Finally got around to mounting up the IronMan 4” suspension kit that’s been sitting in my garage for the last few weeks. I had tried to get some shop time with Dave Crum and his lift, but he was busy and today was the only day this week I had free. Work is a good thing.
The old setup was from 2002. OME 850J/863J with the corresponding L shocks. The fronts had 2 of the OME spacers which I left in place.
I pulled all 4 shocks off first. Not too much drama other than the crushed lower mounts in the rear. I spent a good deal of time cleaning and grinding the bolt heads back to some reality. I have an order in for 2 more plus hardware. The rear upper shock plates looked pretty bad when I took them out, so they went on the bench grinder, into a bath of Simple Green, and got a coat or 2 of Rustolium. Anyway, I went at the springs with a HiLift to pick up each side and the OEM bottle jack and a couple of scraps of 2x4 to jack down the axle. Again, no drama here. Did my best to clean up the spring seats.
Couple of notes. The IronMan spring steel is significantly thicker than the OME springs I had on there and the shock bodies are just freaking huge. Spring height was close if not identical with them sitting in my driveway. The curvature of the rear lower springs where they mate to the spring seat is a slightly larger radius than the OME, but IMO nothing to be concerned about.
The ride is vastly improved IMO. Much less body sway, less nose dive during heavy braking, but the real deal is the way these shocks eat up the bumps. I have no more of the bone jarring hits when she dumps into a pothole. They just soak it up. Did a combined highway/city run and she drives really nice. I’m a happy camper. I won’t get a chance to take her into the woods until Memorial Day weekend, so that report will have to wait.
Right now the truck sits perfectly level with the typical amount of crap I carry. We’ll see what happens over the next few weeks.
Thanks again to Eli at Camel4x4 for a good product at a good price.
BTW, if anyone is interested in my old setup for the low low price of free for nothin’, speak up now or it’s going into the scrap pile.
The old setup was from 2002. OME 850J/863J with the corresponding L shocks. The fronts had 2 of the OME spacers which I left in place.
I pulled all 4 shocks off first. Not too much drama other than the crushed lower mounts in the rear. I spent a good deal of time cleaning and grinding the bolt heads back to some reality. I have an order in for 2 more plus hardware. The rear upper shock plates looked pretty bad when I took them out, so they went on the bench grinder, into a bath of Simple Green, and got a coat or 2 of Rustolium. Anyway, I went at the springs with a HiLift to pick up each side and the OEM bottle jack and a couple of scraps of 2x4 to jack down the axle. Again, no drama here. Did my best to clean up the spring seats.
Couple of notes. The IronMan spring steel is significantly thicker than the OME springs I had on there and the shock bodies are just freaking huge. Spring height was close if not identical with them sitting in my driveway. The curvature of the rear lower springs where they mate to the spring seat is a slightly larger radius than the OME, but IMO nothing to be concerned about.
The ride is vastly improved IMO. Much less body sway, less nose dive during heavy braking, but the real deal is the way these shocks eat up the bumps. I have no more of the bone jarring hits when she dumps into a pothole. They just soak it up. Did a combined highway/city run and she drives really nice. I’m a happy camper. I won’t get a chance to take her into the woods until Memorial Day weekend, so that report will have to wait.
Right now the truck sits perfectly level with the typical amount of crap I carry. We’ll see what happens over the next few weeks.
Thanks again to Eli at Camel4x4 for a good product at a good price.
BTW, if anyone is interested in my old setup for the low low price of free for nothin’, speak up now or it’s going into the scrap pile.
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