Remember this kind of rig? For you youngun's, this is what Downey and the like were selling way back when. Stiff lifted springs, kicker shocks, whoo hooo. I remember ogling the Downey catalog when I lived in Huntington Beach back in 1983, and my wheeling was all Azuza Canyon and Pismo Beach.

I'm not sure yet, but I think I have some Downey springs and their kicker shock setup, maybe Rancho 5000 shocks? They are stiffer than hell, sure feels like Rancho.

Just a bit of nostalgia for ya. The dark spots are from WD40 - the compressor is pumpin' away right now, trying to keep up with the air tools.

Wow dude, I'm having another flashback. But, actually Downey's were the only springs that rode well and had good flex back then...it was Rancho and everybody else that rode like a brick s**t-house!

those look just like the rancho springs/shocks that came with my first 85 I got when I was in highschool!!!

It rode like a friggin buck board... and flexed about as well as a 12" steel I-beam!!!

I was way ahead of the curve... no one else had even heard of lockers and I melted lead into my diff with a torch to jam up the gears so I could crawl better... I was breaking birfields like weekly with that setup... the stiff suspension would get to hopping and bouncing and then bang!

I used to get replacements with an inner shaft for $15 from my local wrecker!!! I bought every single one he had!

Sorry if this is kind of a Newbesque question, but that shock does what, eliminate axle wrap? I'm guessing it would limit articulation a bit as well?

Originally posted by Big Bad Pete
That shock does what, eliminate axle wrap?No. But it's supposed to.

Originally posted by Big Bad Pete
I'm guessing it would limit articulation a bit as well? Good eye.;)

Haven't ordered a Downey catalog in quite a few years. What are they up to now......
do they still have a big chunk of the Toy market? Is it mostly LAish boulevard trucks?

Jay

Originally posted by ROKTOY
Haven't ordered a Downey catalog in quite a few years. What are they up to now......
do they still have a big chunk of the Toy market? Is it mostly LAish boulevard trucks?

Jay

Jay... Just check their website... ;) yeah right.

Downey gave up on solid-axle frontend toyotas years ago. The only thing they have now is Land Cruiser stuff. For trucks, it's all about IFS and high-dollar induction/exhaust. I guess they have a few things for FJ40s.

BTW my 3" Downey springs ride and flex pretty good for what they are and what they cost. At the time I wanted just a small lift with no driveshaft or steering mods.

Man, that stuff is just getting popular up here in Alaska:D







Just kidding, but I do think that we are generally about 10 to 15 years behind the curve. :flipoff2: