The 2010-2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser SUVs can benefit aplenty from new sets of aftermarket shocks, struts, and/or coilovers, with the following article exploring the available products, while encompassing plenty of experience from suspension-modding pros and fans.
Foreword
If you begin noticing that the oil starts to leak through the seals onto the rods and bodies of your Toyota FJ Cruiser’s shocks or struts, then now would be the time to consider replacing them altogether. However, there are plenty of issues to address while making any further selection of components available from a range of manufacturers. Do you usually commute on city streets and interstate highways? Do you go off-roading, 4x4ing, or rock crawling? Do you need to tow RVs, 5th wheels, trailers, etc.? All of the aforementioned activities demand different suspension setups for your sport utility vehicle, with the present-day aftermarket offering a wide array of shock, strut, and coilover products to make your Toyota FJ Cruiser take on any surface, terrain, or ground like a real champ!
Shock Absorbers for Driving on Paved Surfacing
A high-quality component can last your SUV’s lifetime, if you are planning on driving your vehicle only on paved surfacing, including in urban areas and on freeways. Different potholes, road irregularities, and speed bumps may somewhat alter factory-installed hardware; however, quality monotube components from reputable aftermarket manufacturers will perform for hundreds of thousands of miles yet to come.
Bilstein B6 4600 Series
The components are ideal for the sport utility vehicle owners who commute on daily basis, while occasionally engaging in limited drives on sandy dunes or countryside roads. Bilstein B6 4600s come with durable monotube designs, having 46-mm pistons. The shocks are pressurized with quality Nitrogen gas, with final products being extensively tuned. B6 4600s are engineered for use with automaker-supplied springs, being installed with original hardware. The parts can also be used with aftermarket springs, as offered by a range of manufacturing companies. Bilstein B6 4600 Series are superb for use on any paved roads or surfacing, with driving specifications improved in comparison to factory-installed hardware.
KYB Gas-A-Just Series
The products are engineered to handle daily commuting, being able to handle occasional towing of trailers. KYB Gas-A-Just Series are designed as capable upgrades for factory-supplied shock absorbers, featuring lasting monotube constructions, which are charged with high-pressure Nitrogen. The latter improves handling and increases control, while upgrading a range of other performance characteristics for your vehicle. Gas-A-Justs come with a substantially longer service life than the rest of O.E. replacement products, all while guaranteeing considerable improvements in quality of ride over stock components. Although, any suspension-modding fan should keep in mind that such components will offer more substantial surface feedback than most automaker-installed parts, thus degrading the general quality of ride.
Monroe Quick-Struts
The products come with all of the needed parts, which are required for replacing struts in a single complete package. Majority of these Monroe Quick-Strut kits are supplied with pre-assembled metal bearing plates, both of the spring isolators, coil springs, boots, spring seats, and high-quality Sensa-Trac struts. Such superior designs help save plenty of time on installation, with the products being offered already compressed prior to final assembly. Monroe Quick-Struts come with proprietary, application-designed valving, so as to optimize your FJ Cruiser’s unique handling and riding specifications. These components will help you replace your strut assembly with greater ease in no time at all while lasting for tens of thousands of miles.
Shock Absorbers for Off-Roading and 4x4ing
Taking onto countryside roads and mountain passages can only be just the beginning of a great adventure. The section below explores in considerable detail a variety of components available for taking onto any terrain. These shock absorbers guarantee considerable protection for suspension components from any and all impacts, occurring because of riding over rocks, potholes, logs, and various other obstacles.
King 2.5 Performance Series
The coilovers are called so because they feature shocks that are 2.5” in diameter. They come outfitted with bleed circuits, which can be adjusted, so as to perform reliably on your FJ Cruiser’s suspension. King 2.5 Performance Series are designed to handle considerable dampening, while lowering pressures and temps. The products feature lasting reservoirs, which are manufactured from durable 6063 aluminum, which offers considerable structural integrity while aiding in preventing oxides and rust. King 2.5 Performance Series come with coil wire, specifically developed through extensive research and development, for applications on different types of terrain. The components feature truncated-thread designs, created to ensure superior durability and greater ease of adjustment.
