Flex out your springs to break them in before you change anything, this can be done with ramps on opposite sides front to rear or across a ditch. You'll be surprised how much it changes the ride
Shorty is looking good!
Tucker
OME 2.5 spring install 65 FJ45 SWB
- Thread starter DomSmith
- Start date
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Shorty is looking good!Tucker
And retorque your U Bolts.
I have retorqued mine about 4 times, and they need it again.
I have retorqued mine about 4 times, and they need it again.
X2 - I was really surprised to see the OME U-bolts not having nylocks, I went with the HD U-bolts from Mark. They're beefy
Tucker
Dom-
Good thniking. The frame measurements will work fine. Just let me know where you measured from.
Wonderful thread & i love all the step by step instructions/pics. I was at Wimberly4X4 last weekend and saw a almost fully restored FJ45 with the same setup. It looked very stout. Do the original springs loose their shape over time or did you just want to lift it a bit?
Hi Dom,
Do you know the stroke of those shocks? I blew out one of mine removing it and am looking for replacements for all four corners but want to make sure that I get the right ones. I have the OME shocks on my J**p with a 2 1/2 inch lift and they work great. The ride is like stock but they did sag a little over the first few months. It may be coils vs leaf make a difference in the sag factor.
Cheers,
Jim
Do you know the stroke of those shocks? I blew out one of mine removing it and am looking for replacements for all four corners but want to make sure that I get the right ones. I have the OME shocks on my J**p with a 2 1/2 inch lift and they work great. The ride is like stock but they did sag a little over the first few months. It may be coils vs leaf make a difference in the sag factor.
Cheers,
Jim
This thread is a "how to" read for sure. I'll be doing the same swap next summer - thanks Dom
Great writeup Dom & thanks again! 
- Thread starter
- #30
Jim-
I don't know the stroke. Give Kurt a call, he's very helpful.
Thanks for all the positive feedback everyone.
Your lift turned out very sharp, Dom.
I've got a general question regarding lift options. I see some using 2.5" lifts, others 4", etc. Sometimes a combo of 2.5" & shackles.
Some plan clearly on lifting to somewhere around 4" but use 2.5's and shackles to do it. Is that because of ride quality? I see where in your case you mentioned preferring a 2.5" and leveling w/ shackles but in general terms if I wanted a roughly 4" lift is it better to go 2.5" springs and 1.5" shackles than just a 4" spring?
I've got a general question regarding lift options. I see some using 2.5" lifts, others 4", etc. Sometimes a combo of 2.5" & shackles.
Some plan clearly on lifting to somewhere around 4" but use 2.5's and shackles to do it. Is that because of ride quality? I see where in your case you mentioned preferring a 2.5" and leveling w/ shackles but in general terms if I wanted a roughly 4" lift is it better to go 2.5" springs and 1.5" shackles than just a 4" spring?
if you want a 4" lift - go with a 4" lift and use stock shackles. You get your shackles too long and you are going to throw off steering (will be come darty and hard to control) and your pinion angles can suffer as well.
Just my .02
Just my .02
- Thread starter
- #34
UPDATE: INSTALLED THE STEERING STABILIZER..
Well after going through the hassle of installing the steering stabilizer (OK it was 4 bolts...
) the truck would not turn right. At all.
I looked around and tried to figure out what the hell was up...
Normally I just push until something breaks but I had a little patience this time and determined ARB had shipped me the wrong one. I got the SD24 which is for the 60 and 70 series.
A quick call to Kurt and he had the correct one (SD23) n the way UPS with a pre-paid shipping sticker inside. So...
The correct OME stabilizer...
I removed the stock Toyota...
The instructions in the OME box were very simple and I thought they were pretty weak until I read them. Plain and simple with a couple of pics. Easy enough...
One bolt on the center arm...
And the other on the front of the frame. Installed two tapered bolts with nylon nuts (4 total) and voila!...
Steers BOTH WAYS!!!
Well after going through the hassle of installing the steering stabilizer (OK it was 4 bolts...
