OME, Bilstein or stock??

[kixtand]

Friends--

I am to the point where I can no longer avoid replacing my original shocks on my '97 LX-450. They have ~130K on them and are no longer doing much absorption; the truck is all over the place when you stop or make a turn, it rocks back and ifrth when you enter/leave a parking lot and, as my wife puts it, is "bouncy" just under normal driving conditions.

That said, I am not sure I am ready to replace the springs also (although they could arguably use it) mainly because I am not sure I will like the ride after; I do appreciate the comfortable ride I have (or used to have, as it were.) So, that brings us to my quandry.

Do I go w/ OME, assuming that if I do replace the springs that is what I will use? If so, any idea how the OME shocks will perform w/ the stock springs should I decide to keep them?

Do I go w/ Bilstein assuming they will work OK w/ the OME springs if needed? Also, can anyone give any first hand feedback on this combo?

Do I go back w/ stock and assume the springs will be fine? Do the springs really need to be replaaced, and how could I tell for sure? (This is my least preferred option, given that I think the springs are probably shot along w/ the original shocks, but am not sure how to confirm.)

Like I said above, one objective throughout this process is to maintain some reasonably high level of ride comfort, while at the same time fixing / upgrading what is worn out (I know, its like having your cake and eating it to...)

My initial thought process is that I will go w/ the OME assuming that they will perform good enough w/ the stock springs, and if the shocks alone don't improve things enough I'll go ahead and replace the springs as well. But, I'm not sure about the performace w/ the stock springs. Then when you look at the Bilsteins I'm not sure how they will perform w/ the OME springs should I decide to install them down the road. I do have some experience w/ the Bilsteins on a friend's stock Cruiser and I can notice a difference between the two vehicles as they currently stand. His truck seems to be a bit stiffer, but that could be attributed to the different springs as well.

One other concern I have not yet mentioned is service life. How will the OME and Bilstein hold up long term (assuming I am not doing much, if any, off-of-road duty?)

Thanks in advance for any input/advice--

kix

 

[rolliges]

...or Search

 

[kixtand]

...or Search

I've tried that already and could not find sufficient info.

 

[spartan]

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.

 

[Arsenal]

im putting on some bilsteins this weekend also, 10 inch travel with man-a-fre's stud to eye adapters. will report with my findings

 

[kixtand]

Thanks for the comments so far. I don't plan on lifting at this point, but that does bring up another question. What are specs for the length and such of the Bilstein compared to OME? (I've searched the web on this and could not find the answer.)

Thanks again, and let's keep 'em coming--

kix

 

[Romer]

I have OMEs on the LX450 and am very happy with them. I have Bilsteins on the FJ40 and am very happy with them. I would not go stock, especially the LX450 stock.

I don't think you can go wrong with either OME or Bilstein

 

[Tools R Us]

The stock Lexi shocks are horrible, Dramamine is needed for highway travel. If the truck isn't leaning the stock springs are probably fine. For a nice smooth ride get some stock Land Cruiser shocks from CDan, about $100 and call it done, they are good quality shocks. Bilsteins are great shocks, but will make for a stiffer ride.

 

[Grouseman]

Kix,

Type in Bilsteins on a search.

SS

 

[cary]

I have run the Bilsteins both with the stock springs and the OME low lift springs. With the stock springs, the float in the ride is considerably reduced. The biggest problem with the stock shocks imho, is they are underdampened. They are barely adequate with a driver and no other weight in the truck, add 2-3 passengers and 100+ pounds of luggage and the ride becomes very floaty, the truck blows through its travel, and handling becomes downright scary.

The Bilsteins eliminate most of the issues when loaded down, but still don't stop the bottoming when you have 2-4 people and luggage in the truck. This is because the stock springs are simply to soft to handle much of a load.

Remember that most of the ride quality of a vehicle comes from the valving of the shocks and their respective dampening curves. You can make significant changes in the spring rate of a vehicle without significantly affecting the ride quality. Bilsteins have more dampining than the stock shocks, but ride better than the OME shocks because they use digressive valving with shim stacks, compared to the stock and OME linear valving. What this means is on small bumps the bilstein is providing its maximum dampining as all the oil is forced through the valving. When you hit a big bump, 1 or more of the shim stacks deflects allowing a certain amount of oil to bypass the primary circuit and taking the impact harshness out of the ride. The stock and OME shocks don't have shim stacks so when you hit a big bump all the oil is still forced through the primary circuit leading to harshness.

