OME spring issues

[takern]

Spent all day fighting the OME springs and finally had to call it a day. I got the passenger side on but looking at the bump stop it seems the axle shifted forward about 1.5-2”. I could not get the driver side even close to aligned on the center pin. I tried using a 10K cargo strap, putting springs to full flex and then to full compression, loosening every bolt on the other side, etc etc etc. i cannot shift it further forward be cause the drive shaft is fully compressed. I verified they are the right way with the military wrap in the fixed frame position.

Has anybody dealt with this and how was it solved? I won’t be able to mess with it until this weekend so it’s sitting on the driveway on jack stands for a while looking sad.

 

[LDowney]

Could you have the springs flipped? i.e., for front springs, rear forward and forward rear ; the opposite for rear springs

It is my understanding is the shorter side (center pin to eye) connects to the fixed pivot. With the longer side (center pin to eye), connecting to the shackle. If you have the spring flipped, then the geometry will be trying to move the axle.

Does this make sense relative to what you are seeing?

 

[takern]

Could you have the springs flipped? i.e., for front springs, rear forward and forward rear ; the opposite for rear springs

It is my understanding is the shorter side (center pin to eye) connects to the fixed pivot. With the longer side (center pin to eye), connecting to the shackle. If you have the spring flipped, then the geometry will be trying to move the axle.

Does this make sense relative to what you are seeing?

I verified multiple times today that the part number on the springs is the part number on the invoice labeled as rear springs. It also matches the 60 series, and my understanding of the MWB OME setup is 60 series in the back and 70 series up front.

My understanding is the same as yours but it doesn’t make sense it would move my axle forward so much it completely compresses my drive shaft, and that is with the driver side of the axle still 3” further back than the spring center pin.

I asked cruiser outfitters if they have any known 73 issues or if the instructions could be wrong and it needs to be longer side to shackle. See what they come back with.

 

[LDowney]

For your consideration ... Prior owners make changes that we might not know about that catch us by surprise.
Case in point, the prior owner of my BJ70 had flipped the front springs to move the axle forward and had the drive shaft modified accordingly. I didn't realize this for years; but while Cruiser Dan and I were looking over his BJ74 next to my BJ70, we could clearly see this.

Good luck and a straightforward solution. Also, you are correct that SWB and MWB 70s have the same rear springs lengths as 60 series.

 

[takern]

For your consideration ... Prior owners make changes that we might not know about that catch us by surprise.
Case in point, the prior owner of my BJ70 had flipped the front springs to move the axle forward and had the drive shaft modified accordingly. I didn't realize this for years; but while Cruiser Dan and I were looking over his BJ74 next to my BJ70, we could clearly see this.

Good luck and a straightforward solution. Also, you are correct that SWB and MWB 70s have the same rear springs lengths as 60 series.

Thanks for trying. I don’t think the previous owner did any significant mods to it given the quality of work I am undoing. I also haven’t found any evidence a grinder or welder was put on it. I could be wrong.

 

[takern]

Problem was solved. Thanks to Bryce at cruiser outfitters @cruiseroutfit putting up with me and recommending I pull the zerk fittings on the driveshaft to get a little more compression as it pushed all the grease out. He was spot on and saved my sanity.

If anyone is on the fence about going through cruiser outfitters I can’t say enough good things about their customer service. The cost of goods was worth every second on the phone and the quick email responses to solve this problem and another one I ran into where the shackle plate bolt hole wasn’t drilled big enough to actually get the bolt through.