OME Shock Choices

[alaskacruiser]

Hi Guys.
I'm debating OME shock choices (these will go with stock LX springs, which are identical to LC stock springs):

N73 vs. N70 Front Shock (N73 is firmer)

N74E vs. N71E Rear Shock (N74E is firmer)

I've got a stock setup with Bridgestone Revo 285/75/16s, and I'm planning to add an ARB bullbar pretty soon. I'd like to keep the ride well controlled for hwy. driving as this is my DD. How does the softer N70/71E combo compare to the stock LC shocks?

 

[cruiserdan]

You might ring up Mr Slee and ask his opinion. I would lean toward the 73/74 shocks if it were my rig. Much nicer to have on hand when you decide to lift it (come on, you know you want to....... )

 

[Sammy Jenkins]

Hey Alaska just lift the truck with the 2.5" lift that Slee has to offer. You wont regret it. Might as well since you are replacing the Suspension anyway. And if you're not going to do it now you will eventually. So save yourself the time and money and just get Slee to hook you up.

 

[alaskacruiser]

cruiserdan and Sammy- you're both right. I have been wanting to lift the truck for some time now, but since it is my DD I can't do it- with my 33" tires + 2.5" of lift, I won't be able to fit in over half the parking garages in LA. If it was my second vehicle, it would be no prob. So I'm trying to figure out what would work best with the stock springs.

 

[drohweder]

Lift it! Take the roof rack off to make it fit parking garages. I highly doubt a total of 4-5 extra inches will cause you to scrape. Cargo vans sit taller than cruisers and I bet they fit. Good luck.

 

[cruiserdan]

AK,

You can run the 73/74 shocks at stock height and they will already be there when you get ready for springs

 

[alaskacruiser]

cruiserdan- are you saying the 73/74 shocks have more travel than the 70/71? I was under the impression they were the same in that regard.

 

[cruiserdan]

I do not know if the travel is different. I just know that the 73/74 shocks will work at stock ride height and they seem to be prefered for the lift. Christo or his staff would be much better able to advise you regarding the specifics.

 

[CruiserLegolas]

I'm interested in the response from Slee regarding the N73/N74e shocks on the original springs. I need new shocks, but I'm not ready to replace the springs.

I just don't know what value the N73/N74E shocks provide on the original springs or how the ride changes.

 

[Beowulf]

>> I need new shocks, but I'm not ready to replace the springs. <<

My recommendation, based on your above criteria, is to buy new OEM Toyota shocks from C-Dan. A full set of 4 will cost you less than $100. And buy a set of OME springs from Christo. With this combo your ride will be dramatically improved.

>> I just don't know what value the N73/N74E shocks provide on the <<
>> original springs or how the ride changes. <<

Shocks are dampeners and they won't change the ride nearly as much as a set OME springs. I think you would be wasting your money by getting off-road shocks and staying with the old, worn out, stock springs.

-B-

 

[Jonathan_Ferguson]

Why is Old Man Emu so good, Compared to others? ???
Such as TJM or Monroe and King Springs

 

[Sammy Jenkins]

Don't want to hijack the thread but would a 80 with 285's, roof rack, 2.5" lift fit in a normal house garage?

 

[robbie]

Neither of the shocks are as stiff as the Stock. Different technology. THe stock shocks are HI pressure Nitrogen vs Low pressure nitrogen. As for a controlled ride the springs do most of the work and the shocks control the springs / axles(damping and rebound control). by not replacing the springs you will not upgrade the ride at all (in some regards it may be degraded). As for adding some weight to the front end the stock springs will not really control this that well(need different springs to control the extra weight as well as the height of the front end). If you do not want to go high, get the low lift that will control the weight of the bumper as well as the improve handleing.
I fit in all of the parking garages I ever ran across with 33"
and the 2.5 inch OME lift. It was when I went to 35" and a 4 inch lift that I started to have problems with parking garages. Later robbie

 

[hoser]

I run the 2.5" lift with 295/75-16's (33.4") and the highest point of the rack (rear) was about 79"
Unfortunately, clearance on my garage door is only 78"
I've removed the factory rack and it now fits in my garage.

 

[Brentbba]

I can shed some light on your quandry about shock replacement vs doing both shocks and springs. I replace 10 year old OEM shocks a few months back with Rancho 9000's. Ride improved a great deal. I keep them at setting 6 of 9, so fairly stiff. I'm now going back to replace springs with OME.

Read carefully - I WISH I HAD DONE BOTH WITH OME ORIGINALLY. Hope that helps.

 

[CruiserLegolas]

I found this blurb somewhere on the Internet that offers an explanation on why OMEs are good for TLC. I can't remember what site I got it from, but here it is:

"How good are the Rancho Shocks 5000 and 9000 Series compared to Old Man Emu shocks when used on Land Cruisers?

Neither Rancho is specifically designed for use on a Land Cruiser. The adjustability of the 9000 allows you to achieve a dampening rate that should be close to what would be needed for your vehicle. The beauty and the bummer of these units is that they take a shock with a certain overall length, and compression, with mounts of either pins, or eyes, and by making them adjustable, they get a very wide coverage out of one part number.

The non-adjustable shocks from most US companies that fit Land Cruisers are generally designed for 1/2 ton pick up trucks, and they have the right lengths (extended and compressed) and mounting eyes for Land Cruisers, they are just not specifically designed for Land Cruiser use like an Old Man Emu.

The main reason Old Man Emu can put so much effort into Land Cruiser applications is simple, the Land Cruiser is the number one vehicle found on the road in Australia. They have 10 times the number of Land Cruisers as found in the USA, and less than 1 tenth the population. This is the reason Old Man Emu has 9 different shocks that are designed and tested specifically for the 80 series Land Cruiser."

 

[firetruck41]

[quote author=Jonathan_Ferguson link=board=2;threadid=16102;start=msg154265#msg154265 date=1084260520]
Why is Old Man Emu so good, Compared to others? ???
Such as TJM or Monroe and King Springs
[/quote]
Don't know, but they are good, as reported by nearly anyone that has ever used them... besides there are no other commonly available options in the US. (maybe Downey? don't know who actually makes theirs)

 

[alaskacruiser]

Christo's response (hope you don't mind me posting this here, Christo!)

" We have never sold any of the soft shocks. We only install the N73/N74E and everyone that we have done the trucks for are happy. So
unfortunatelly I can not give you a comparison. I know that on these
trucks, even the N73/N74E sometimes feels like it is not enough shock.
Christo"

 

[alaskacruiser]

BTW, cruiserdan- please clean out your mailbox! I can't get a PM through! Thanks.