Well, finally felt comfortable wrenching again (dislocated my right shoulder snowboarding last month), so decided it's time to change out the OME poly-urethane shock bushings with OEM ones (thanks for the new ones, Beowulf!!!)
Front driver's one was a piece of cake, so I proceeded to the passenger's, and removed the upper bushings with ease. However, the lower bolt was a b*tch to remove as it refused to budge, even though I had sprayed it with few doses with PB Blaster a week ago. Finally, the bolt let loose, but very sluggish - I thought that it was because of some kind of locktite material in the OME bolt, but to my horror when pulled the shock body out, its lower thread was crossed/crushed I wondered if the mechanic that installed my lift had messed it up then & locktite it as I have never crossed threading anything before in years of wrenching. Also removed the rear ones without any problem at all!
Up to this point, rendering that the OME shock was not re-usesable, I replaced the OMEs with stock ones that I still keep in the garage. Took the truck out for the test drive - WOW, it is much better in term of comfort. The stock rubber bushings dampen up driving over those water/sewer service covers without transmitting much of shock to the truck - love the feel of it!!!
So far, this is the best combination that I have tried: OME springs with OEM shock absorbers (or atleast with OEM bushings) - best compromise of performance & comfort.
Other combinations that I have experienced:
. OEM springs + OEM shocks
. OEM springs + OME shocks
. OME springs + OME shocks
Front driver's one was a piece of cake, so I proceeded to the passenger's, and removed the upper bushings with ease. However, the lower bolt was a b*tch to remove as it refused to budge, even though I had sprayed it with few doses with PB Blaster a week ago. Finally, the bolt let loose, but very sluggish - I thought that it was because of some kind of locktite material in the OME bolt, but to my horror when pulled the shock body out, its lower thread was crossed/crushed I wondered if the mechanic that installed my lift had messed it up then & locktite it as I have never crossed threading anything before in years of wrenching. Also removed the rear ones without any problem at all!
Up to this point, rendering that the OME shock was not re-usesable, I replaced the OMEs with stock ones that I still keep in the garage. Took the truck out for the test drive - WOW, it is much better in term of comfort. The stock rubber bushings dampen up driving over those water/sewer service covers without transmitting much of shock to the truck - love the feel of it!!!
So far, this is the best combination that I have tried: OME springs with OEM shock absorbers (or atleast with OEM bushings) - best compromise of performance & comfort.
Other combinations that I have experienced:
. OEM springs + OEM shocks
. OEM springs + OME shocks
. OME springs + OME shocks
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