with Icon or Saw-away. King makes a really great product but doesn't net any extra travel and has coil bind. There are others out there that are to long for the application and will cause binding of the suspension and wear out parts prematurely. Be careful read allot of these boards and if you want to go for a ride in a FJC with Icon's come by our shop every one of our employees runs them.

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Gottagetone

· #8 · Jul 8, 2008 (Edited)

The Toytec c/os are not rebuildable but parts are replaceable and you can do it yourself. I am in the same boat, I am going to get a c/o setup for my FJ but am hopeing to look at the differences and hopefully get a ride in FJs with different setups to help make my decision at the Summit next week. I am leaning towards the Icons or the Toytecs because from what I understan they provide the best ride.

Anybody gonna be in Ouray that wants to give me a ride with one of these setups?

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FJCcrawler

· #9 · Jul 9, 2008

Go with the Icon/DRs for the COs, and if you want stiffer spring, your best bet is on the OMEs.

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WILSON

· #10 · Jul 9, 2008

FJcrawler304 said:
I think I can get away with my rc springs in the rear and just get a set of toytec or fox coilovers for the front. I am planning on getting the expedition one bumper and just a regular sized winch for it.

I too had the RC 3" lift and decided to go with aftermarket front bumper and a winch. I kept the RC springs and shocks in the rear and added Camburg (relabled Sway A Way) front coilovers. Very happy with the ride and the ability to adjust front height. Before and after pics on my build up page in my signature.

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Radflo Shocks

· #11 · Jul 9, 2008

Radflo also has shocks to suit your application. We offer both 2.0 and 2.5 with or without reservoir.

Glenn

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BZB Cruiser

· #12 · Jul 9, 2008

I went with the Toytec adjustable coilovers and have been very pleased so far. They use a 600lb rated Eibach spring. I installed them at the pre-set height with the intention of adjusting when I add some front end options/weight in the future. I did not want to put one thing on now and then have to change as I added options. Quality of product is top notch.!

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