well, i decided to switch to OME springs just because i don't want to cause any possible damage to the viechle.
Once you actually have all the correct parts needed, you won't cause any more damage over the OME springs. I have logged many thousands of miles on this setup. ONe trip alone was over 6,000 miles towing an M416 trailer CA to MN and back with a week wheeling in CO. If there is anything that causes problems to the vehicle it is lifting IFS but that is just how it goes. As long as you stay on top of it and know what to look for, it isn't that bad.
first, these springs are way too stiff and long for my taste, and there's not much i can do to change it. can change the characters of the steel, can't cut it. really harsh ride.
secondly, the picture i took at the bottom of the rear axle, you can clearly see the OME shocks are stretched all the way out, specially the passenger side. i can feel them absorb any shocks at all. i need to either change to longer shocks or shorter softer springs. changing springs would look wiser for me.
The wrong shocks here are the main problem. I said in your other thread that these shocks would be too short along with needing a panhard drop bracket. If you are getting the Heavy Duty OME springs, those are stiffer than the cruiser coils. The cruiser coils paired with the correct shocks give an amazing ride. I know this because I run adjustable shocks, when it is empty back there I soften the shock up and get a nice unjarring ride, load it up and crank the shocks up and it is perfect. If I forget to uncrank the shocks after the back has been emptied, I will get a jarring ride. Pull over uncrank them and back to a nice "soccer mom suv like" ride.
third, i'm affraid of running on an off-aligned frame would cause more problems to the tires, CV's, drive shaft, etc. correct the problems sooner is better than later.
Once the panhard drop bracket is installed there are no problems there. Especially to your CV's. If you are that worried about your cv's, I would not suggest BJ spacers. The more I read this, the more I am convinced that you should just stay stock in the front with some new shocks and get some stock/slight lift springs in the rear to go with your new shocks. Unfortunately lifting IFS and keeping it aligned can be tricky and if you don't stay on top of it and run it misaligned for very long it will eat tires.
i'm going to have the front BJ spacers and Aisin hub conversion in a week or two, of course at a 4x4 specialty shop this time, i want all my parts on hand before i send here away.
That is smart. I think you would have liked your coils better if you would have had all the correct parts and had the front done at the same time. I am telling you, paired with the bj spacers it gives a nice ride and stance. Cruiser coils alone, just looks rediculous, like some kind of Oildale hotrod.
by the way, i'm starting to hear weird noise coming from the front right axle already. keep my fingers corssed.
I gaurantee that it has absolutely nothing to do with lifting the rear. It is probably your spindle bushing. Wait till you have a worn out idler arm and are hitting bumps, that is an annoying noise! Especially on washboard roads in Death Valley. YOu should look into a downey idler arm brace also if you plan on going to 33's.
