Hello All! I posted a little about the OME MT64 on my build thread, but now that I have had a little time with it I figured I would open a new thread and expound a bit.
For Background, we use our 200 as a family adventure gear hauler for weekend warrior trips as well as at least one longer trip each summer. I've owned a lot of 4x4s up to full on rock buggies, and can't turn down an interesting looking 4x4 road along the way. We recently upgraded our nearly 300k mile 2008 for a 2016 with 93k miles, so I got a clean sheet to start over. Typical load out includes camping gear, paddling gear, 4 bikes, and our family of 4. Here's the truck on stock suspension loaded for a weekend:
Even with this moderate load, the factory suspension was pretty well tasked, and we needed something to handle a medium load while still staying comfortable unloaded.
Here are the parts I installed: Even thought they didn't show them on the website, Cruiser Outfitters (and DRKDSS) was able to have the whole setup in my hands in right at a week. Don't let the lack of listed online vendors dissuade you from this setup, It's out there for you to find.
Front:
OME MT64 Front Struts with 4010 Springs (Set 2 clips from the top, this is the Steel Bull Bar, no winch setting, which I figured was closest to Aluminum bar and winch with synthetic line)
OME Upper Control Arms
One new Toyota CV half shaft (my oops, see below)
Rear:
OME MT64 Shocks
OME 2721 Rear Springs
OME 10mm Trim Packers both sides (I loved the 2721s on my last 200, but I was afraid they might be a little short if the MT64s gave more lift than my 6112s did)
DRKDSS Bolt on KDSS Correction Kit
Before:
After:
Install Notes:
Only a few notes, I've installed suspensions on our previous 200, Several Tacomas, etc, so I didn't take a lot of notes or pictures, but here's what stood out:
1) I installed the front coilovers without a spring compressor using the truck to compress the spring (there are a few videos out there). This way honestly feels safer to me than the commonly used threaded rod type strut compressors because the coil is contained, but it is a little tricky to get everything lined up solo. Also, at beyond full droop (where you'll have the LCAs to get everything in position to start compressing the coil) the bulky aluminum lower eyelet of the strut wants to interfere with the LCA a bit, which makes this a bit harder. Once everything is in place, there's no interference throughout the travel.
2) I made the mistake of overextending one of the CV Shafts and a ball or two dropped out of the inner cage inside the boot. To save time and hassle, I ordered a new Toyota Shaft to put in, and will fix the other one for a spare when I get a chance.
3) The DRKDSS BOTCK works sweet and centered the rear axle perfectly and was super easy to install.
4) The OME UCAS have these sweet aluminum caps for the ball joints, but you have to remove the grease zerks to install? That seems odd to me, and I am sure I would immediately lose the zerks and regret it the next time I tried to grease the ball joints, so I am running without the caps. We'll see if I regret this.
5) Overall time was about 6 hours for the front the first day, and then 8 hours the following weekend to install the Rear, replace the CV axle shaft, paint the rock warriors, and do a quick tape measure alignment, all Solo. Without the CV axle replacement, with preassembled struts, and with an extra set of hands it would easily be an 8 hour day.
These things are Beefy:
First Test Drive dirt:
We've put about a thousand miles on it now, with some limited off-road use. I still haven't gotten a full alignment, but it feels so good with my tape measure alignment I'm just going to wait a few months til I go get new tires.
Compared to Stock:
Ride is firmer, but still feels supple off of the top. Ride height feels much better. Coming from a 2" lifted 200 series before, it feels much more like home. Load carrying for our purposes is great, and it doesn't sag too much. We had the same 2721 springs in the rear of our last 200, so I am confident our full load out will be just fine. No more or less body roll than before, but movement feels much better controlled. My wife's best compliment was that it "feels much more like a Cruiser should".
Compared to our 2008 with Bilstein 6112s:
Slightly more compliant, especially on small bumps/washboards, yet still firm and not floaty at all. The rear end feels more planted over high speed bumps, this may be the DRKDSS keeping the swaybar level. Better Highway ride with less harshness. I moved this same exact wheel/tire setup over from the 2008, so the difference would be the suspension. Also note, our 6112 setup was getting up around 100k miles and had one strut weeping slightly, so perhaps it's not apples to apples with a new 6112 setup, but the ride of the MT64 is better than I ever remember the 6112s being.
Compared to OME's Nitrochargers:
I've installed OME's standard Nitrocharger setups on our 100 series and 2nd Gen Tacoma in the past, and I don't recall either having quite the composed "Firm But plush off the top" feeling of this setup. Not apples to apples, but I do think if you're looking for a suspension for your 200 it's worth at least considering the extra $1000 or so to get the MT64.
Overall, we're very happy with how good the MT64 rides and handles our gear load for family adventures. I always say the secret sauce of the 200 is that it can hang with Jeeps offroad, and still do 90 across Kansas on the way home, and this kit hits that use case squarely. I'd recommend it, and will update this thread if anything changes.
