OME vs BDS on a 60

[cruiser_guy]

[quote author=anti-friend link=board=29;threadid=15862;start=msg151346#msg151346 date=1083804985]
But from what I've heard, the BDS is a good kit, just remember to shim the front.
[/quote]

Can someone clarify? When I asked about shims I was told that it was "built in" to the springs. Anyone know for sure whether it is needed or not?

 

[Overlord]

[quote author=cruiser_guy link=board=29;threadid=15862;start=msg155969#msg155969 date=1084428580]
Can someone clarify? When I asked about shims I was told that it was "built in" to the springs. Anyone know for sure whether it is needed or not?
[/quote]

I know for a fact that they are NOT built in. As for needing it, not 100% sure. I put a 2* shim in cause I was (still am) getting steering wander. The steering wander is better, but I'm still having problems. I'm also getting a clunk that I can feel/hear in my steering column. I've traced it to the pitman/drag link end. Their's a some lateral slop in the joint/thingamajigger (that's technical term BTW ).

 

[cruiser_guy]

[quote author=Overlord link=board=29;threadid=15862;start=msg155976#msg155976 date=1084429243]
I know for a fact that they are NOT built in. As for needing it, not 100% sure. I put a 2* shim in cause I was (still am) getting steering wander. The steering wander is better, but I'm still having problems. I'm also getting a clunk that I can feel/hear in my steering column. I've traced it to the pitman/drag link end. Their's a some lateral slop in the joint/thingamajigger (that's technical term BTW ).
[/quote]

Is the shims strictly for tracking or also for other things? My '82 with the BDS lift and stock tires, tracks just fine but it does not roll as easily as I think it should (it seems like it binds on each driveshaft revolution) even when in 2wd. The "U" joints seem fine but I suspect that if they were bad and the shaft was binding that it could appear to be fine :-\ My '84 with the stock suspension and 31x10.5's rolls much easier. Is this something that shims might correct? If so it would be shimming the rear NOT the front as the "binding up" occurs in 2wd.

 

[TOZOVR]

The shims correct pinion angle and castor. Castor is really affected by having longer shackles but a complete spring swap will effect it as well, just not as much.

Now bad pinion angle in theory would bind, but not so much with 2.5" of lift with the legth of the 60's DS. Did you swap to bigger/wider tires? What brand? When I ran my TSL Bias plys and swapped back to AT's for street driving it felt like the rig would roll forever, whereas the TSL's felt like they were much slower.

 

[cruiser_guy]

[quote author=TOZOVR link=board=29;threadid=15862;start=msg157968#msg157968 date=1084717779]
Now bad pinion angle in theory would bind, but not so much with 2.5" of lift with the legth of the 60's DS. Did you swap to bigger/wider tires? What brand? When I ran my TSL Bias plys and swapped back to AT's for street driving it felt like the rig would roll forever, whereas the TSL's felt like they were much slower.
[/quote]

That's just it, my '82 with the BDS lift uses the smaller "stock" tire size and it seems to roll worse than the '84 which has stock suspension but the larger 31x10.5 tires ??? Both tires are radial, not bias ply and the '82 tread is less aggressive.
If it was the reverse I would not be so confused.

 

[esh]

I'm biased, but here's an example of no fatigue on OME after 3 years heavy/medium setup. These were bought used and I've removed the overload leaf in front since I have not bullbar/winch. For the type of use this truck sees (exploring, lots of gravel/washboard roads, minimal trail/offroad situations), OME is perfect.

 

[Aseif007]

I have had the OME springs med fronts and heavy rears for 7 years and over 100,000 miles now on my FJ-62 with the OME extended travel nitro chargers and 33X12.50 tires. I do have a slight lean but I have rarely seen a 60 series with any lift that didn;t have a sllight lean. (if you don;t then you're not wheeling hard enough!) Off road the OME handles very well. On road it is a little stiff due to my heavy duty springs, but for the most part very good. I just added a shackle reversal in the front, added a leaf to the rear springs to make them the diesel heavy duty springs, and have 2" extended shackles in the rear. I ran 35s with that setup, but I only got to drive it for 5 miles before I started my engine rebuild. Overall I wouldn't go with anything other than OME. I just don;t buy that a spring manufacurer would replace their springs if the rig ever sags !!! Springs don;t last forever!! (or are they saying that because they know they will sag) Also, when I was looking for springs in 1996 OME was one of the ONLY manufacturers that made springs for the 60 series. That tells me that they know a lot more about the 60s than most of the other manufacturers since most other spring makers just recently jumped on the FJ-60 bandwagon. Also, OME is put on landcruisers that actually have to be used off road as a way of life, not recreation. They have the best testing grounds, their everyday life. But I'm sure the other kits are fine.

Andrew
88' FJ-62
97' FZJ-80
01' Tacoma