Spring recomendations...

[Towpack]

I'm after some F&R springs to replace the tired originals, now 26yr old with 138k miles under their belt. It's a standard 80 and I want to keep original ride height and restore the ride quality it once had. To that end I intended to buy OEM Toyota springs via Amayama but they now are coming in at over £640 inc shipping and VAT but excluding import duty which could be anything from 0 to 20%, I've not been able to find a definite figure. Out of curiosity, I priced them up at a local main dealer, fronts £346.26 + VAT each and rears £284.62 + VAT each!!
Much as I like to use OEM parts I've decided I can't justify £600+ on four springs.
All the aftermarket springs I've seen either give a suspension lift or are "uprated" xx%, neither of which I want or need.
Any suggestions please?

 

[frank rabbets]

Are you sure they have sagged? Measurements in the WSM I would think. If they have not sagged I don't think ride will be better with new ones.

 

[Towpack]

It sits 10mm lower on the RHS than the left as measured from the ground to the bottom of the wheelarch.
There are measurements given in the FSM of 25mm front and 45mm rear, the "spring follower clearance" but it's not very clear exactly where it's measured. Looking at photos I have of it when I first got it in 2005, some 91k miles ago it was sitting noticeably higher. It was 7 years old and 47k miles when I bought it and I'm assuming it has the original standard springs but I have no way of proving that.

The (approx) ride height given for the uprated but "standard height" Pedders springs on the Roughtrax website is almost 50mm higher at the back than it is currently sitting.

Ride quality could also be affected by the suspension bushes of course, while not showing any play they will probably have hardened and lost some of their ability to cushion and isolate road noise and vibration.

 

[Grimbo]

I did have some new original 100series ones..... obviously only rears.... they would be pretty similar to OE 80 ones.... let me have a root about in the sheds and see if I have a pair left...

 

[Lorin]

Ride quality will be far more affected by tired bushes and shocks than springs.

Old Man Emu do standard height stock weight springs. May be worth trying a supplier that stocks them.

A super cheap hack would be to fit spring spacers to get back to original height.

 

[Shayne]

Taking in all previous comments I was banging my head against a wall trying to remember the name "KONI"

a quick search with third world internet (Isle of Man) suggests they have adjustable shocks for the 80 allowing you to tune the ride to your liking .

 

[Towpack]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've checked my records and I changed the shocks in 2014 at 99k as one of the originals had leaked. I thought they were newer than that. I fitted OEM items as they were on offer at a local dealer. They still look fine, no leaks but I might just have another look at those first, even though they've done "only" 39k, as they're pretty easy to remove.

 

[chapel gate]

Get a price from your main dealer TP and ask for discount. They are classed as service items, so may work out cheaper, if not the same price as the middle east.

Stock is the best bet to retain ride comfort.