If you're nevertheless rocking the manufacturing plant setup on your own rig, it's probably high time to look for a 2007 fj cruiser suspension kit towards your truck back in order to feeling solid upon and off the particular trails. Let's be real for the second—the 2007 design was the very initial year the FJ hit the North American market. That means some of these trucks are actually jumping around for almost two decades. Even when yours hasn't already been beat to loss of life within the rocks, those stock rubber bushings and shocks are likely well previous their expiration time.
I recall the first time I actually rode in a good FJ with an exhausted suspension. It sensed like a boat. Every time you hit the brakes, the nose would certainly dive so really hard you'd swear you were about to perform a front change. And don't also get me started within the body move in the corners. Updating the suspension isn't pretty much looking great or getting the lift; it's regarding making the automobile in fact pleasant to operate a vehicle once again.
Why Your own Old Suspension Will be Probably Shot
Most people don't realize how very much work their shock absorbers are doing till they stop doing it. For a 2007 FJ, you're searching at many years of temperature cycles, road sodium (if you're in the rust belt), and simple mechanical wear. If a person see oil leaking down the side associated with your shock body, that's a deceased giveaway. But even if they appear dry, the inner valving can put on out, leaving you along with a ride that's either way as well bouncy or extremely harsh over small bumps.
Setting up a fresh 2007 fj cruiser suspension kit fixes that "tired" feeling. It tightens everything upward. You will get that crispness in the steering, and the truck halts feeling like it's floating aimlessly upon the highway. As well as, the FJ is definitely known for having the bit of a "stinkbug" look through the factory, where the rear sits higher than the entrance. An excellent kit may level that out there and make the entire stance look way more aggressive.
Choosing the Right Setup for Your Needs
Before you proceed out and fall a few grand upon a fancy setup, you've got to figure out what you're actually doing with the truck. Are a person just commuting in order to work and striking a dirt street once a 12 months? Or are you planning on launching up a roof rack, a steel bumper, and the winch to proceed overlanding for days at a time?
The Budget-Friendly Refresh
If you're just searching to get back to factory-spec ride quality without breaking the particular bank, a simple kit with some Bilstein 5100 shocks is generally the go-to. These are legendary in the particular Toyota community. They're relatively cheap, they're durable, and the front shocks are usually actually adjustable. You can set them in different heights in order to level out the front end without needing to buy new springs. It's a huge bang-for-your-buck move.
The Overlanding Heavyweight
Now, if you've added a lot of weight—like a heavy-duty rear bumper or a drawer system in the back—you're going in order to need more than just shock absorbers. You'll need a 2007 fj cruiser suspension kit that includes heavier-rate coil springs. If you put stock-weight springs upon a loaded-down FJ, the rear will sag like insane, and you'll end up being hitting the bump halts every time you go over a velocity bump. Brands such as Old Man Emu (OME) are excellent for this because they offer different spring rates based upon how much additional weight you're carrying.
The High speed Off-Roader
When you've got strong pockets and you want to go fast over desert whoops, you're looking with 2. 5-inch size shocks with exterior reservoirs. These are the big boys—think Fox, King, or Icon. They hold even more oil, which means they stay awesome even if you're working them hard. For most people, this really is overkill, but man, does it make the FJ sense like a trophy truck.
Don't Forget the Upper Control Arms
Something that attracts many people off safeguard when they install a 2007 fj cruiser suspension kit is the positioning. Once you raise an FJ even more than about two inches, the factory upper control hands (UCAs) begin to operate out of modification. Your caster is going to be off, and the truck might feel "darty" or stroll over the lane with highway speeds.
If you're going for a 2. 5-inch or 3-inch lift, I constantly recommend budgeting regarding a group of aftermarket UCAs. They're designed along with more clearance with regard to the larger shocks and built-in caster correction so your alignment tech may actually get the figures back to where they should end up being. It's an additional expense, but it will save your tires from wearing out prematurely and makes the truck way simpler to drive.
Dealing with the Infamous "FJ Lean"
Here's a fun fact about the 2007 FJ Cruiser: they generally lean a little bit towards the driver's side. It's frequently called the "lean" or "taco lean" (since it occurs on Tacomas too). This is because the fuel container and the electric battery are both upon the driver's aspect, plus you've got the weight of the driver.
When you're installing your new 2007 fj cruiser suspension kit , many individuals choose to put in a small spacer (usually about a quarter-inch) along with the entrance left strut or use a slightly taller spring upon that side. It's a small detail, but if you're the perfectionist, seeing your own truck sit more than half an inch reduce on a single side will certainly drive you crazy as soon as you notice it.
Can You Install It Your self?
If you're handy with the wrench and possess a good flooring jack, you can definitely tackle a suspension swap within your driveway. It's a great way to get to know your truck. That said, presently there are a several "gotchas. " The bolts on a 2007 can be extremely stubborn, especially those lower shock bolts if they've in no way been moved. You're definitely going in order to want a large breaker bar and perhaps some PB Blaster or even a torch.
The scariest component for most DIYers may be the coil springtime compressor. If you're buying a kit exactly where the springs aren't already mounted on the shocks, you have to shrink the springs to get the best hat on. In the event that you're not comfy doing that (and honestly, those cheap rental compressors can be sketchy), nearly all local shops will certainly swap the suspension springs onto your brand-new shocks for the small fee in case you bring them the parts.
Conclusions on Maintenance
Once a person get your 2007 fj cruiser suspension kit bolted up, you're not quite done. You must get the professional alignment instantly. Your toe and camber will be all over the place, and you may damage a brand-new collection of tires in only a few hundred miles if you skip this step.
Also, after you've driven about 500 miles, crawl back under there plus re-torque all of the bolts. Suspension components pay, and things can loosen up a little after they've experienced some time to move around. Checking your work is just good insurance.
The FJ Cruiser is an exclusive vehicle. It's obtained a glance and a capability that you simply don't see in numerous modern SUVs. Creating the fresh suspension is similar to giving it a second life. Whether or not you're wanting to create a rock crawler or just desire a comfortable daily driver that may manage a weekend camping trip, the correct kit makes all the difference in the world. It'll seem like a brand-new pickup truck again, and you'll remember exactly exactly why you purchased an FJ in the first place.