Choosing a Lift Kit: Ironman V OME - Yes Again

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Zhenya

Zhenya

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Jul 15, 2009
Threads
65
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631
Location
San Francisco, CA
Time to do the suspension on the cruiser.

I know everyone here loves OME. A shop suggested that use IronMan and raved about them. Everything I find on this forum says they are just cheaper price and cheaper quality than OME.

I don't want to skimp on this, especially when the labor is so intensive.

Does anyone have experience with both, or at least put their hands on both.

Any input would be great!

:popcorn:
 
Take ACCs word for it. The ironman lift is not lacking in quality anywhere. This weekend, me and a friend are going wheeling at Beasley. You're welcome to join and feel the ride for yourself. Pm me for details if you want.

And I'm not sure where you've seen anything showing that anyone was unhappy with the ironman set up? Both ironman and ARB (OME) are Australian born companies. Both have been around for a very very long time. ARB products have been sold in America for a longer period of time, so it would appear that ironman is some new knockoff brand. I thought the same thing when i first considered which lift i wanted. Then i did a little research and found out It's just not true.

Now, I've ridden in a couple 60s with OME and I've ridden in some with IM. Both are excellent products. Each are very high quality. The IM leafs are a little more stout/thicker than the ome springs, but other than that, i couldnt really tell a difference visually. The shocks seem to be the main difference and i just preferred the foam cell over the nitro shocks. Neither will make you believe your driving a phantom, but they are infinitely better than 25 yo stock springs/shocks.

And if you'd like to save a ton of $$$, I can come by and help install that lift. I've got plenty of tools and I'd love to help a fellow atlantan out. Plus, it makes you proud being like "hell yeah I lifted my own truck" haha. I had mine finished in a weekend, so it doesn't take too long.
 
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I have never put my hands on either brand, but from the info I gather, the IronMan setup is the hottest ticket. Most people seem to swear by the OME stuff, but that notion seems a little overstated and outdated (rhyme tyme).

FWIW both brands outsource their products to slave labor countries just like every other Inc.
 
I've not had any problems with my OME...

Call Kurt at Cruiser Outfitters on OME products, fair prices and good info.

Based on what I've read, I think either one (OME or IM) would be a decent choice.

I don't know if the IM brand has as many options on springs ....
 
I don't understand the OME love thing. The sleeves in the spring eyes are a constant pain in the ass.
Just today I changed out bushings in an OME set on a 60 that were installed in May. If you've got OME's
and you hear a clunk in the front end when turning out of your parking space, check your bushings. The shoulders are probably gone. I ran them a year but wouldn't do it again. It's a shame because the old
OME's from Australia were awesome
 
my next set of springs will be Ironman. I liked the ome when they were new but 4 years later they have sagged and dont hold the small amount of weight i put in it for camping like they used to and i only have about 10k miles on them.
 
I have 230,000 miles on the same set of OME rears. I replaced the fronts two years ago. Since I am SOA, I am forever over arching them, yet they don't seem to mind. They are thin leafs for a reason; the thinner the leaf, the higher the RBM (resisting bending moment). I haven't have Iron Man products, but you couldn't convince me that OMEs are inferior to anything. The new OME springs do have a sleeve in the eye, make a ding in it where the leaf comes together and you won't have any problem with it moving. Mine have never moved on my front springs. And yes, Kurt at Cruiser Outfitters is the man to call on OME stuff.
 
Zhenya said:
Time to do the suspension on the cruiser.

I know everyone here loves OME. A shop suggested that use IronMan and raved about them. Everything I find on this forum says they are just cheaper price and cheaper quality than OME.

I don't want to skimp on this, especially when the labor is so intensive.

Does anyone have experience with both, or at least put their hands on both.

Any input would be great!

:popcorn:
Click to expand...

I've had 60 series IronMan packs on my 42 for 10+ years. They have held up. She has always been an ass dragger and I added some add-a-leafs prior to ACT 2010 and I am glad I did because she was loaded up heavy -ran the pre run, the run and a post run trip - rallied her hard quite a few times. By the end of trip she was squatting a bit more than I hoped. Put airbags in the rear to help and couldn't be happier with them. She's not overly flexy though.

