OME Medium Stink bug questions

[nicholas]

From what I have read and seen, it appears that you end up with some stink bug action (about 1'' higher in the rear) when using OME 851/860 springs with stock weight (no after market bumpers, batteries, winches, sliders, drawers). I also removed my 3rd row and I usually leave my spare 285 off the under carrier unless I am on a road trip. I would like to be level after I install this kit next week since I rarely carry any weight or tow anything.

Could I accomplish equal f/r suspension height by using the 1'' Mr. Gasket or preferably the Slee 1'' spacers? Or would it be a little bulldogged (higher in the front) by going this route?

Thanks!

[CreepyCrawler61]

Hmmm... Why don't you try it and let me know I'm about to install the exact same setup on my rig and wondered the same thing.

Before deciding on any particular kit, I searched around quite a bit. Man-a-Fre offers a couple options that they call "level-stance kits", that basically uses different springs to correct for that. They have these kits in different lift heights too. I decided to just go with the OME medium kit from Slee.

I did ask about the stinkbug effect while on the phone with Slee. The answer I got was a kind of vague, "it depends on how you look at it" kind of answer. I got to thinking though, it is just a matter of how you look at it. If it sits a little high in the rear, for your tastes, I guess a spacer up front would be in order.

[jamisobe]

The raked stance is how most trucks come from the factory including the 80 series. Plus, with the raked stance, when you are carrying a heavy load you don't look like your springs are worn in the rear.

[89s rule]

Originally Posted by jamisobe

The raked stance is how most trucks come from the factory including the 80 series. Plus, with the raked stance, when you are carrying a heavy load you don't look like your springs are worn in the rear.

And it can sefely be driven loaded. Are you buying a lift for the look or for the function? Honestly I am doing for both, and dont liek a huge stink bug, but some into too bad. Do it and then post up pics.

[bruff]

I put the OME 851/860 in mine, as well as 10mm OME spacers up front and still ended up with a small 'stink bug effect'. I think that it looks OK but would rather level. As stated before the only thing is that when loaded I now sit level, so I'll leave it alone. I would post up pics but mine is in my garage with the injectors out of it for a few days (injectors being rebuilt).

[mxvet354]

I am about to start a new thread on my OME install this weekend. Maybe what I found out will help.

Curt

[douglashuft]

Mine is also a bit higher in back until its loaded and then its a bit low in back. Lifting the front would not help if you occasionally carry a load.

[supercarrera]

I've got mediums and yes, there is quite a stinkbug effect, but it doesn't bother me. When it's loaded it sits level. I wouldn't want it to be low in the back. If you don't want the stinkbug effect, look into putting heavies in the front and mediums in the back. Lots have done this. You can do a search. From what I understand the spring rate is the same between heavies and mediums. The only difference is the length.

Scott

[MoJ]

Originally Posted by nicholas

From what I have read and seen, it appears that you end up with some stink bug action (about 1'' higher in the rear) when using OME 851/860 springs with stock weight (no after market bumpers, batteries, winches, sliders, drawers). I also removed my 3rd row and I usually leave my spare 285 off the under carrier unless I am on a road trip. I would like to be level after I install this kit next week since I rarely carry any weight or tow anything.

Could I accomplish equal f/r suspension height by using the 1'' Mr. Gasket or preferably the Slee 1'' spacers? Or would it be a little bulldogged (higher in the front) by going this route?

Thanks!

Adding Mr Gasket spacers will bring you very close to level but you'll still have a very slight stinkbug (3/8" as I remember). The slee 1" poly spacers will give you more lift over the Mr Gasket because they don't compress nearly as much. They'll also hold up better.

With all that in mind, consider how the additional 1" of lift up front will effect your caster. In my case, even with an ARB on the front, the yellow OME bushings did not provide enough correction. I'm using the slee blue bushings installed with landtanks templates.

As said above, the easiest route is heavies up front and mediums in the rear. You won't have a need for spacers but you will still face the caster issues.

[nicholas]

Thanks for all of the responses. Like I mentioned, I rarely ever carry a load in the rear, maybe 3 times a year and for short distances. I thought about the heavy's in the front, but I do not have any weight in the front, and Slee and others have advised against that and I have done hours worth of searches that seem to say the same thing.

I guess the general consensus is that OME 851/860 setup will yield about an inch of Stinkbug in the rear. I suppose I will look into getting about a one inch or less spacer to make it level. I will definitely post pics when I am done.

[MoJ]

Originally Posted by nicholas

Thanks for all of the responses. Like I mentioned, I rarely ever carry a load in the rear, maybe 3 times a year and for short distances. I thought about the heavy's in the front, but I do not have any weight in the front, and Slee and others have advised against that and I have done hours worth of searches that seem to say the same thing.

I guess the general consensus is that OME 851/860 setup will yield about an inch of Stinkbug in the rear. I suppose I will look into getting about a one inch or less spacer to make it level. I will definitely post pics when I am done.

Whether you put in heavies or use a spacer it produces the same negative aspects to consider. Heavies have the same spring rate as medium, just .8" taller. Good read:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-te...m-springs.html

[nicholas]

Originally Posted by MoJ

Whether you put in heavies or use a spacer it produces the same negative aspects to consider. Heavies have the same spring rate as medium, just .8" taller. Good read:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-te...m-springs.html

I have read that thread a few times.

Frankies offroad:
two diffrent springs of the same rate one being longer,the longer spring will still have a stiffer rate because there will be more coils for compresion,coil spring gain rate as the coils are compresed. so more coils to compress more actual spring rate.


This seems to make perfect sense. Adding a spacer is not effectively modifying the spring in any way. It's just adding height to the vehicle. IMO it would yield close to the same effect as welding spring perches lower on the frame or higher on the axle except for the mr. gasket/slee spacers may compress a little upon compression.

I'll make a post after I put my springs on.