Ordering my IronMan lift today...talk me out of it

[Ohthetrees]

Ohthetrees:

Which OME did you drive? Stock? Medium? Heavy? I have the medium in mine, and if it were any softer I’d not be happy with it. I’ve read a lot of people saying OME is too stiff lately, so either they have changed spring rates since 2014, or daily driving a 3500 Diesel has clouded my judgement. Both I and my wife far prefer the OME in our ‘99 over the AHC in the ‘06 we had.

It was the 1.5" OME medium. My feeling was that it was the shocks, not the springs that were so harsh, but of course I couldn't say for sure. I've driven plenty of work trucks that were very stiff, and this 100 was as stiff or stiffer. It was loud too, over every road imperfection. I've seen a lot of complaints about how stiff these kits are, and I think it usually boils down to the shocks. I think the springs in their kit are fine.

The ironman foam core pro I have is certainly stiffer than stock, but way more comfortable than the OME shocks. Highly recommended. Didn't overheat running fully loaded built truck (5 passengers plus gear) at 50 mph over washboard for hours in death valley. They got too hot to touch, but kept performing, and I think there was a lot of margin left.

 

[Gassiper]

I think the foam cells are the way to go for sure. Just wondering if I could piece a lift together myself using the best of each component and get a better mix of on/off road use

 

[od4x4]

I have the IronMan Kit with the pro foam shocks and love it.... more importantly my wife loves it since it is her daily driver.

The suspension is a little more firm but by the time you add Dissent Bumpers (front and rear of course!), a set of KISS drawers, and sliders, and a rack, and skids, and tools, and.... my point is that you will appreciate the firmness at some point and it still rides better than a Ford!

 

[Ohthetrees]

I think the foam cells are the way to go for sure. Just wondering if I could piece a lift together myself using the best of each component and get a better mix of on/off road use

I pieced mine together and I’m glad I did. I’m sure you can too.

 

[dfrelich]

Went with 1.5 Tough Dog suspension. Firmer than AHC though... AHC smooths out dips and bumps. But it's what you get for abandoning the system.

 

[geanes]

Went with 1.5 Tough Dog suspension. Firmer than AHC though... AHC smooths out dips and bumps. But it's what you get for abandoning the system.

Firm, but not rough, correct? I can deal with firm, but controlled. Just don't want a bucking bronco on my hands

 

[dfrelich]

Firm, but not rough, correct? I can deal with firm, but controlled. Just don't want a bucking bronco on my hands

Very subjective question. Coming from AHC... it does feel rough.

But aside this, I have 2 other cars... the Toyota Prius and the Subaru Outback. The LX rides "smoother" than these two.

 

[geanes]

Very subjective question. Coming from AHC... it does feel rough.

But aside this, I have 2 other cars... the Toyota Prius and the Subaru Outback. The LX rides "smoother" than these two.

Ok, that's perfect! I have a 2016 Outback 3.6R Limited and my wife LOVES the way it rides. If the LX can ride like that or better, it would be perfect. My AHC "crashes" a lot and road feel is noticeable. Pretty sure my springs are shot and the globes are struggling to maintain. In Comfort, it floats like a Cadillac. In Sport it's stiff, but there's pronounced "dive" and "squat" when braking and accelerating. Also, lots of lean.

 

[joseywales]

Very subjective question. Coming from AHC... it does feel rough.

My ‘06 LX with properly functioning AHC rode like a marshmallow. I far prefer my OME medium coil/t-bar set. I’ve bought so many shocks for so many different rigs in the past 4 years I’ll have to double check what’s in the ‘99. I think they’re oem style.

 

[Palmer]

Ordered mine today!

...some OPOR sliders fell into my cart too. Whoops.

 

[Gassiper]

Got it all on the way! Torsion bars are out of stock so they’ll be drop shipped. Hopefully won’t have to wait too long for them.

 

[Gassiper]

Decided to stay with IronMan btw

 

[Austin Hot Shoe]

Decided to stay with IronMan btw

Good move, my Metal-tech truck sans slee diff. drop, love it. Couldn't be happier. More pics later.

 

[SoCal_80]

I am running Ironman profoams . Ironman TBs , Ironman heavy tears, slee diff drop and am very happy! No issues and good ride.

 

[Gassiper]

So I’m not doing the diff drop yet. Any drivability issues waiting to do it?

 

[JPS]

Because AHC is life!

 

[chuckscap]

Ohthetrees:

Which OME did you drive? Stock? Medium? Heavy? I have the medium in mine, and if it were any softer I’d not be happy with it. I’ve read a lot of people saying OME is too stiff lately, so either they have changed spring rates since 2014, or daily driving a 3500 Diesel has clouded my judgement. Both I and my wife far prefer the OME in our ‘99 over the AHC in the ‘06 we had.

It's not the springs, it's the shocks. They upgraded the original Nitros to Nitro Sports. Without a bumper my hundy felt a little like my 56 Dodge Power Wagon, changed the shocks and it's a different vehicle. Love it.

 

[suprarx7nut]

I've only ridden in one OME hundy, but my take away is that it's quite stiff. Getting back into mine feels like a cloud - I'm 100% stock with fresh shocks. I have a sports car to drive quick and sporty. I just want to float (in control) in the Cruiser.

The Ironman shocks sound great and are what I'm eyeing when/if I finally plunge into a very, very mild lift.

 

[gatormark91]

I've only ridden in one OME hundy, but my take away is that it's quite stiff. Getting back into mine feels like a cloud - I'm 100% stock with fresh shocks. I have a sports car to drive quick and sporty. I just want to float (in control) in the Cruiser.

The Ironman shocks sound great and are what I'm eyeing when/if I finally plunge into a very, very mild lift.

If I want to float, I'll get in the pool.

2000 LC. Front bumper/winch, dual batteries, and WKOR sliders. So it's not a lightweight. TD fronts shocks, TD 53mm adjustable rear shocks, OME 1.5" medium rear springs, TD front torsion bars. 0.5" rake.

Rides as good or better than the '16 T4R Limited we had, and decidedly better than our '17 Taco Off Road with Bilstein 5100s and upgraded springs.

 

[od4x4]

So I’m not doing the diff drop yet. Any drivability issues waiting to do it?

Don’t be surprised if your CVs begin to leak with or without the diff drop.... but it is more likely to happen right away without the diff drop.

They have been running for years at a certain angle and when you change that... well bad things happen. Buy the kits to reboot and just do it at the same time and save yourself some labor.

There is conflicting info about the diff drop anyway... I have not done mine and no problems so far with about 20,000 miles