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Here is a look at the all new Old Man Emu UCA
Okay, so I looked into the GIIRO bushings that come in these arms and they look really damn cool. Might have to consider these, depending on the ball joint availability. Thanks!
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Here is a look at the all new Old Man Emu UCA
So update on the OME arms...
I spoke to ARB USA, as well as Toytec, as well as did more research. OME uses a Chinese ball joint that is a direct replacement for the OEM Toyota UCA ball joint. Which means that these arms will NOT support any more travel than the stock UCAs, and the ball joint is no stronger than the standard Chinese stock replacement that it is, just with a zerk added. The ball joints are replaceable with any OEM replacement ball joint that would fit a stock Toyota UCA so ARB doesn't stock any spares at this time. Also, ARB doesn't stock any replacement bushings and has no timeframe of when they might start doing so.
Basically... Hard pass on these.
I'm leaning towards the tried and true Total Chaos uniball UCAs, and just deal with replacing the uniballs every couple years if needed which is quick and easy. Plus, made in America is always nice as opposed to China if I have the choice of where my dollars end up.
The thing about Toyota stock ball joints is that they can be gotten anywhere. Easy access to replacement parts can be a big plus.
Remember that with most "extended travel" UCA you are only getting about 1/2" of extra drop. I have had uni-balls in the past and will NEVER do it again nothing but a nightmare to maintain. This might be dependent on where you live but I would not recommend running them in a wet area. I used tai-flow every month on mine and they still failed in a year.
Also with the OME they do run the indestructible GIIRO bushings.
@Mr Chuck Norris I totally agree on the spring rate. Too many are running 650lb springs and then have too much preload. I like the 700lb spring and backing off the preload. This will also lead to greater reliability in the long run.
Blackhawk UCA that are some of the most expensive steel UCA use OEM ball joint. They socket are welded at different angle to accommodate more droop.
Higher angle ball joint does not automatically means stronger. Many times they have to make the neck part narrower or socket part with less lip to be able to accommodate more angle.
Yeah, kind of!Updates?
Wow. There are so many things back ordered. IKEA and Home Depot don’t have full stock anymore. I’ve had delays in building an ADU due to items not in stock.
Back to shocks, I have icons 56550 in the rear and the only thing I dread is when it’s time to rebuild them. By then, It’s gonna cost me a pretty penny like $200 and a few weeks of down time.
That’s the beauty of the Bilsteins...no rebuild needed. My 6112s up front are 40k miles and 4+ years old and looking good so far.
Back to shocks, I have icons 56550 in the rear and the only thing I dread is when it’s time to rebuild them. By then, It’s gonna cost me a pretty penny like $200 and a few weeks of down time.
just to stir up the sediment and promote moar discussion (while respecting OP has decided on a direction). Mirroring a previous post here (or maybe elsewhere)... Can we talk some of the pros and cons of Dob's in here?
I'd still like to get some good discussion on twins vs monos (I alluded to that earlier). People talk of the bullet-proof nature of standard OMEs so much but they ride like a buckboard. Doesn't that speak to their durability, if even a basic twin tube? Wouldn't you say OME, IM nitro, and basic Yellow Dobinson's are kinda all the same? Maybe OME gets the bad rep cuz the soft twins can't slow the stiffer springs as much..? Does IM's FCP beefy twintube with the foam cell (vs nitro charge) handle the higher spring rates better than basic twins? Word is the FCP rides better than the basic IM nitro.. Could we say IM FCP steps up that set-up to an upper tier intro lift.
But I'd like to throw in the Dob's mono adjustable remotes for conversations' sake. Build quality looks to be there, adjustable is rad, but size mirrors more of an entry set-up. So would we consider these a high-end basic or tier 2? would the dobs Mono Remote adjustable (MRA) be like an inro icon or OME BP51?
I have to say I like the idea of a 2.5+ front coilover (many listed before), but the variability and milder lift option in the MRA are appealing to me at least. (KDSS, so >2" is troublesome.... but new things coming out that I think challenge that...
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