Choosing the right suspension kit for your FJ Cruiser is essential and should never be overlooked. Several factors need to be considered, including tire size, lift height, winch, terrain, and any additional accessories. The suspension system plays a key role in both off-road performance and overall vehicle handling.
A proper suspension offers significant benefits, as it reduces the impact of shocks and bumps when driving on rough roads or off-road trails, making it especially useful during mountain trips. It also increases your vehicle’s ground clearance. Stock springs and shocks are not designed to handle harsh terrain efficiently and may not provide the necessary support. In contrast, a reinforced suspension helps you tackle tough terrain, navigate challenging obstacles, and ensures a smoother and safer journey, no matter the road conditions.
If you want your FJ Cruiser to have increased off-road capability, or if you simply like “bigger” cars, there are three ways to raise your car:
- Body lift kit. A body lift kit is used together with the standard (OEM) suspension. It has some spacers that raise the body of your car and keeps it away from the frame. If you raise the vehicle body, it starts creating problems that are filled with many components to care for them.
- Suspension-lift. This type of lift kit is often used and it has springs and shocks that help you to raise your car.
- Big wheels. An overall increase in the height of the car is achieved through larger wheels.
The constructively correct option is the suspension lift kit. If you want to lift your car, you need to remember that you will not be able to drive into some parking or garage in most cases if you raise the car by 2-3 inches. The struts are changed so that the car is tuned for a comfortable ride, meaning the suspension becomes softer and more easily handles bumps in the road at average speeds.
- Advantages of the new “tuned” suspension compared to the stock:
- Increased ground clearance
- Improved drivability
- Adaptability to use in difficult conditions (off-road)
- Ability to install power bumpers and winches, as well as transport more luggage and passengers
In this review, we will guide you about the best Toyota FJ Cruiser shocks and suspension lift kit and its best features, and guide you to select the best one. Several kits are top-rated and very popular among FJ owners. Some are given below.
#1. Bilstein 5100 Series – 0-2.5″ Lift Kit for Toyota FJ Cruiser
The Bilstein 5100 suspension kit is specifically designed to improve the performance of your car and provide support during off-road trips. It features shock absorbers that are specially designed for vehicles with lifted springs and can help your vehicle reach peak performance tuning.
This set consists only of front and rear shock absorbers. One of the advantages of these shocks is the adjustable lower spring cup, with which you can find the required height of the lifting. And even with the original springs. To move the cup, you need to disassemble the rack and move the cup’s support ring to the desired level. Totally these shock absorbers provide 4 levels of lifting (with native springs): 0″, 0.85″, 1.75″ и 2.5″.
The Bilstein B8 5100 kit has the added advantage of being easy to install without requiring any modifications. It is also designed to operate efficiently in low temperatures. The Bilstein 5100 series is widely regarded as the best in terms of its features and performance. Its weight, diameter, handling power, and technical qualities are all highly praised by 4×4 owners. The lift kits in this series are top-rated due to their quality, cost, and suspension system. These are some of the reasons why they are considered the best for Toyota FJ Cruiser lift kits.
- Brand: Bilstein
- Lift: 0-2.5″
- Style: Monotube
- Color: Silver
- Part Number: 24-239370_187174
- Country of Origin: USA
- Package: 4 Shock Absorbers
- Front spring coils help in the main lift kit
- The strut and shock package is highly organized and of good quality
- Stock height is better and adjustable
- Rear Bilstein shocks
- More beneficial than Bilstein 4600
- A no-lifetime warranty
- You can’t drive into low parking lots when the lift is in high mode
#2. Old Man Emu by ARB Suspension – 3″ Full Lift Kit for Toyota FJ Cruiser
The well-known Australian tuning company ARB manufactures suspension tuning components under the brand name OME (OLD MAN EMU). Their suspension lift kit for the Toyota FJ Cruiser consists of shock struts and springs and is engineered and designed specifically for the Toyota FJ Cruiser. The lift in this kit is determined by the spring, and the shock absorber has just the right size/stroke.
To buy this suspension lift kit you just need to decide on the spring load (Light Load or Heavy Duty). This depends on if you have a winch, additional equipment, and how often you carry loads.
Driving off asphalt will be especially enjoyable after the installation of this set from OME. Thanks to its rigidity and energy capacity the suspension is impossible to pierce, the FJ will stop nibbling, so you can drive fast on bad roads and overcome difficult sections on foot. As a bonus, it will be much easier to drive in deep snow.
- Brand: Old Man Emu by ARB
- Lift: 3″
- Style: Monotube
- Color: Yellow/Black
- Part Number: OMEKIT-001
- Country of Origin: Australia
- Package: 4 Shock Absorbers + 4 Springs
- The light-weighted kit is very applicable
- It applies to every kind of speed
- It applies to all kinds of road levels
- Its durability is authentic and proven
- It is adopted by terrain as well
- Only one-year warranty
- With continuous use, it gets softened
#3. Bilstein B6 4600 Series – Suspension Kit for Toyota FJ Cruiser
Bilstein has designed the 4600 series shock absorbers as a direct replacement for the standard (OEM) shock absorbers. If you don’t require a lift for your Toyota FJ Cruiser, these are the best shock absorbers for the price! The Bilstein 4600 series offers a fully assembled suspension with no body roll, all while maintaining the vehicle’s comfort and height.
