Hello, I just recently bought an '87 Samurai.  I took it deer hunting and basically rode around for twenty hours offroad.  I have little complaints, it performed great!  It even backed out of a ditch, I thought I would be stuck in forever.  My question is...is there a softer suspension out there?  It seems very stiff, and it was a real neck breaker on the rocky roads.  As far as I know it is the stock suspension.  I was thinking about a small lift, but would like something a little "softer".  Thanks for any suggestions.

... I was thinking about a small lift, but would like something a little "softer"... 

 
I chose the OME springs with the softer Gabriel shocks -- softer springs & shocks with a small (~1.5") lift.
I'm now on 235/75R15s (29x9.5") with the addition of their (PW's) 3/4" HD shackles (3/8" lift). 
I'll not go higher, as my Samurai is a road highway car (too) much of the time. 

http://www.petroworks.com/Products.php?Action=ViewProduct&ProductID=117
           

Hello, I just recently bought an '87 Samurai.  I took it deer hunting and basically rode around for twenty hours offroad.  I have little complaints, it performed great!  It even backed out of a ditch, I thought I would be stuck in forever.  My question is...is there a softer suspension out there?  It seems very stiff, and it was a real neck breaker on the rocky roads.  As far as I know it is the stock suspension.  I was thinking about a small lift, but would like something a little "softer".  Thanks for any suggestions.

The first thing is to determine what suspension is actually on it - chances of you having an 87 with the stock springs is not that high - maybe get some pictures posted and someone can help identify what's there.

Here are some pics of the suspension, the shocks on it look pretty old?  I replaced the shocks on a Blazer I used to have, and it was still neck breaking stiff.  This is also going to be my daily driver.  i don't want to so anything too extreme, maybe just a small lift, and some bigger tires.  I DO want a better, smoother ride.  On highway and off.  Thanks

Looks pretty stock to me, something simple to check is tire pressure.  Make sure they are not crazy high like 60 psi.  I've seen people do that before.  Looking at the tire, to judge how much air is inside!  But don't go to low with stock tires.  If you go bigger tires, I've seen some rock crawler guys run as low as 12 psi before.  Probably not the safest at high speeds though!   

They should be 20psi all around for street duty too, 28 psi when there is a lot of weight in the back.

Most non-Samurai people/new owners like to put 30+ psi in the tires.  For example one summer I loaned a Samurai to my brother and he aired up the tires to 30+ psi.  I drove it a few days later and couldn't believe at how rough the Samurai rode and how darty it handled.  Then I checked the air pressure and found that the tires were all at 32+ psi.    I lowered the tires back down to 20psi and everything was much better.

That's a really nice, clean/straight looking tintop too.   

That's a really nice, clean/straight looking tintop too.   

Thanks!

Tonight I just finished installing the OME 2" spring lift on my winter tintop Samurai. It rides really nice now and it lifted it up just enough, but not too much.

That Zuk reminds me of mine when I got it

 I put a Calmini shackle reverse and it road better. Two inches of lift. Then I put on OME springs for another 1 1/2" of lift. This called for longer shocks and a drop pitman for steering. Ride is night and day. I used cheapo Gabriel shocks from Autozone.

Now on 235's

One thing I don't like about the Calmini SR is how much is raises the front end.  Unless you put some high arched (and rough riding) rear springs or a massive shackle on the rear spring, the front end will always be pointed upwards.


Since everyone is posting their tintops photos, here is mine with the OME lift just installed.  He is a little bit dusty as he has been sitting under a carport since May of last year.