OME advice, experience. etc...

[weever]

I am about to purchase OME shocks and springs. I am curious should I do the medium rear and heavy front combo? or would heavy all the way around be better?

I plan on moderate off roading and will definately tow trailer and perhaps the dune buggy in the future I also am going to be adding a bull bar and winch after the OME purchase...Also can you recommend someone to purchase them from that is good at answering my stupid questions? Thanks all of you for you continued help...

Last, do you think my local toyota dealer can do the install?

 

[sbechtold]

Talk to Jacque at Toyota of Dallas (www.trdparts4u.com) he can help you make the right choice for your needs.

I will tell you that I installed the 885 front springs with N140S struts on my FJ. I also have an ARB bull bar with a Warn M8000 winch. I will be adding some new skids in the future as well. For most people I think the ride would be acceptable. For me the ride is very soft and floaty. I have a set of 886 front springs on order with TOD. I'm hopeful that they won't be to stiff, but I guess I will know the answer in a couple of weeks.

In the rear I went with 896 springs and N142 shocks. I intend on installing a rear bumper/tire carrier when available or I have one made. I also do a little bit of towing and will carry my dirt bike on a hitch mounted carrier. The 896/N142 setup is firm when my FJ is unloaded, but not to firm for me. I think once the bumper is on it will be perfect. Until then I will keep my gas tank full.

There is a great post over at www.FJCruiserForums.com that has some great information that should help you with your decision. In particular post #14 in that thread has some weight ranges that will help you select a rear setup.

 

[TisilverFJ]

Check out http://www.toyteclifts.com/fj.html They have many different options to fit your needs.

I just sent you a PM.

 

[klaus9000]

I have a ARB Bullbar and Warn HS9500 in the front and I tow two dirtbikes alot. I went with OME Heavys in the frt (885) and mediums in the rear (895).

 

[Corey]

I am going with the 886s up front, and the 895s back aft with the n71s shocks.
I forget the front shock #, but I am sure it is the same as the ones sbech has.

I will be running the ARB front bumper and Warnd XD9000 winch.

In the rear all I carry is a cargobox and Powertank.
A little less than 100 lb total, so I think the 895s will do.

Hopefully sbech will have the new rear coils and give a report on them before my installation begins.

 

[sbechtold]

I have a ARB Bullbar and Warn HS9500 in the front and I tow two dirtbikes alot. I went with OME Heavys in the frt (885) and mediums in the rear (895).

Actually according to the ARB website the 885 are the medium springs and are rated for 70# to 180# of front end load. ARB recommends that the 885's be used for either a winch or a bull bar but not both. The 886 springs are the Heavy version and are rated for +230# front load, which would be both a winch and bull bar.

IMO the 885's will work for both a winch and bullbar, but you are pretty much at the upper weight limit rating. If you plan to add a set of skids or anything else to the front you will exceed the upper limit.

 

[sbechtold]

I forget the front shock #, but I am sure it is the same as the ones sbech has.

Hopefully sbech will have the new rear coils and give a report on them before my installation begins.

Corey,

The front struts are N140S. I also got word yesterday that the 886 springs are in transit to TX, then they will immediately be shipped to me in CA. I'm guessing that I will have them in about 2 weeks. Once they arrive I will be installing them and reporting back here and on other forums. I have my fingers crossed that they are not TOO STIFF.

 

[Corey]

Me too, as I may end up having mine installed slightly before you, not sure of the time frame yet.

But if your 885s settled some already, and the frontend feels mushy, I think the 886s would fit the bill.
In the future I will add one skid plate up front when I see a good one being made.

Right now with the 885s up there, is it mushier than the frontend when your rig was stone stock?
I kind of like the ride now, it does not seem mushy at all to me.

I am use to my old lumber truck the '91 4Runner, now that was stiff.
SAW 25 mm T bars cranked, and the winch & ARB.

After I took off those two items, I could go over a speed bump and get air it seemed it was so stiff.

 

[sbechtold]

Right now with the 885s up there, is it mushier than the frontend when your rig was stone stock?
I kind of like the ride now, it does not seem mushy at all to me.

Hmmm, good question. I think the 885's rode better (firmer) then stock initially, but since they have softened up quiet a bit. The side to side roll with the 885's is improved over stock. The up and down bobing with the 885's is worse then stock now that they have settled. However, I never really cared for the stock ride.

The biggest issue for me is the sagging front end and the nose diving when I brake. Overall the 885's ride OK on the road and off-road. They just feel like they are at their maximum weight limit all the time. Have you ever driven a pickup truck that was just about loaded to the limit? That's kind of how the front feels.

Like I said previously, the 885's will be fine for most folks with a bumper + winch combo. For me, the 885's are already too soft and I plan to add a set of skid plates which will put even more weight on the front.

My plan is to install the 886 springs and drive them for about 1k miles so they can settle. Then I will know which ones I like better. If the 886's are too stiff I will switch back to the 885's and install and Toytec .5" top plate spacer or some OME trim packers to compensate for the sagging.

 

[Runner Ryan]

Well, I'm considering getting the OME lift. I was wondering if you have decided if the 886's were too stiff. I prefer a stiffer ride, but I don't want bone jarring.

 

[weever]

I am wondering is the 886 are going to be tolerable if I install them and wait a few months for the bull bar? or too stiff? What can I expect?

 

[Runner Ryan]

I figure I'd give a bit more info.
I want a suspension that provides more articulation. It is my DD, but I'm not too concerned with ride quality. I have 33" MTR's on it now, but I plan to go with 35's, but my goal would be to fit my 38.5" Swampers that I have on my 4Runner. Fender trimming is not much of a problem. I have done a bunch of research on OME lits, and I have just found a bunch of arguing on what's best. Some people talk about diffrent struts with diffrent heights. What I want is a suspension that works, and gives the most lift without doing a SAS. That will happen much later. I'm looking for a true 3" lift front and rear. Suggestions please.

 

[sbechtold]

The 886's are installed and I have about 800 miles on them already. I went on the TTORA Barney Riley run last weekend and the 886's performed great. On the road they are just slightly firmer then the 885 springs and are not bone jarring. They have actually improved the ride over the 885's quite a bit. Off road they are much better at handling the trail. The 885's used to bounce (float) up and down and my skid plate was taking a beating whenever I cam down off a rock. The 886's handled the additional front end weight and I only hit miy skids a few times (all driver realted issues ).

In the end I would upgrade to the 886's all over again. The 885's were way to soft for the additional 200+ # of weight I have up front.