FJ40 (soft) Suspension

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brian said:
the problem with the omes, is their length and crappy shackle angles.
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What should be the right angle?

My shackles, unloaded and before break-in.
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My shackles, loaded and after break-in.
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Front haven't moved much but rear I find it already too much angled and I'm not at max payload.
 
flx said:
What should be the right angle?

My shackles, unloaded and before break-in.
View attachment 2847188
View attachment 2847189


My shackles, loaded and after break-in.
View attachment 2847199
View attachment 2847197

Front haven't moved much but rear I find it already too much angled and I'm not at max payload.
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Mine sit close to that angle, but, I wanted them there. I'm also SOA, but that angle rides great for me. My shocks are a little stiff now, but it still rides much better.

20210724_231653.webp
 
Couple of points:
It's a 40 year old (+/-) live axle vehicle with a 90" wheelbase that was made for rough use on unimproved roads or no roads at all so your expectations might be a bit much.

As far as broken in suspensions after instillation if you are saying that driving it around on some bumpy dirt roads is breaking it in it is not. Take it out and go flex the hell out of the suspension after you instal it and it will loosen up nicely. I had a stock 77 that was switched to the +2 OME med heavy's with Bilstein 5100's that rode for dog 5hit after the instillation. Took it out wheeling within 100 miles and it rode much smoother and was much more predictable after a day on some blue trails. and some light rock crawling.
 
The mustard40 build just completed by @wngrog for @jomelo proved a 40 can have a bitchin ride with proper leaf spring setup and great shocks. Pretty sure there is video of the truck jumping over railroad tracks?!? I think those Dobinsons shocks are over $1k for the set of 4? I understand this is probably more than most want to spend, but in the grand scheme of things it's really not that much more to go to the Dobinson's full bomber setup (leaf springs & shocks) like this truck has versus a complete OME kit that most say they are content with, but we all know the leaf springs are too short and result in poor shackle angle and also poor rear tire alignment within the wheel well.
 
fj40ingkc said:
Hey @smtdvm I just did the OME 2.5 kit CS001F springs with 8 leafs in front. was surprised when it was stiffer than the original suspension setup. Full OME 2.5 all around with BTB anti-inversion greaseable lifted shackles. I spoke with BTB and confirmed the OME is correct Light/Medium which is the lightest OME makes they say. I would have thought it would be less stiff. This is only 2nd day of driving but it bounces you around and shoots coffee or whatever you're drinking (and holding with lack of cupholder) into your face/roof.

the question i have is, wondering if i did something incorrectly or how long you waited for yours to soften/break in?, BTB reviewed my setup on video and confirmed all is good/installed correctly. with the Zero toward frame side on passenger front and + toward frame not shackle side on drivers front. same on the back end.

How long it may have taken for your ride to soften up. I weigh 200lbs and if i jump on font bumper it probably lowers .75 inches temporarily but not much play. Granted with No-Sway bar I understand why they can't do super soft springs but this seems a bit much. or maybe I just need to be patient. not a strong suit of mine... ha.!
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Max- you really need to break that suspension in before you know what it will be like. It will settle/soften with time. As the springs flatten, the shackle angles will improve and that alone lets them absorb more than they do now. Some people recommend adding some weight and driving it. I’ve also heard that parking it overnight with it flexed is even better. My OME settled just sitting in the garage for a long time.
 
EWheeler said:
The mustard40 build just completed by @wngrog for @jomelo proved a 40 can have a bitchin ride with proper leaf spring setup and great shocks. Pretty sure there is video of the truck jumping over railroad tracks?!? I think those Dobinsons shocks are over $1k for the set of 4? I understand this is probably more than most want to spend, but in the grand scheme of things it's really not that much more to go to the Dobinson's full bomber setup (leaf springs & shocks) like this truck has versus a complete OME kit that most say they are content with, but we all know the leaf springs are too short and result in poor shackle angle and also poor rear tire alignment within the wheel well.
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I need to see this video!
 
EWheeler said:
The mustard40 build just completed by @wngrog for @jomelo proved a 40 can have a bitchin ride with proper leaf spring setup and great shocks. Pretty sure there is video of the truck jumping over railroad tracks?!? I think those Dobinsons shocks are over $1k for the set of 4? I understand this is probably more than most want to spend, but in the grand scheme of things it's really not that much more to go to the Dobinson's full bomber setup (leaf springs & shocks) like this truck has versus a complete OME kit that most say they are content with, but we all know the leaf springs are too short and result in poor shackle angle and also poor rear tire alignment within the wheel well.
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My 40 was running HFS and Bilstein after the first round with @wngrog. The updated Dobinson setup is perfect. Have not experienced a smoother setup.
 
fj40ingkc said:
Hey @smtdvm I just did the OME 2.5 kit CS001F springs with 8 leafs in front. was surprised when it was stiffer than the original suspension setup. Full OME 2.5 all around with BTB anti-inversion greaseable lifted shackles. I spoke with BTB and confirmed the OME is correct Light/Medium which is the lightest OME makes they say. I would have thought it would be less stiff. This is only 2nd day of driving but it bounces you around and shoots coffee or whatever you're drinking (and holding with lack of cupholder) into your face/roof.

the question i have is, wondering if i did something incorrectly or how long you waited for yours to soften/break in?, BTB reviewed my setup on video and confirmed all is good/installed correctly. with the Zero toward frame side on passenger front and + toward frame not shackle side on drivers front. same on the back end.

How long it may have taken for your ride to soften up. I weigh 200lbs and if i jump on font bumper it probably lowers .75 inches temporarily but not much play. Granted with No-Sway bar I understand why they can't do super soft springs but this seems a bit much. or maybe I just need to be patient. not a strong suit of mine... ha.!
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I didn’t put a huge number of miles on before noticing the difference. The springs that I removed were horrific by comparison, so almost anything would have been an improvement.
 
AdventureFJ said:
Where did you get your Dobinson setup?
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I was really interested in getting a full set up for my 40 from them and they never responded to multiple emails or phone calls and gave up and went OME.
 
1MOA said:
I was really interested in getting a full set up for my 40 from them and they never responded to multiple emails or phone calls and gave up and went OME.
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Jason at Overland Outfitters is the way to get Dobinsons stuff.
 
wngrog said:
Jason at Overland Outfitters is the way to get Dobinsons stuff.
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I think I’ll try dobinsons on the next rig, I’ve heard good things like going over railroad tracks and soaking it up. Mine would break some linkages with the OME,,,

I’ll try the removal of front leaf 3rd from top arb said would help. The 3rd leaf is full length but doesn’t wrap around shackles.
 
fj40ingkc said:
I think I’ll try dobinsons on the next rig, I’ve heard good things like going over railroad tracks and soaking it up. Mine would break some linkages with the OME,,,

I’ll try the removal of front leaf 3rd from top arb said would help. The 3rd leaf is full length but doesn’t wrap around shackles.
Click to expand...

I usually have to tune OME springs by removing leafs. I ended up taking out 3 in my 55 and 45 rear packs.

Actually added one in the 45 to front.
 
The worst thing about an OME suspension is the shocks. They are not good. Springs and shackles are important and they are not one-size fit all. Pulling leafs and experimenting is part of it but a OME yeller shock is just plain MEH.
 
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