If you are going ahead and doing the shocks, do the low lift springs. There is very little difference in the ride quality with and without the springs, but handling is significantly improved. To give you an idea, I never told my wife I changed the shocks and the springs in the truck, she just commented a few months later that our LC looked higher than everyone elses.

 

[ductape]

by low lift springs, what do you mean, 2.5 in OME med? with bilsteins B46-1477/78? or a different model?

 

[lt403]

ome

 

[Bruneti]

I've got Bilsteins sitting in the garage that will go on with my stock LX450 springs in two weeks when I get back home. OME lift springs will come a little later.

 

[kixtand]

Kix,

Type in Bilsteins on a search.

SS

Thanks. I had read most of these before, but I did find some new insights (like always...) It seems like I saw a number of posts from you; what are you running now?

Thanks again--

kix

 

[sjcruiser]

My observation is that all stock LX's seen have always been lower (read sagging) than the LCs. Considering the fact that these LXs came 5 years after the LCs, I think the stock Lexus shocks did significant impact the springs' life by the 15% softer valving.

by low lift springs, what do you mean, 2.5 in OME med? with bilsteins B46-1477/78? or a different model?

The low lift springs are OME861/OME862 - supposed to have very little lift (10mm front / 20mm rear).

Mine had the shocks replaced with LCs' parts when the truck had only 35K miles on it; even though, the side to side rocking on highways was still pretty much excessive untill having the lowlift springs installed.

 

[dclee]

If cost is an issue, I don't think you can go wrong with OEM. IIRC, they are Tokicos, which are high quality. Check the archives and you'll find people with plenty of miles on the OEM shocks (including yourself, apparently). If you're willing to spend a bit more, get Bilsteins. Personally, I would avoid OME. I've had them blow on me and read plenty of other horror stories, both here and abroad. When mine go, they will be replaced by Billies.

BTW, I'm not sure if it's the coils or the shocks (or both) that give the LX its wallowy ride, but it's probably cheaper anyway to buy Toyota from CDan, so do that, don't bother going to the Lexus stealership for anything suspension-related on the 450.

My $0.02,

 

[kixtand]

If cost is an issue, I don't think you can go wrong with OEM. IIRC, they are Tokicos, which are high quality. Check the archives and you'll find people with plenty of miles on the OEM shocks (including yourself, apparently). If you're willing to spend a bit more, get Bilsteins. Personally, I would avoid OME. I've had them blow on me and read plenty of other horror stories, both here and abroad. When mine go, they will be replaced by Billies.

BTW, I'm not sure if it's the coils or the shocks (or both) that give the LX its wallowy ride, but it's probably cheaper anyway to buy Toyota from CDan, so do that, don't bother going to the Lexus stealership for anything suspension-related on the 450.

My $0.02,

The quality issue w/ OME seems to be a recurring theme. Bilsteins, however, are consistently regarded as very high quality and durable. That fact alone may make the decision to go w/ Bilsteins for me.

So far, from what I have read along the way, most folks say you can not go wrong w/ Bilsteins from a quality / performance perspective, but they are not ideal for a lift >2". OME is not so lucky regarding quality, and their performance is not consistently regarded. The oem are actually highly regarded, they just don't provide anything in terms of a performance improvement.

Myself, I am, and have been, leaning towards the Bilsteins.

Thanks again for the inputs--

kix

 

[fzj80kidpen]

I am currently running stock.
Just added OME 2.5" springs.
Keeping the monroe stock shocks.
This is the way I understand it.
Better over all ride go to new springs.
Softer shock - OEM
firmer shock - OME
Firmest shock - Bilsteins.
Pick your poison.
If you bouncing then just replace the shocks OEM.
If you have a heavier load, springs and shocks.

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

Never had a problem with OME--love 'em.

Never used Bilsteins but I've heard they are good too.

Probably be fine with either. Anything can break while wheeling. Usually it is the driver who does something dumb, like jam on the gas way too hard to get over some obstacle and a shock blows out.

Dave

 

[ats4x4dotcom]

Ive never been able to get a set of OME to last out of warranty, that was why we started wth Koni about 8 years ago, and progressed onto Blisteins for the last 5 years.

We do around 60 a month for cruisers, and we had one bush failure once [we use toyota part no bushes] and we rebuilt a set that were leaking oil at 330,000km for a customer, and they transform the ride of the 100 IFS cruiser/lexus for on and off road, loaded or unloaded, with the velocity controlled valving we use for our own shocks.