It is generally considered on the FJ Owners Forum that
the bike benefits from an increase in rear ride height.
The older of my two FJ does seem a little low a the back -
something may have sagged over the years - it happens to us all. So I thought
I'd try it out. The costs are minimal and I'm always up for a bit of tinkering.
As with any bike with a linkage type rear suspension the
ride height can be adjusted by making new "dog bones" with a
different hole spacing. A shorter spacing give increased ride height and visa
versa. Advice from the Forum is that 5mm reduction in spacing gives a 25mm (1
inch) increase in ride height. The original dog bones are single flat pieces of
mild steel so replacements are easily made.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIZ4y4bHVtJtmsP5kh8EQZmg9915IjPjHbIOp79kxNezZxNtK7ErRVSzeACPQ4FTB2zCXd8q-CBokVsQiClBm3WdUK0vug_uHW_SmwRvsqD9vrNSad77ILhkT6uv1M26OX8omFRonPhk/s1600/a%231.jpg) |
Part #15 are the dog bone linkages to be replaced. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGpCcO29JpTaTEdincqoacsBvVywvUIgtdsdjf4BdoesSbYa5TUhacNDgtxaHZaz6mJ2DXNUOW12sQzKmZVd6q5myTzcy0bbtk0YsPBe71oyNi1sCIcgje3QelY4tnjthHfya3hLPvyY/s1600/a%232.jpg) |
I sourced a flat bar 35mm x 6mm x 1000m from Wickes hardware
store. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkExE0ORDHCMTUS3taFTjTjVr6cQ9lmOaXCVQYVNceXE1bGZjKI0fId-YUdCmnxb6j4j3yxw0759kvVWCueB9BaoKa_Uw5vdVcvEByuegWPNkFKLFFi3vr2RvAadGirlWmnjy1qVn0ms/s1600/a%234.jpg) |
The bar is the same thickness as the originals and
slightly wider |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjjRKZ9reH4Ac0LEwHQQKePnDx07HvgZuwoHibmmv-AHgSFMi5Pkr4901sJooCOmkDPzwy9R1aslY-jVItuXFShmmCnlAlWcLlRnKEcYKODsmLsla-owVTkWZz4Up7W7AxH6zlSilX1Q/s1600/a%235.jpg) |
It's important that the new linkages are exactly the same
length so I tack welded the plates together & marked them out for drilling |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjn-AmpZIC8AwKpb1tLZZTUo-XWWGZMGnvOHczEi64XfMvruFWgQi_3ipRxI59azsvLtBt0uuMHGg5iit9yuEpjw0fRT23xY9Bd8mMEFYabGshvJrSariyfi1dgscMwD95zNKqicrg6w/s1600/a%236.jpg) |
A step drill is the best way to get a clean 12mm hole |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GAjqlio78LTdpCQTMk7Qd3prjZyjOYn82GvqPoYwwiGmMQM8TKtlnb4BVKoX_9FwD_C6lbuvt_7cPeucdqYs2oeeYjOz1nb6gLAheyg9AJ-SkaS4uc9cXzDV3uez3PEHd8tJInADbG0/s1600/a%237.jpg) |
The completed linkages |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjjTOhINuNKAxKDcAmf-Uh_w1_x6ZLnjQeHOYQcw9bpvUjpicKimY4HHw4su7ecwhfB-xNriR4WYiDHNVUDH0zsot92M3qmVcMyP-mv5flAslXnp9XQz3A-76SlhVSaoXtQi7sXeWK54/s1600/a%238.jpg) |
Given a coat of paint |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgre_CUnC3bwT9r27kShwdWSppHPWFfnYWXrcv1l3hp0hdRU4rLr_q6uNuH4CKcvFUv7SXYZEAR_uQ6yOvJJmjJlevReGXAaY77u0fOjhjmUhyhAFbgDDf0m7jN-n5kbqwNGiyv8-qKHeA/s1600/a%239.jpg) |
FJ with original linkages (left) and new linkages
(right) - not a lot of difference. |
I'm not using the bike at this time of year but it felt ok
during a quick spin round the block. The roads are too wet & greasy for
heroics just now so I'll have to wait until spring to find out how it
works.