OME trim packers VS Mr Gasket spacer

[mooker82]

Soon I will get enough time to install my OME lift and ARB bumper onto my 97 cruiser. I want to level out the ride and not have the stink bug stance. When I ordered my lift I did not order any trim packers. As the install time is approaching I am wondering if i need to order the OME trim packers or just go with the Mr. Gasket spacer. Is there an advantage to either method or is it a matter or personal preference. Thanks in advance.

 

[Kalawang]

If it fit's and is the right height, why look for more ?

To the best of my knowledge, OME only makes .75" ring spacers, or trim packers if you prefer the name. I think it would be better for you to first measure the amount of adjustment you need to level out your ride before buying anything more. LC's also have a side lean and that's sometimes aggravated by a lift. It's no big deal to slip a ring spacer in so your focus should be the amount of lift you need per spring so you can be right the first time.


Kalawang

 

[Bear80]

well I've heard some using up to 30mm of trim packers to level the front. Since I just have the stock bumper I ordered just 15mm, so I could use either 5mm or 10mm or both. I firt put in 15mm and it was setting pretty nice, but I've since put in the 1" spacer and like it much much better.

I'd say go with just the springs right now, and if you want try the 1" spacers you can get them locally. If you think 1" is too much return them and order trim packers. I got my 1" spacer at Adavance Auto parts. They however have both sides groved where as the Mr. Gasket has only one side.

 

[fzj]

What springs did you order? that will make a huge difference to how much forward lean you have, I went with the J springs in the front and the regular 863's in the rear, and I still needed the mr Gasket one inch spacers for it to sit level, before I had the J springs up front I just had the heavy 850's or what ever they are and it was way lower in the front, I would roll with the J springs in the front with the 1 inch Mr. Gasket spacers.

 

[reffug]

Its gonna completely depend on what lift set up combination you are going with. And opinions are gonna be all over the place depending. More details would help in getting a more educated response. I personally am using 20mm of packers and am quite happy but again it depends on the spring combination you are installing.

 

[Kalawang]

How I envy you guys.

If I bought a ring spacer, trim packer or whatever you call them, or even a new set of springs, pairs or set of four, I would become the owner of those immediatly as I paid for them and no returning or exchangeing unless I was willing to take a beating on the price. It's the reason I urge measureing before buying.

It also puzzles me that some among you mix springs. Is there no change in driveability ? Springs like shocks from different manufacturers have different reaction rates and I normally try to get them in sets to simplify my life.


Kalawang

 

[stuck in GA]

They are talking about J springs which come from the same manufacturer OME. They are just 1 inch bigger than the heavy's. It doen't screw up your driveability. My buddy CruisinGA also has the J's up front and the heavy in the rear and he said it will work out well.

 

[CruisinGA]

It doen't screw up your driveability. My buddy CruisinGA also has the J's up front and the heavy in the rear and he said it will work out well.

It can screw up your driveability if you do not correct the caster

I have not installed them yet, I hope it works well.



P.S.
I am not a mute, and I read this forum about as often as you do.

 

[sleeoffroad]

This

They are talking about J springs which come from the same manufacturer OME. They are just 1 inch bigger than the heavy's. It doen't screw up your driveability. My buddy CruisinGA also has the J's up front and the
heavy in the rear and he said it will work out well.

together with this

It can screw up your driveability if you do not correct the caster

I have not installed them yet, I hope it works well

is why you should check your facts before you post Stuckey! Thanks for correcting him CruisinGA. If you do no have first hand experience with how a setup performs, DO NO post facts that are not true. People don't know that you don't even know what a zerk fitting is, but are an expert on suspension. Also a expert ARB fitter. Sorry, now I will leave it to Doug to express his feelings.

I hardly ever come out this strong, but we are the people answering the calls when people do this kind of things to their suspension and then the truck drives like crap. There are cases where the J spring will work fine with just for example caster bushings, but it is not the general rule.

Then there is a personal thing as to how people experience the drive in the truck. For a 19 year old that wants a big chick magnet truck with big lift and big tires and does not care how it drives, the experience is totally different from a person that puts his wife and kids in the car and want it safe.

[/rant hat off]

 

[Cruiserhead05]

so hey, i'm sure if i searched around and read alot i might be able to find it on the forum but i just want to ask real quick as i am heading out the door on my way to school. I'm about to have ironpig put an OME heavy suspension on the 80 within the next week i hope. I want to do an ARB eventually but it might not happen for a little while as i dont need to blow all my money at once. with just a basic ome heavy and no bumper yet will my truck be uneven? I realize the ride may be a little harsh as i will need to get extra ARB weight on there but thats not a huge concern.
Thanks, brandon

 

[stuck in GA]

Yes I can talk about this from experience. I had the heavy without the bumper and it looked pretty even but I would get the Mr. Gasket spacers when you get the lift on so that it will look more even with the bumper on. It looks stinkbug no matter what because the rear is made for heavy loads for expeditions. So go ahead and get the spacers and good luck!

 

[Buckru]

I recently installed the OME heavy suspension with stock bumpers. Here is what i've found. On highway, I like the performance very much. I have very little body roll in turns and the ride feels "dampened" over bumps and holes. In the city on rough paved roads the ride is a bit harsher. For me, when city driving I drop my tire pressure a couple of pounds and this helps quite a bit. As far as stinkbug, I have very little and like the look of it. When I do go with an ARB I will then add spacers.

Buck

 

[MTNRAT]

uneven shmuneven, the gdam truck is designed to have rack, (Front lower than the rear). Do you guys know something the toyota engineers don't? What about when you load the truck for a trip?
Cheers,
Sean

 

[sleeoffroad]

Yes I can talk about this from experience. I had the heavy without the bumper and it looked pretty even but I would get the Mr. Gasket spacers when you get the lift on so that it will look more even with the bumper on. It looks stinkbug no matter what because the rear is made for heavy loads for expeditions. So go ahead and get the spacers and good luck!

Did you ever have the caster measured? Looks and functionality is two different thigs. To get the truck to sit level and compromise on the driveability is not a good thing. You mentioned it does not effect driveability and it does.

And I quote

It doen't screw up your driveability

 

[cruiserdan]

Christo,


Shhhhhh........


If he doen't fix the caster maybe it will dart into a ditch and flop so he will have to get a different vehicle............

 

[sleeoffroad]

Hey, you should be fishing. Running out of tequila already?

 

[ryanjl]

I think OME only recommends a max of 15mm of spacers on each spring (One 10mm spacer and one 5mm spacer), which equates to about .6 inches.

The Mr. Gasket spacer is 1".

If you were to add the OME packers to the front, you'd probably still be within the OME caster bushing's corrective range (if you have non-j springs).

If you used the 1" spacers and j-springs, you'd be more in the caster-correction plates range, I'd guess.


To be certain, you could get your suspension the way you want it, then drive to an alignment shop to see how much your caster would need to be corrected to fall within stock specs.

 

[Docmallory]

Re: the Mr. Gasket spacers -

Has anyone gotten a whole inch out of these? I installed them on my truck and got exactly 0.75 inch on both sides. Being rubber, I guess they compressed down once installed. I have an ARB without a winch in the front.

 

[mooker82]

Sorry I should have been more specific as to my setup. I am going to use OME mediums in the rear and heavy front with an ARB non-winch bumper. My concern comes from the fact that I dont have a spare or a trailer hitch under the back. I also have the third row seats out. All of this makes the back much lighter than stock.

 

[reffug]

This together with this is why you should check your facts before you post Stuckey!

and