OME, Bilstein or stock??

[desertdude]

Shane suggested to me on the phone that I go with the 400/100 - time will tell if it will work for my wieght (or that is was just a blanket offering) - I have also moved into the Slee 4" heavy coils in the rear which has stiffened up the rear just a bit

(I still look at the JK adapters and think they are too massive for the shock)

 

[Darwood]

Hooray this thread is back.

DesertDude,

what is too massive about the JK adaptors? Also do you think you could remove the lower mount spherical bushing on the rear shock and use a normal 3/4 inch poly bushing? Lastly which 7100 shock did you go with?

As for qualifying the rebound characteristics of a 7100 I've found that going over multiple dips works well. If the truck is jumping up uncontrollably after the dip, you need more rebound dampening.

 

[desertdude]

Considering the size of the shock shaft and eye holes - the JK mount is very stout - 7/8" bolt for the body mount seems excessive - no way back once I start

I would like to press out the spherical bushing on the lower rear shock just not sure if I could fine something to press in to work ( in Sedona we have nothing)

7100 - AK 7112SB99 - http://www.bilstein.com/offroad_7100.php

 

[Darwood]

Considering the size of the shock shaft and eye holes - the JK mount is very stout - 7/8" bolt for the body mount seems excessive - no way back once I start

I would like to press out the spherical bushing on the lower rear shock just not sure if I could fine something to press in to work ( in Sedona we have nothing)

7100 - AK 7112SB99 - http://www.bilstein.com/offroad_7100.php

Thanks for the info. So how big is the stud shock mount hole for the 80? Looking at Man-A-Fre's site, it looks like they use a 7/8" bolt as well for their shock converters.

For the lower rear shock, do you think any of these would work? http://www.energysuspension.com/pages/sk_bsp1.html

 

[sportbiker929]

I have had both Bilsteins and OME Nitro charger. I believe they are comparable.

 

[desertdude]

yes they are quite similar - the JK comes with a 1/2" bolt and conical washers for the shock eye mount - JKs 7/8" bolt is welded to the metal

I have not checked the exact size of the lower rear on the LC

the 7100 eyes have lock rings to hold in the sphericals - the bolt size is 1/2" - I wonder if they( bilstein) have one's to match the LC ?

the link you posted looks like they might have something to fit

Thanks for the info. So how big is the stud shock mount hole for the 80? Looking at Man-A-Fre's site, it looks like they use a 7/8" bolt as well for their shock converters.

For the lower rear shock, do you think any of these would work? http://www.energysuspension.com/pages/sk_bsp1.html

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

I've had three OME's blow out over the years. If you lift OEM is not an option. I have a new set of Bilsteins going on this weekend - no more OME's for me. OEM's are great without a lift. Have a full set of four sitting in my garage that came off my truck the week I bought it new in 1997.

This needs a little clarification--MANY people lift using OME's, it's one of the most common lifts out there.

 

[alia176]

I change the lower spherical joint to a poly bushing and then honed it out. In order to space the mount properly, I sandwiched the lower mount between a 1/2" and a 1/4" spacer. The poly bushing was a generic sway bar bushing from Vatozone.

I spoke to shane today and he stated that I should try the 345/135 valving just for the fronts to help with the nose diving. If you already have the 360/80 valving then it's a matter of removing the bypass plate in the valve stack. This will bring the new valving close to 360/135. This sounds ok since I don't need to mess with the rebound side just yet.

He told me to leave the rear alone for now to see how this works out first. If I'm still unhappy with the ride then upgrade the rear to 400/100.

When I asked him how to recognize bad rebound charateristics, he stated that if the vehicle takes a long time to recover from a bump then your rebound is poor. The vehicle should settle down quickly after it hits the bump.

I'll give this a shot to see what happens.

Ali

 

[desertdude]

Thanks for that info Ali

 

[Darwood]

This needs a little clarification--MANY people lift using OME's, it's one of the most common lifts out there.

You might want to reread what he said. OME != OEM.

 

[Darwood]

Ali are you using the same shock model as DesertDude? 7100 - AK 7112SB99 (which is the short body 12 inch travel)

 

[alia176]

Ali are you using the same shock model as DesertDude? 7100 - AK 7112SB99 (which is the short body 12 inch travel)

I think the p/n is correct but not 100% sure. I'm using the 10" up front and the 12" in the rear. That sounded bad

Ali

 

[Darwood]

I think the p/n is correct but not 100% sure. I'm using the 10" up front and the 12" in the rear. That sounded bad

Ali

Hehe. So is the front the short body 10" travel or regular 10" travel?

 

[desertdude]

This from FJben's ROTW write up

Shock mounts

 

[matt 105]

Howdy
FWIW, I once met some guys who worked at Monroe in Adelaide, and as I was wearing an OME hat, we got talking. Monroe makes OME for ARB as I understand it, but as far as they were concerned, the OME is a completely different animal - more welding, and better valving, etc.
Ive always had a good run from OME, but then Ive always had a good run with BF Goodrich tyres, too.
Regards
Matt

 

[alia176]

Ihave SB shocks all around.

 

[Arsenal]

Bringing the thread back to life!!! What's the latest with the two dudes with Bils?

I installed the 400/100 7100's 6 months ago and I like em. They may be a tad soft but I have 315's an ARB and a winch. I will play with the valving after the first of the year when i get some time, but they are liveable as is. One note, I got the shock adapters from MAF and they have 5/8" holes and the 7100's have a 1/2 hole, I didnt have time to return em so I cut down some of the 5/8" sleeves that came with the rear shocks and pressed them in the holes to shim them down. Works like a champ.

 

[Jason Andrews]

Maybe this has been covered before so don't flame me but what is the valving on the OME "L" shocks? For a comparison to the Billies.

I have blown a "regular" front OME shock with the 3" lift on a trail before from over compression, Baja style.

Now I have way too much sway with the "L's" in the rear on 6" springs to be bending curves down I-70 mountain passes without feeling like I am on 2 wheels!

 

[Jason Andrews]

I installed the 400/100 7100's 6 months ago and I like em. They may be a tad soft but I have 315's an ARB and a winch. I will play with the valving after the first of the year when i get some time, but they are liveable as is.

So they are just alittle soft on the front? What about the rear? Good fit or are they a little soft too? Rear bumper?

 

[Arsenal]

Rears are 5150's with 255/70 valving and they are a little soft. I have stock rear bumper but a drawer system with about 200#s of tools and stuff and a 35" spare on the roof over the rear axle. Over all I dont have serious sway, I do plan to go stiffer all around in the future after I move up to 6" springs.