For Background, we use our 200 as a family adventure gear hauler for weekend warrior trips as well as at least one longer trip each summer. I've owned a lot of 4x4s up to full on rock buggies, and can't turn down an interesting looking 4x4 road along the way. We recently upgraded our nearly 300k mile 2008 for a 2016 with 93k miles, so I got a clean sheet to start over. Typical load out includes camping gear, paddling gear, 4 bikes, and our family of 4. Here's the truck on stock suspension loaded for a weekend:
Even with this moderate load, the factory suspension was pretty well tasked, and we needed something to handle a medium load while still staying comfortable unloaded.
Here are the parts I installed: Even thought they didn't show them on the website, Cruiser Outfitters (and DRKDSS) was able to have the whole setup in my hands in right at a week. Don't let the lack of listed online vendors dissuade you from this setup, It's out there for you to find.
Front:
OME MT64 Front Struts with 4010 Springs (Set 2 clips from the top, this is the Steel Bull Bar, no winch setting, which I figured was closest to Aluminum bar and winch with synthetic line)
OME Upper Control Arms
One new Toyota CV half shaft (my oops, see below)
Rear:
OME MT64 Shocks
OME 2721 Rear Springs
OME 10mm Trim Packers both sides (I loved the 2721s on my last 200, but I was afraid they might be a little short if the MT64s gave more lift than my 6112s did)
DRKDSS Bolt on KDSS Correction Kit
Before:
After:
Install Notes:
Only a few notes, I've installed suspensions on our previous 200, Several Tacomas, etc, so I didn't take a lot of notes or pictures, but here's what stood out:
1) I installed the front coilovers without a spring compressor using the truck to compress the spring (there are a few videos out there). This way honestly feels safer to me than the commonly used threaded rod type strut compressors because the coil is contained, but it is a little tricky to get everything lined up solo. Also, at beyond full droop (where you'll have the LCAs to get everything in position to start compressing the coil) the bulky aluminum lower eyelet of the strut wants to interfere with the LCA a bit, which makes this a bit harder. Once everything is in place, there's no interference throughout the travel.
2) I made the mistake of overextending one of the CV Shafts and a ball or two dropped out of the inner cage inside the boot. To save time and hassle, I ordered a new Toyota Shaft to put in, and will fix the other one for a spare when I get a chance.
3) The DRKDSS BOTCK works sweet and centered the rear axle perfectly and was super easy to install.
4) The OME UCAS have these sweet aluminum caps for the ball joints, but you have to remove the grease zerks to install? That seems odd to me, and I am sure I would immediately lose the zerks and regret it the next time I tried to grease the ball joints, so I am running without the caps. We'll see if I regret this.
5) Overall time was about 6 hours for the front the first day, and then 8 hours the following weekend to install the Rear, replace the CV axle shaft, paint the rock warriors, and do a quick tape measure alignment, all Solo. Without the CV axle replacement, with preassembled struts, and with an extra set of hands it would easily be an 8 hour day.
These things are Beefy:
First Test Drive dirt:
We've put about a thousand miles on it now, with some limited off-road use. I still haven't gotten a full alignment, but it feels so good with my tape measure alignment I'm just going to wait a few months til I go get new tires.
Compared to Stock:
Ride is firmer, but still feels supple off of the top. Ride height feels much better. Coming from a 2" lifted 200 series before, it feels much more like home. Load carrying for our purposes is great, and it doesn't sag too much. We had the same 2721 springs in the rear of our last 200, so I am confident our full load out will be just fine. No more or less body roll than before, but movement feels much better controlled. My wife's best compliment was that it "feels much more like a Cruiser should".
Compared to our 2008 with Bilstein 6112s:
Slightly more compliant, especially on small bumps/washboards, yet still firm and not floaty at all. The rear end feels more planted over high speed bumps, this may be the DRKDSS keeping the swaybar level. Better Highway ride with less harshness. I moved this same exact wheel/tire setup over from the 2008, so the difference would be the suspension. Also note, our 6112 setup was getting up around 100k miles and had one strut weeping slightly, so perhaps it's not apples to apples with a new 6112 setup, but the ride of the MT64 is better than I ever remember the 6112s being.
Compared to OME's Nitrochargers:
I've installed OME's standard Nitrocharger setups on our 100 series and 2nd Gen Tacoma in the past, and I don't recall either having quite the composed "Firm But plush off the top" feeling of this setup. Not apples to apples, but I do think if you're looking for a suspension for your 200 it's worth at least considering the extra $1000 or so to get the MT64.
Overall, we're very happy with how good the MT64 rides and handles our gear load for family adventures. I always say the secret sauce of the 200 is that it can hang with Jeeps offroad, and still do 90 across Kansas on the way home, and this kit hits that use case squarely. I'd recommend it, and will update this thread if anything changes.
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