Seeking Advice for Suspension Upgrade

[cruiseroutfit]

Pallet loaded

And the front springs have these pre-installed for you

 

[RevISK]

Why can’t they all be like @cruiseroutfit?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Why can’t they all be like @cruiseroutfit?

Too be fair, I had zero to do with that. Chance, Calvin and Olly rocked that order from soup to nuts

 

[wngrog]

Guys, I am not a dealer so I don’t make money on Dobinsons or OME so my opinions are based on installing a LOT of Dobinsons 40/45/55/60 stuff. I have had some lean issues. I’ve fixed by moving leafs side to side. Adding drop kits etc. I’ve had the same issues with other leaf kits.

Clearly the two guys here that had the military wrap got a bad batch.

Ive got a Dobinsons 40 here. This is the gap over the military wrap. All good

I rolled over and looked at the OME on my 45 and it’s hitting the frame. Never noticed until today.

The Troopy in my shop right now has Dobinsons. Military leaf is not hitting the frame

Anyway, vendors matter. I am partnered up with the best daily. That’s why I don’t go direct on these products and save 10-20%….
I’m not equipped to deal with the issues like the guys above had. I hope they get resolved.

I’d cut the wrap off personally but that still does not explain the pack collapsing on the way to SAS ….

 

[RevISK]

Thanks Nolan…

Another issue I’d like to bring up while we’re talking about this is when I was removing one of the pins to install the shim, it was stripped/cross threaded/mangled whatever.
The other three were good but glad I caught that. Not that it would’ve been a huge issue, it just speaks to the quality.

Said pin:

 

[OlYellr]

Anyway, vendors matter. I am partnered up with the best daily. That’s why I don’t go direct on these products and save 10-20%….

I totally agree - My philosophy was to spread the parts load around to the various MUD venders - but updating that calculus moving forward. I tend to learn the hard way.

 

[GA Architect]

.....Uh, for the light/standard OME 2" lift, how important are the front shims? ( asking for a friend..... )

 

[90WT]

+1

 

[wngrog]

.....Uh, for the light/standard OME 2" lift, how important are the front shims? ( asking for a friend..... )

you are a geek enough to get under there with your angle finder on the kingpin and see what you have.

Keep in mind it’s not standard but I am just saying getting 3-4* positive is a good thing.

You’ve seen my one finger driving at 80 in the 40s I build. Lots of that is in the caster

 

[cruiseroutfit]

.....Uh, for the light/standard OME 2" lift, how important are the front shims? ( asking for a friend..... )

99% of 4x, 5x, 6x and 7x owners are not running them. It doesn't hurt, but many don't notice them. My 2 cents

 

[wngrog]

99% of 4x, 5x, 6x and 7x owners are not running them. It doesn't hurt, but many don't notice them. My 2 cents

Longer wheelbase trucks it’s less noticeable but the number of people that are driving around in scary ass 40s are way up in the upper 70-80 percentile

Brakes. Steering. It’s crazy what people think is OK because it’s “an old tractor” anyway.

Not taking to you as you know this. Most people are so shocked in their before/after experience of a disc brake conversion or a center arm/tre rebuild.

 

[RevISK]

.....Uh, for the light/standard OME 2" lift, how important are the front shims? ( asking for a friend..... )

Measure your caster angle to find out…
I mean tell your friend to.

 

[RevISK]

I will say it was a huge improvement for my steering along with proper toe in after the fact. I have a tight 3.5 turn Saginaw and it helped tame that. Also, measuring told me I needed 4* shims to get to around plus +/- positive 2

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Longer wheelbase trucks it’s less noticeable but the number of people that are driving around in scary ass 40s are way up in the upper 70-80 percentile

Brakes. Steering. It’s crazy what people think is OK because it’s “an old tractor” anyway.

Not taking to you as you know this. Most people are so shocked in their before/after experience of a disc brake conversion or a center arm/tre rebuild.

Oh I don't disagree, Center Arm play is probably an issue on faaaaaaar more Cruiser than caster. And those that drive them with 1/4 turn of steering play each direction think they are great

As I mentioned earlier, improving caster directly hurts the pinion angle, and in fact makes it negitive (pointed down) on many models with big caster jumps. Not an issue for someone who spends little/no time in 4WD at speed but there are many that have fixed caster via wedges/shims only to chase front driveline vibs, particularly full-time and drive flange folks. We set build axles at 4.5* of caster and anywhere from 8-15* of pinion angle. They can be used with a DCV front shaft for zero vibs at 100mph on 37's. But, that requires a cut/turned axle housing which is often outside the scope of practical for most 2-3" SUA customers... but not all, we've done them.

 

[Eric Winkworth]

I know years ago I decided to take my 70 series cruiser with a basically new 3inch OME lift into a spring shop and have the re arch one of my basically new springs to get rid of the cruiser lean. They did a perfect job and haven’t had any problem since however the guy did mention to me that these offshore springs really don’t hold up all that well tend to crack and just not be great. That was 20 some years ago and many many km’s,besides the poly bushings not lasting forever I think time is a testament to how good OME products are. The need to rearch really could have been my fault , but I don’t know for certain.

 

[wngrog]

This truck. Dobinsons IMS

45 Troopy. Standard shackles they provide.

It would be negative 2* without which is 3* out of spec.


2* positive caster

4* shims

Pinion angle is 0* leaning 1*. This is totally in spec for a single cardan standard ujoint.

 

[MatthewMcD]

And the front springs have these pre-installed for you

@cruiseroutfit you are taking all the terror and assembly fear out of the installation!

Wow, when I last spoke to the guys today they said "keep in touch and call if you have questions". I told them I was shutting down the internet now that the order was complete. Then I come back now and this thread has exploded!

Looking forward to this next phase!

 

[GA Architect]

you are a geek enough to get under there with your angle finder on the kingpin and see what you have.

Keep in mind it’s not standard but I am just saying getting 3-4* positive is a good thing.

You’ve seen my one finger driving at 80 in the 40s I build. Lots of that is in the caster

...well, the angle finder doesn't lie! -> Negative 1 degree <-

I'll purchase some 4 degree shims tomorrow from @cruiseroutfit

Maybe I'll be able to reach 80 once the caster is corrected.....

 

[wngrog]

...well, the angle finder doesn't lie! -> Negative 1 degree <-

I'll purchase some 4 degree shims tomorrow from @cruiseroutfit

Maybe I'll be able to reach 80 once the caster is corrected.....

View attachment 3718988

Get center pins too.

Install hack.

Do one side at the time.

Unbolt Ubolts and Jack the axle up until the new pin will drop in.

You will need two good Vice Grip clamps

 

[cims1970fj40]

Get center pins too.

Install hack.

Do one side at the time.

Unbolt Ubolts and Jack the axle up until the new pin will drop in.

You will need two good Vice Grip clamps

Would you recommend having it aligned first before measuring? I’m asking because I currently don’t have the cruiser up and running yet.