OME caster correction bushings questions

[western flyer]

I am in the middle of installing a 2.5 inch Old Man Emu suspension I got from Slee on the 97 fzj-80. I had a suspension shop install the OME caster correction bushings in the front control arms (FSM front leading arms). Despite lots of directions, plus the paper OME directions and the Slee web page directions, they screwed up.

They installed them so they will mount up cleanly, and the bushings appear to be square front to back (parallel to each other), but they set up the bushings so the axle is about a 1/4 inch further back than it would have been if they installed the bushings correctly. (Note these OME bushings have the bolt holes offset in order to correct caster changes from the lift.)

Here are the Slee directions and pictures:
Slee - OME Suspension Installation (Toyota 80 Series Land Cruiser)

So, my question is: will this matter if my axle is positioned about a 1/4 inch back from where OME intended with this set-up?

 

[Pin_Head]

Yes it matters. If the bushings move the axle back instead of rotating it, then it won't correct caster. Of course the axle moves back about 1/4 inch just by lifting the suspension by 2.5 inches, so how do you know that the bushings were installed incorrectly and the caster is bad?

 

[western flyer]

Pin_Head,

They way I know the bushings were not installed quite right is they installed the bushings rotated about 5 degrees away from the vertical mark (see below) they were supposed to utilize. It is not a radically off, but my guess is it pushed the axle back a bit. If they were off by a full 90 degrees of bushing rotation, then castor would be the same as stock (and the axle would be quite a ways forward or back from stock). I hope that makes sense.

Per the Slee instructions:

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Next step is to mark the arms as per the instructions that is supplied with the kit. Mark a vertical (plum-bob) line through the center of the front bolt onto the arm.

Once the arms are removed, the bushings can be removed. Before doing this, either make a jig or carefully measure the center to center distances of the front two bushings. The new bushings have to be installed with the hole spacing the same as the old bushings. If this is not done, it will not be possible to re-install the arms.

If you do one arm at a time, you can use the old arm as a guide to install the new bushings.


Use the Slee Off-Road supplied press tool and remove the bushings from one arm. Install the front OME bushing by lining up the marking in the urentane with the line that you marked on the arm. The holes should be offset towards the top of the arm. Once you have it lined up, press the bushing into the arm. Make sure the bushign is centered side to side in the arm after it has been pressed in.
_______________________

Slee - OME Suspension Installation (Toyota 80 Series Land Cruiser)

 

[plutonius]

Take a look at Landtank's template...it truly takes the guesswork out of it. I ordered one up, got some 3 degree bushings from Slee, a 20 ton press from HF, and did 'em myself, and order in the universe was restored.

 

[western flyer]

I should have just bought the press this morning like I wanted to...

Thanks.

 

[Pin_Head]

5 degrees off isn't worth thinking about.

 

[western flyer]

Cool. Thanks Pin_Head.

 

[Nishiki]

Old thread revival. Do they have something g similar to this for a Lx470, my vehicle is off by 3 degrees castor. I really need to fix it. Alignment shop can't.

 

[Pin_Head]

No. 100 series Landcruisers and LX470s are different. Assuming you need more caster correction due to lift and not to damage, there are aftermarket upper control arms that have more adjustment. Check in with the 100 series forum for details.

 

[Nishiki]

Yeah, due to lift. No caster plates or ball joint spacers or anything?

Was hoping to avoid buying the control arms. $600 seems excessive for a piece of bent steel.

 

[2MinutesTurkish]

Yeah, due to lift. No caster plates or ball joint spacers or anything?

Was hoping to avoid buying the control arms. $600 seems excessive for a piece of bent steel.

well then grab some steel and bend it up yourself.

 

[Nishiki]

@2MinutesTurkish, sure, send me a CAD file and diy instructions. Thanks for volunteering.