Fox 2.0 Performance Series
The products offer excellent engineering, being made utilizing aircraft-grade aluminum, which can handle any debris at high speeds, while cooling the shock oil and hence components faster. Fox 2.0s are designed to be adjusted utilizing spring collars, which have settings which range from 0 to 2 inches. The products are available as coilovers, featuring linear valves, thus ensuring almost-identical damping all over the curve. Fox 2.0 Performance Series come with monotube designs, having springs, which are created to be adjusted with a special compressor, thus lowering the collar tension to a minimum. The actual ease with which they can be adjusted by utilizing the rotating collar, makes them a clear choice for true performance enthusiasts.
ICON 2.5 VS, Remote Fluid Reservoirs
The components come with ICON’s patented valve-design technology, which features proprietary digressive valving, capable of ensuring considerable tuning capabilities. ICON 2.5 VS products will offer excellent handling and exacting control, whenever the vehicle is driven both on and off road. The products come with superior linear responsiveness, which is especially noticeable at faster speeds, while ensuring plenty of reliability. Any Toyota FJ Cruiser owner can put tens of thousands of miles onto the ICON 2.5 VS Series components, while taking onto any terrain beginning with sand dunes and ending with desert canyons. They are offered in all-inclusive sets, which come with Delta Joints and RXT leaf and bump stoppers.
Shock Absorbers for Towing
Any Toyota FJ Cruiser owner can engage in a variety of activities, which involve towing or hauling something. One can always go fishing or hunting, while towing a trailer or a 5th wheel. Plenty of horse shows can be visited, while hauling a special horse trailer; or you can always drive to the seaside, as you are bringing your boat or jet skis with you. The components described below will help your SUV take on any of the aforementioned tasks with greater ease.
Rancho RS9000XL Adjustables
The components come outfitted with 9 different compression-adjustment settings, which are dialed by using a special red knob located at the shock absorber’s bottom. The latter can be easily accessed at any given time, with the shocks being fully installed on the SUV. All of the aforementioned is created to offer considerable adjustability of ride, thus ensuring a considerable variety of driving qualities. Rancho RS9000XLs are designed to be adjusted from soft to hard quality of ride, thus ensuring all of the foreseeable benefits to the FJ Cruiser owners. The shock absorbers come with durable casings, which are engineered to retain considerable amounts of oil, so as to offer excellent dampening and lower operating temps.
Bilstein B8 5100 Series w/ 46-mm Pistons
These components come designed with a considerable array of engineering advancements, which include monotube bodies, proprietary digressive valving, and lasting ½-in. rods, so as to ensure reliable performance both on and off road. Bilstein B8 5100s feature 46-mm casings and steel-chromium-alloy rods, which are zinc plated for protection from corrosion and oxides. The products are designed with substantial inner volumes, created to retain the necessary amounts of oil, in order to guarantee reliable damping. B8 5100s are charged with Nitrogen up to 200 psi, so as to offer precise and exacting handling. These components offer from 1 to 3 in. of lift, thus guaranteeing plenty of leveling for your sport utility vehicle.
Rough Country N3 Types
The products come outfitted with the company’s proprietary 10-stage valving. Rough Country N3 shock absorbers are charged with high-pressure Nitrogen, in order to make their response more crisp and exacting. The components feature 35-mm pistons, with 18-mm piston rods being machined from durable grades of steel, which is chromed for additional resistance from rust and oxides. Rough Country N3s are designed with 54-mm bodies, which help to retain plenty of oil, lower internal pressure, and dissipate heat faster. The products offer up to 36kN of tensile strength, with piston rod seals being spring loaded. N3s come with special oil, which remains liquid down to -40C, having elastic rubber bushings, which help retain the components in place for years to follow.