Ironically, the DD HZJ77 runs OME. Holy cow were they rough... At least when they were newer. They've settled a bit and ride smoother now but not as much as I expected. When they were newer it took 7 passengers to make it ride smooth. Offroad they are fine but they sure clunk a bit now and again.

I'm comparing an apple to an orange i realize, but I suggest that you don't shy away from the ironmans just bc some people may say they ride rough. Cause that's what people said to me when they turned up their noses after asking what springs I had.

Edit: x2 on talking to Kurt about getting OME for your wagon though. He hooked up Arnott1t with a set for his HJ after the mains in his stock packs finally broke on Golden Spike. He's been happy with them (quality and especially with Kurt's pricing)
 
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lcwizard said:
I don't understand the OME love thing. The sleeves in the spring eyes are a constant pain in the ass.
Just today I changed out bushings in an OME set on a 60 that were installed in May. If you've got OME's
and you hear a clunk in the front end when turning out of your parking space, check your bushings. The shoulders are probably gone. I ran them a year but wouldn't do it again. It's a shame because the old
OME's from Australia were awesome
Click to expand...

Son of a b!tch, my 60 started a random clunk not too long ago as described above. Good to know what it is, as I thought it may be the TRE's.

Thanks!

Danny
 
Ironman shocks are rebadged Gabriels from Mexico sold with numerous sticker brands. I had them (different brand name, same shock) and they were rubbish. Replaced after 27,000km (with Bilsteins) and never looked back. OME have three different shocks for the front or rear. Ironman have one.

I like my OME springs, great flex, but they are quirky. They have the odd sleeves that slop around in the eyes and can have the lean issue. I don't think that I would buy them again.

Looks like I'm a fence sitter!
 
My 60 got IM in it my dad fitted them about 15 years ago he didn't care about a lift just did it for towing a big horsefloat an since i got it i have put 33 on it an have no rubbing an it works well offroad I'm going to tjm front soon but I'll leave the IM in the rear
 
0 knowledge of Ironman.

currently installing my OME.

I'm a 1/2 banana guy, I mean I bash my knuckles buttering bread - but the OME has been very straight forward, great quality, everything fits. The greasable shackles are nicely engineered and overall you are going to have a huge improvement whatever you choose.

My contribution is to encourage you to do it yourself. Again, i'm a mechanical idiot, and figured it out and yes it is satisfying. Took about 4h for the driver's front, the first one, and each one after that has been about half that.

Now if I can just get the damn rear axle centering pins set !!!!!
 
Hi,

I have recently installed a lift kit. I opted for the EFS kit, heavy duty in the front and back. After almost 5000km there is not a mm of sagging. it is a very comfortable ride and pricewhise it is between IM and OME.

I did a 3000km round trip here in souther Africa, and I am very happy with it. I am planning to drive through Africa next year and most probably will add a leaf in the back because of constant load.

If I could choose again, I would go for heavy duty in the back and medium instead of heavy duty in the front, although I have a bull bar, winch and second battery installed.

Cheers,

Oliver
 
Hey I can't say anything about IM as I've never seen or ridden in a truck with those springs. But I can say that I've been really happy with my OME heavy's. They have a few quirks and my truck does stinkbug (probably because of my heavy bumper and winch) but overall they are great. I'm happy with the ride, way better than stock, and they flex pretty good as well.
Like everyone else says, give Kurt a call, great guy to deal with!
IMG482_zpse8657edb.webp
 
bj60eh said:
Hey I can't say anything about IM as I've never seen or ridden in a truck with those springs. But I can say that I've been really happy with my OME heavy's. They have a few quirks and my truck does stinkbug (probably because of my heavy bumper and winch) but overall they are great. I'm happy with the ride, way better than stock, and they flex pretty good as well.
Like everyone else says, give Kurt a call, great guy to deal with!
Click to expand...

Thank you guys for all your responses. I am starting to think that maybe installing it myself isn't a bad options. Any Georgians like good beer? :cheers:
 
Zhenya said:
Thank you guys for all your responses. I am starting to think that maybe installing it myself isn't a bad options. Any Georgians like good beer? :cheers:
Click to expand...

Me and brother can help. i can probably get some more LC guys if need be. try posting up in the GA cruiser section if you haven't already.
 
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