OME stock height question and pics please !!

[jatree]

I chose the 861/862 combo with new Tokico's all around a few months back. My only extra weight up front is the ARB bumper but I plan to put drawers in the back. Part of the reason I chose this combo is the 861/862's are dual rate [1]. It was affordable with the Tokico shocks which can be had ~$40/ea and to get a little more lift I may chose to add a spacer down the road.

My measurements pretty much match what is on the Cruiser Outfitters link below [2].

	Before (original suspension)	After
Driver Front	20"	21"
Driver Rear	20.5"	21"
Pass Front	19.5"	21.5"
Pass Rear	20"	21.5"

I'll measure again after a few hundred miles, I feel like they have already settled a bit.

[1] Compiled 80 series suspension component spec thread... shocks, coils & more.
[2] Cruiser Outfitters

 

[Rupert]

Thanks flint! I'm also looking at the medium alternative 851 18.7" front & 860 18.9" rear. These should work fine with the stock shocks, right? Do you think I will end up with a 'stink bug look?'

 

[flintknapper]

Thanks flint! I'm also looking at the medium alternative 851 18.7" front & 860 18.9" rear. These should work fine with the stock shocks, right? Do you think I will end up with a 'stink bug look?'

Should still be fine with the shocks. As for 'stinkbug' I doubt you'll have anything noticeable at first. Hard to say what will develop (if anything) after some use and the springs settle.

There are 'trim packers' available in various thicknesses to help adjust side to side lean and front to back 'rake' but remember the vehicle was designed to have a certain amount of front to rear rake and playing with this TOO much (lifting too high or adjusting front to rear rake too much) can result in poor steering creating an need for Caster correction. Ideally, you want to achieve all you want with springs alone.

Be sure to do a 'search' on that here and educate yourself before ordering. I am doing the same.

Flint.

 

[Rupert]

Thanks Flint! By the way, do you figure I can stick with the original caster bushings with either the 851 & 860 or 861 & 862 combo? Or will I need a 2 or 3 degrees caster correction bushings with these new springs?

 

[greentruck]

Thanks Flint! By the way, do you figure I can stick with the original caster bushings with either the 851 & 860 or 861 & 862 combo? Or will I need a 2 or 3 degrees caster correction bushings with these new springs?

There should be no need for caster correction with stock height coils. It's one of the advantages of staying at stock height. Just be relieved you don't have to mess with this.

With coils that are shorter (851/860?) the possibility exiosts you might need correction in the opposite direction than when you lift. Not sure why you'd want to go there, but I wouldn't bother unless you have a situation where you can't quite fit??? Not even sure such a correcting bushing is even made for that?

 

[greentruck]

Thanks flint! I'm also looking at the medium alternative 851 18.7" front & 860 18.9" rear. These should work fine with the stock shocks, right? Do you think I will end up with a 'stink bug look?'

Some more thoughts on stink bug...

Used to be that the FJ55 tended to have an ass-low presentation. The 60 series dialed that back to pretty much level. Both had leaf spring suspensions.

The 80 series brought us coils instead of leaves. Coils are much more sensitive to ride height variations due to the load being carried. No load and they tend to ride higher than a similar leaf-sprung suspension. Load them up and they tend to squat more. So you really want to dial in your choice of coils to be compatible with the load being carried when you're normally driving the truck around. Yes, packers , etc can help with that, but much better to just have the coils right in the first place. This is also where airbags come in handy, as they only need to change ride height temporarily, as well as adding extra height only as needed.

This is about more than looks. Changing the ride height also changes your driveline angles. From the factory, the 80 is set-up so the ride height tends to put it in the middle of this range. Yes, the driveline angles will cycle through the full range available and do it well vs almost any other truck given the 80's ability to flex.

If you set your truck up to be level, what happens is that you take away part of it's ability to cycle through the full range of flex that is available stock. It will tend to put more wear and tear on the U-joints, although whether this is a factor depends ion a lot of things beyond simple driveline angls. Worth understanding and keeping in mind when modding the suspension.

 

[Rifleman]

Below are 2 more Mud threads about the before, and after installed height of OME 861 and 862 springs that some might find helpful.

Installing Old Man EMU Stock Height Replacement spring kit

Well since my truck is now almost 25 years old, i thought it was high time for some fresh springs. Since i didn't want to install a lift kit, and all the extra work that comes along with doing a lift, i went with stock height springs. Even going with OME factory stock height springs, they still...

forum.ih8mud.com

OME 861/862 Stock Height Replacement Measurement

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Rupert]

Thanks guys, well said.