OME AHC replacement

[Lettfeti]

Hello all.

After constant problem with the AHC on my 1998 diesel I finally gave up and I'm now planing what to use in stead.

The main options are OME and Ironman and I'm leaning towards the OME. I'm going for lift kit, at least 2". I have got 295/75R16 BFG but would like to fit 315.

Moste of the time this car is used by my wife driving to work, but it is also used for ski trips, family trips on highway and on rugged trails in the central highlands. It has been and will occasionally be used to tow heavy trailers both on highway and on the rugged central highland roads.

So this car will have many different tasks but no rock crawling (or what you call it) and no glacier driving (that would mean at least 44" tires for a car this heavy).

So what I have found out I need after searching both here on mud and around the internet.

OME 303002 Front OME Torsion Bars
60000 Front Nitrocharger Sport Shock
OME 2865 Rear OME Coil Spring or OME 2860 Rear OME Coil Spring
60002 Rear Nitrocharger Sport Shock

I'm not going to add a steel bumpers, the car will be close to stock apart from tires.

My question are:
why is the 860 coil spring not listed for pre 2000 cars?

Should I use spacers to reach the same hight with 865 or is it just not wise lift the car more than the 1.5"-2" the 865 will give me?

What do you think of this set up for a car that is usually in town and on highway but must be ready for rugged trails with 1 and 3 year old, dog, wife and trunk full of camping gear.

 

[Lettfeti]

Ok, now I have finished the suspension exchange.

Based on this, I decided to go with 865 and 15 mm of spacers, that is what ARB USA recommends.

The removal of the AHC stuff was not fun, I drilled a hole in the trunk for both of the rear shocks and had to drill the top lug of the shocks since long enough breaker bar could not be fit in the truck.

The adjustment bolt on the passenger side T-bar was also horrible and after whole days work with 1.5 m long breaker bar we decided to try to remove the old T-bar and install the new one with out removing the anchor arm. That did actually worked since we had already loosened the bolt quite a bit.

With these 15 mm of spacers in the back the rake is about 40-50 mm (1.5"-2"). I cannot raise the front any more to keep the minimum droop, I actually only have about 50 mm not 60 mm like recommended.

The ride is not bad but nothing can compere to a full functional AHC. The back is a bit bouncy but got somewhat better after I replaced the spare tyre. It will be interesting to try the car fully loaded with kids and camping gear.

Now I will set my focus on a 1" body lift and some 315/75R16 for the winter. The body lift kit mentioned here is interesting but I have to see if they will ship to Iceland.

 

[Wilsil]

So you had fun replacing the AHC?

 

[Lettfeti]

Not really no, would have like to use the weekend for something else. Will probably have to use the next weekend also to finish this up.