BILSTEIN 4600 shock absorbers are specially designed for off-road vehicles. In Bilstein B6 shock absorbers the damping force is perfectly preserved in any operating conditions and under any load on the suspension, providing traction with the road without loss of motion dynamics and comfort. The 4600 series is popular due to the following features: monotube compressed gas technology, increased load capacity, guaranteed directional stability in off-road conditions, high power reserves, and long service life.
- Brand: Bilstein
- Lift: No
- Style: Monotube
- Color: Yellow/Blue
- Part Number: 24-188401_186049
- Country of Origin: USA
- Package: 4 Shock Absorbers
- Best in use and provides the best service
- Raised the care efficiently
- Works great on highways
- Sometimes too bouncy
- The lift is not adjustable
- Limited warranty
Everything You Need To Know About Suspension and Lift Kits for Toyota FJ Cruiser
There are numerous things that you need to consider while buying a lift kit for your car. A good suspension kit makes any trip you make more comfortable and convenient. Always consider the below-mentioned things for the best lift kit.
Many off-road enthusiasts and car travelers think about lifting their car (increasing ground clearance). In this guide, we will tell you what is suspension and body lifting for off-road vehicles and why it is done.
What are a suspension and body lift?
In simple words, a suspension lift is raising the entire body of an SUV by changing the suspension. A body lift (body-lift) is raising only the body above the frame of the SUV due to additional spacers.
What option to choose?
Everything is individual and it is a question of each case. Moreover, sometimes both options are used simultaneously. In this case, you can put huge wheels, without affecting the car’s performance as a whole.
A body lift will increase the space in the wheel arches, which will allow you to put wheels larger than the factory ones. A suspension lift not only gives a similar increase but also raises the entire car above the road. The geometric cross-country capability of the SUV is improved, even with standard wheels. Exit and departure angles and longitudinal cross-country capability are increased.
Why do I install big wheels on my SUV?
Large wheels increase the clearance of the vehicle under the frame and improve the ability to overcome vertical obstacles. It’s simple, the bigger the wheel, the easier it is to roll over a large rock, log, hole, or rut. In addition, the contact patch with the surface increases.
The easiest way to install large wheels on the SUV is to lift the body with a set of spacers, which are placed between the body and frame of the car. Body spacers are made from metal, plastic, polyamide, or other similar materials. Most often, the height of the body elevator is 2 to 3 inches.
SUV body lift (body lift)
One of the main benefits of the body lift is the preservation of suspension geometry, and if the suspension is independent – and the conservation of angles of operation of drives. The body lift’s advantages include its low cost and the fact that the engine, gearbox, transfer case, and units will remain in their places on the frame, and the center of gravity is almost unchanged. The high position of the body is useful when storming especially deep fords.
FAQs
What do I need to lift my Toyota FJ Cruiser?
There are various options available for lifting your FJ Toyota as there are components like coilovers, struts, spacers, and springs for the adjustment and lifting of your vehicle.
But, if you want to attain your suspension for a longer time, do not lift it only with shock absorbers. It is a short-term option because it can misbalance the angle of the suspension, frame, and vehicle.
What is the difference between A Lift Kit and A Leveling Kit?
The main and basic difference between a lift kit and the leveling kit is that a Lift Kit is for the front side it helps to maintain the front and back of the vehicle by providing much strength and power. Meanwhile, a Leveling Kit is for raising your car to a much higher level of height but it requires more power and energy for the lifting.
Can I remove my lift kit and go back to stock?
It can happen but it relies on the suspension you attain. It is comfortable to remove the leveling kit as compared to the lift kit because it depends on the variety of kits one purchases. The better and more durable the kit is, the more it gives the result and makes it unnecessary to move towards the stock.
How high can you lift a Toyota FJ Cruiser?
The different types of kits are available on the market but the highest one is OME, you can lift to 3’’
Will a lift kit affect gas mileage?
Yes, it can affect gas mileage in several ways. Like, the first factor is weight, if the vehicle weight is added after installing the kit then it affects the mileage. It also depends on the resistance of wind, the more will be resistance, the more will be loss of mileage.
Do I need new brakes with a lift kit?
You don’t need to buy new brakes, you must just check the condition and strength of your brakes and whether they can stop the lifted car or not.
Do lift kit need to be maintained or not?
Yes, they need proper maintenance for proper work. If the lift kits are not handled properly then you will ultimately face several problems and they will lose their durability and strength as soon as possible.
How do I know if I have shocks or struts?
Shocks and struts are both types of suspension components that are used to absorb and dampen the movement of a vehicle’s wheels as it moves.
Differences between shocks and struts:
- Shocks are typically located at the rear of the vehicle, while struts are located at the front. The owner’s manual for your vehicle should list the types of suspension (struts or shocks) components that are used on your vehicle.
- Shocks are usually separate components that are mounted to the frame or chassis of the vehicle, while struts are integrated with springs into the suspension system.
Conclusion
Suspension or lift kits are designed for durability and handling heights at different levels. It must be durable, of good quality, and a famous brand. Otherwise, you will face a big problem if you compromise on the selection of the suspension kit.
The best and universal lift kit among the above three is the Bilstein 5100 series because it is the most durable of all. It has all the features, which the lift kit must-have.
Video: How To Install FJ Cruiser 3″ Lift Kit
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