33's and OME med lift

[RWD]

My totally stock 97 LX DD looks like it's sagging, especially in the back. I think the running boards make it look lower, worse. In the near future I'm planning on adding a OME med lift and 33's and removing the boards. Nothing else will be added (bumpers,sliders, etc) that will add much weight. My stock tires (275/70 r 16) are about 30" tall and the measurement from the ground to the top of the wheel flare is about 33 3/4". So assumeing I gain 1-1/2" for the new tires and about 3" for the lift, it should sit 4-1/2" higher at the flare, no? If I'm correct about the sagging should I expect even more lift?

Anyone with a similar setup (no bumpers, sliders, etc) and the same lift/tire combo care to give me the before and after numbers from the ground up to the bottom of the flare? All I can find is cruisers with more mods/weight.
Bob

 

[T Y L E R]

Just do it .. you'll love it!!




TY

 

[Pyro-boy]

I have this set up right now. There are some pictures of my rig in cruiser garage.


Vince

 

[Romer]

I didn't take any measurements, but here is a previous before and after shot before I added the bumpers, sliders and winch

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showpost.php?p=306694&postcount=10

 

[T Y L E R]

Psst...Romer, is the 'blue' hulla hoop yours? I noticed it's bigger than the other one. ;p


Tech : Bob, what tires are you going with exactly?



TY

 

[RWD]

Not sure on the tires yet Tyler. I like my BF Goodrich A/T's KO on my pick-up so I may go with something like that in a 285 size (if available). I'm taking the first steps with this, asking questions and reading up on what others have done so nothing has been bought yet. Basicly it's a DD with questionable springs. I figure if I have to change them, I might as well get a lift!

 

[Romer]

I am running the BFG AT KO 285's

 

[RWD]

Looks good Ken

 

[OGBeno]

With no weight both up front and in the rear, a couple of things might occur:

1. Your lift will actually be higher than the 2.5"-3.0" that the OME Meds./Heavies do normally. I run the heavies with no 2nd/3rd row, and it definitely sits higher.

2. You might develop different sounds, vibrations, etc., because of the change in drive line geometry. This has been talked about before. Many of the 'problems' generally go away after putting in the OME Caster Bushings in the front control arms. But others might develop.

Another option that you might want to consider would be to just go ahead and get the stock suspension replacement that OME makes. Leaves things stock height and give you stronger and a more balanced suspension system. The OEM Toy. system is also a good idea too. You can easily runn 33" on either one.

Best of luck.
-onur
Akron, OH

 

[JimmyK]

275/70/16s are 31.1 inches just fyi.

((275x70x2) / 2550) + 16 = 30.1

And dont the springs settle about .5 inches in the front after a couple thousand miles? so with the the med lift and the bushings shouldnt he be good to go?

 

[T Y L E R]

275/70/16s are 31.1 inches just fyi.

((275x70x2) / 2550) + 16 = 30.1

And dont the springs settle about .5 inches in the front after a couple thousand miles? so with the the med lift and the bushings shouldnt he be good to go?

You purposely trying to confuse the man ??


275/70R16 = [(275*.7)*2]/25.4 + 16 = 31.16


TY

 

[semlin]

these two threads show before and after from stock to a medium lift on 265/70r16s BFG AT/KO and then afterwards with 285 AT KOs ( ignore the giant dent in the third photo. I know I wish I could ). my stock setup was pretty tired before the lift and I have an ARB up front. I would guess you will get roughly the same lift that I did.


https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=42808&highlight=lift
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=54621&highlight=lift

 

[semlin]

whoops the before photo is missing. darn. I will look for it.

 

[Riley]

I have the med OME lift with 33" tyres. No bumpers front and rear but I do have sliders.

I think it makes a great setup for my needs. Sooner or later you'll want sliders anyway

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Before and after. In the first pic, I have stock set up with a "bad" shock on rear driver side. I got almost too much lift in the rear after the OME.

 

[RWD]

With no weight both up front and in the rear, a couple of things might occur:


2. You might develop different sounds, vibrations, etc., because of the change in drive line geometry. This has been talked about before. Many of the 'problems' generally go away after putting in the OME Caster Bushings in the front control arms. But others might develop.

