i have just come back from a month in south africa, in my time there i drove a toyota prado, it is allot like the new landcruiser here. it was so comfortable, the suspension was soft and comfortable, yet firm and did not wollow in the corners- i did not feel every single indentation in the road as i do with my jk.

so to get to the question, i am running a 2.5 coil lit with stock rubicon shocks, will changing to different shocks give me a ride more similar to the prado. or do i not want a ride like this - does this softness hurt offroad performance?

as a side not the pado was running bfg all terrains and i currently have the km2's.

thanks in advance

 

Just let some air out of your tires, that'll soften the ride.

 

A Soft ride is not associated with "Soft shocks". Take a Bilstein 5100 for instance, it is firmer valved shock that soaks up the bumps better, and doesn't sway much when cornering. People associate this with a Softer riding shock. Same deal with OME shocks. Short is yes, better shocks with improve the ride and handling.

 

X2 on the air pressure. Let mine down from 35 to 30, and night and day difference.

 

I have been so fed up with the way my jeep drives I was reads to drive it into the ocean. I decided to get some new shocks as a last atempt to get it to drive better.

I now love my jeep! I put on a set of rancho 9000s and wow what a difference. No more hopping down the road after a bump, no more rolling over through a corner. I cant recomend you get new shocks enough.
I dont have a lift, just a 3/4" spacer up front.

By the way the Parado is sold in the USA as a Lexus and is the underpinnings of the FJ cruiser too.

 

as mentioned, too much air in your tires will give you a harsh ride.

 

Ride quality is a concern of mine as well. I feel everything in the road. I run 35' TOYO's with anywhere from 32 - 30 psi and it's rough! What is the optimal psi in relation to getting a more comfortable ride but not sacrificing mpg's?

 

toyo's are E range tires and, while they are super tough on the trail, they will be a bit harsher on pavement than a C range tire. 32 is way too much for toyo's and i would take them down to about 28 psi.

 

Thanks WOL. I assume that at 28, mpg's will not be affected? Thanks for input!

 

it might but, not enough to matter. depending on how wide your wheels are, i think you will find that at 28, you will have a better flatter footprint and this will actually help give you nice even tire wear.