) the truck would not turn right. At all.I looked around and tried to figure out what the hell was up...
Normally I just push until something breaks but I had a little patience this time and determined ARB had shipped me the wrong one. I got the SD24 which is for the 60 and 70 series.
A quick call to Kurt and he had the correct one (SD23) n the way UPS with a pre-paid shipping sticker inside. So...
The correct OME stabilizer...
I removed the stock Toyota...
The instructions in the OME box were very simple and I thought they were pretty weak until I read them. Plain and simple with a couple of pics. Easy enough...
One bolt on the center arm...
And the other on the front of the frame. Installed two tapered bolts with nylon nuts (4 total) and voila!...
Steers BOTH WAYS!!!
Last edited:
Dom, did the stabilizer seat all the way onto the bolt at the end closest to the center arm? In the pic you posted, the center arm hiding what I am asking about. My stabilizer would not go all the way down on the bolt so I was wondering if they sent me the wrong one or if it is not suppose to?
- Thread starter
- #36
Here's how mine bolted to the center arm. The bolt ends that attach the to the frame and arm are tapered and tightened all the way and they are well seated but have a slight gap. As for the stabilizer, the eyelet is seated pretty well on each end.
Here are closeups...
I did take note that the hardware for the 24 (60 and 70 series) was the same as the 23 (40 series) so maybe the tapered ends fit deeper into those applications? These are snug as can be so I'm not sweating it. Hope that helps.
Here are closeups...
I did take note that the hardware for the 24 (60 and 70 series) was the same as the 23 (40 series) so maybe the tapered ends fit deeper into those applications? These are snug as can be so I'm not sweating it. Hope that helps.
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I'm laughing while thinking about you driving around your block in one direction, since you can only turn one direction.
UPDATE: INSTALLED THE STEERING STABILIZER..
Well after going through the hassle of installing the steering stabilizer (OK it was 4 bolts...
I looked around and tried to figure out what the hell was up...
Normally I just push until something breaks but I had a little patience this time and determined ARB had shipped me the wrong one. I got the SD24 which is for the 60 and 70 series.
A quick call to Kurt and he had the correct one (SD23) n the way UPS with a pre-paid shipping sticker inside. So...
Steers BOTH WAYS!!!
Last edited:
Looking great Dom
As a note the tapered pins on the SD23 and SD24's are not supposed to seat 100%, and I can promise you that if you try, they will break in half
I try and make a point of that when talking with customers, thanks for the reminder.
As a note the tapered pins on the SD23 and SD24's are not supposed to seat 100%, and I can promise you that if you try, they will break in half
I try and make a point of that when talking with customers, thanks for the reminder.
POst #8.. Picture 1.. Top pin.. Greasable replacement pin for the stock FJ45 rear fixed hanger. I"m eventually going to need 2-6 of those pins depending on if and when i order I grab 2 sets for chef.. I've never seen that pin before and need to add that part # to my future ARB/OME purchase list when I get to that point. We also have a set of springs coming for Chef's FJ45LV so I'd like to get ahead of the game and get those coming. Anyone have a Part # for those pins? Please and thank you..
We also have a set of springs for chef's 45 pickmeup truck sitting awaiting but either way we might be needing 6 pins..
All i've ever seen in the past was the greasable pin from SOR and or CCOT but not sure of the hardness of aftermarket non-descript stuff and have had bad experiences with poor quality greasable pins in the past wearing thru and darn near breaking on me.
Thank you in advance.. Erik..
We also have a set of springs for chef's 45 pickmeup truck sitting awaiting but either way we might be needing 6 pins..
All i've ever seen in the past was the greasable pin from SOR and or CCOT but not sure of the hardness of aftermarket non-descript stuff and have had bad experiences with poor quality greasable pins in the past wearing thru and darn near breaking on me.
Thank you in advance.. Erik..
Great thread! I will definitely be referencing these pictures when it comes time to set up the springs on my LV. Especially the 1" set back. Thanks.