In many unpaved regions of the world, Toyota Land Cruisers remain unarguably the vehicle of choice. Overseas, Land Cruisers have served as the standard platform for national police forces, forestry and utility agencies, and as farm implements for ranchers. Stateside, however, Land Cruisers are driven more on pavement than anywhere else. With the exclusion of a few well-known Land Cruiser-specific associations and clubs, these venerable trail machines spend the majority of their service life meandering through the paved confines of suburbia. That's why we decided to identify one popular version of the Land Cruiser, in this case the FJ-62, and showcase a few products that help emphasize the vehicle's pavement performance while improving trailability at the same time.
If there's one place where Land Cruisers spend more time in four-wheel drive than anywhere else, it's Australia, so it's no wonder that Australia-based companies develop some of the best aftermarket parts and accessories for Land Cruisers. Old Man Emu of Australia is well-known for its replacement leaf springs, suspension lifts, shocks, and steering stabilizers for Toyotas and other four-wheel drives. OME's philosophy is quality and sensibility without complications. As such, OME sizes its lift kits so that there are no problems with, or modifications required to, the steering, braking, or drivetrain.
We decided to test out one of OME's kits on a '90 FJ-62. Besides installing better leaf springs and shocks, we decided to correct the unnatural forward-moving front spring setup with a shackle reversal from Toyota specialists Man-A-Fre. Once we spoke with the experts about the products we wanted to fit on our donor vehicle, we decided a bigger tire would fit and (ideally) balance out the vehicle's boxy proportions.
1. This is everything we ordered...
1. This is everything we ordered for the suspension remodel on our FJ-62. Notice the longer front and rear shackles-these were necessary to fit 35-inch tires. Also included were a pair of U-bolt flip kits from Man-A-Fre.
2. This is the factory front...
2. This is the factory front spring setup. The problem with this type of shackle arrangement is that it requires the axle to move forward as the suspension cycles. In turn, the front wheels are driven forward towards the obstacle they are trying to clear. This movement is very unnatural to the forward movement of the vehicle.
3. The spring setup with the...
3. The spring setup with the shackle reversal in place. With the front of the spring stationary, the suspension cycles more smoothly and results in a more controlled ride.
4. Above is the stock OE front...
4. Above is the stock OE front leaf-pack. Notice how the Old Man Emu packs have a flattened area in the middle where the axle seat and U-bolts are tightened. Referred to as a flat spring seat, this design helps to prevent spring sag.
5. Here you can see the difference...
5. Here you can see the difference between the OME rear spring packs and the factory units. Check out the locations of each leaf tip-the stock packs are comprised of much less material, making them prone to failure.
6. Another trick component...
6. Another trick component from Man-A-Fre is these U-bolt flip kits, which relocate the lowest factory point under the truck (the U-bolt nuts) on top of the axle and out of the way. They also feature front and rear ramps to help prevent hang-ups while on the trail. We recommend these to anyone planning to take a Cruiser off-pavement.