L/C 4.2T front end suspension

frizza, you have not disclosed your tyre pressures. I can imagine if you keep them at the blacktop pressures - up above 28 psi you will have the conditions you describe. High pressure in tyres transfers shock.

Fizza, shocks are everything when it comes to ride quality, it's hard to find a less harsh shock that will still feel good at 100km/h and loaded. Genuine shocks are designed to appeal to the suburban set etc so they will feel really nice offroad at <40km/h and loafing around town.

The shocks you bought are designed to still work well at speed while loaded and on less than perfect roads, so effectively where it matters, and that is the trade off unfortunately, there is every chance the stock toyo shocks could be mentally draining on a long loaded drive and that can become dangerous.

Anyway the only shocks I know of out there that can do both fairly well are the Konis they are soft in compression (which it seems you like) the rebound is adjustable so they can be ramped up to give better wheel control at speed.
I dont sell them, there and probably a few other brands out there actually do a good job at allrounding as well.

Me personally I like the added 'feel' of some of the aftermarket 'common' crop of shocky, but there are times I wish I could switch in real time to a softer set like the Konis.

cheers fnq

PS on fast suspension movements modern shocks are designed to decrease dampening so the wheel has a greater chance of staying in contact with the road which is always a good idea, if they didn't you would think you were driving a rodeo pony, so your shocks when the axel fell away was doing its job, shockers are dampeners only.

A set of Bilsteins will certainly help but you have a lot of weight hanging on an already notoriosly weak front end. Good Luck. Cheers Rob

What you require is a damper with strong rebound valving, which will control the "drop away" feeling, typically OE shocks are valved this way as they give a softer ride on compression. You are asking a lot from a suspension system that has copped a lot of critism for just such complaints(Toyota are not listening though). I'd suggest a pair of big bore Tough-Dogs or Ralphs, which are both adjustable for you yourself to experiment with. They have very large oil capacity which is good for IFS which tend to oscillate more than Beam axles. I seriously doubt that smaller capacity shockers, ie Bilstein,Koni, will be able to control that mass on IFS and still have the reserve oil capacity to fight fade. The have excellent valving characteristics and are rebuldable, but in the end it's oil capacity that is going to be lacking for your situation.

I would agree with Tough dog etc, any big shock as long as they are not gas. I have had Rancho, Gabriel, Tough Dog and have been happy wih them all. Have only had Gas once and they were very harsh. Changed shocks not springs and could not believe the difference, much much better.

i have konis in mine with desert fox(carrols bars)in the front and it handles and rides beutifully(also arb reo kit fitted!)and to date 40000k and quite a few hard and rough trips with no problems! Paul

Have Pedders check the lower control arms for cracks, they sell a strengthener for them if you are wanting piece of mind.....otherwise, have a look through the database for a fellow exploroz ifs 100 driver, who went through hassles with Toyota and OME re warrenty claim and subsequent $12000 bill to repair and retrieve from desert.
Andrew