This is the main reason I'm a little hesitant on doing the lift. I don't want to screw up a good thing. I use the truck as a DD and take long (1500 mile one way) trips and want to keep the suspension as problem free as stock. I'd hate to do the lift and find that it vibrates or makes noise. For a trail rig it aceptable but not something you want to deal with on an extended road trip.

I know that with the lift it will most likely need some caster correction. Instead of putting in the OME bushings, what do you guys think about using Slees plates instead? I think they are meant for a taller lift but with no additional weight, my truck might be able to use them with the medium lift. Another thought is to use the MAF drop bracket that drops the REAR of the control arm. Installation would be easier than bushings and, if the lift turns out to be more problems than it's worth (vibrations, noise) I could pull out the lift and go back to OEM.

As you can tell I'm a little nervous about altering the truck LOL. I don't take it off-road (no where to go for 100 miles, I live in Chicago) so there is no NEED for a lift. I figured if I was going change the springs anyway, I might as well get something that looks better.
Bob

 

[RWD]

Semlin,
Thanks for the link. Really helps to see what I'm getting myself into LOL.

 

[RWD]

Riley and Dirk,
That's exactly the look I'm going for, thanks! Dirk, did you do anything to "correct" the too-high stance of the rear? If not, how is the ride?

 

[OGBeno]

This is the main reason I'm a little hesitant on doing the lift. I don't want to screw up a good thing. I use the truck as a DD and take long (1500 mile one way) trips and want to keep the suspension as problem free as stock. I'd hate to do the lift and find that it vibrates or makes noise. For a trail rig it aceptable but not something you want to deal with on an extended road trip.

I know that with the lift it will most likely need some caster correction. Instead of putting in the OME bushings, what do you guys think about using Slees plates instead? I think they are meant for a taller lift but with no additional weight, my truck might be able to use them with the medium lift. Another thought is to use the MAF drop bracket that drops the REAR of the control arm. Installation would be easier than bushings and, if the lift turns out to be more problems than it's worth (vibrations, noise) I could pull out the lift and go back to OEM.

As you can tell I'm a little nervous about altering the truck LOL. I don't take it off-road (no where to go for 100 miles, I live in Chicago) so there is no NEED for a lift. I figured if I was going change the springs anyway, I might as well get something that looks better.
Bob

Hi Bob:

You might look into the OME stock replacement kit that Christo (and others) sell for a reasonable price:

http://sleeoffroad.com/products/80_suspension.htm#Stock Height Replacement

(at the bottom).

You can see that the kit does not include caster correction bushings since really their isn't a lift involved with this. You get a stronger, stiffer suspension, with better stability. Though, I've heard that some people don't like this set up.

You might be better off trying other options as well--try searching under suspension to get a better idea of the options out there.

Based on what you are telling us about your driving habits/environment a lift probably won't be necessary--unless you are going to Starbies with Tyler to do some curb articulation exercises.....

Best.
-onur
Akron, OH

 

[T Y L E R]

--unless you are going to Starbies with Tyler to do some curb articulation exercises.....

Best.
-onur
Akron, OH

No one rides shotgun with me, unless they can tolerate wierd ass avant garde music (the s***e Beno listens to ... while smoking his methol cools and driving down the freeway without his seatbelt on .. )


But Benos right .. curb flexin is my speed (bump). Last nite I went to leave work. I always drive alongside the base and straddle a few of those concrete parking blocks. Yesterday a nite shifter was already parked like that, so I parked well back from where I normally do , but still straddling. Well I go to drive away and I did two things differently. I cut my turn left sooner than normal because a woman was taking up a seat in the lot in front of me to enjoy the sun, and I also FORGOT that I was WELL back from my usual parking position, and so I immediately started smearing along the curb when I drove off and cranked the wheel. My brain thought WTF, but I cranked the wheel and drove over the stupid thing. Probably looked rather dumb .. but at least none of the pretentious snobs at Starphuks saw me goof .. ;p




TY - 'as you were .."