Hey folks, just picked up a beautiful Bj74 from Vancouver. Only 57k and not a speck of rust (PO sprayed the the thing inside and out with fluid film yearly). Its in pretty stellar condition but the suspension is pretty flat from years of sitting. Two mechanics have tild me the best bet is the OME but itll cost me nearly 3k! I'd love to go the whole hog and put the OME kit in but i just broke open all the piggy banks to buy the truck. Most of the suspension seems pretty pristine but the leafs are flat! Is there a cheaper option to bring it back to stock without putting on the whole kit? My lower back isnt enjoying potholes too much.
Suspension Re-fresh/OME alternatives
- Thread starter BreadBaker
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Do the suspension properly. As you said it's 30 years old and will need new bushing and shocks.
One thing you might try in order to give yourself some time to save is getting the spring arc'd. That'll lift it up again making it look fresh though I suspect it's the shocks and bushings that's giving you a poor ride.
One thing you might try in order to give yourself some time to save is getting the spring arc'd. That'll lift it up again making it look fresh though I suspect it's the shocks and bushings that's giving you a poor ride.
If you have a local springmaker getting another leaf put in each pack along with a re-set is often a great cheap option for a leaf sprung 4x4.
I do like the OME Nitrocharger Sport shocks I got recently though, well worth the $$$ if you want to firm things up.
Cheers
Clint
I do like the OME Nitrocharger Sport shocks I got recently though, well worth the $$$ if you want to firm things up.
Cheers
Clint
Hi all,
Breadbaker, check out this thread for ideas:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/qu...-leafs-what-to-do-expect.312487/#post-4776389
The Rancho add a leaf swap is well proven under FJ40s; no reason it should not work under a BJ74.
Yes, replacing all of your springs and shocks would be best, but it is understandable that you are reluctant due to cost.
Good luck,
Alan
Breadbaker, check out this thread for ideas:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/qu...-leafs-what-to-do-expect.312487/#post-4776389
The Rancho add a leaf swap is well proven under FJ40s; no reason it should not work under a BJ74.
Yes, replacing all of your springs and shocks would be best, but it is understandable that you are reluctant due to cost.
Good luck,
Alan
Try Dobinsons USA for a price on Suspension mate.
I would say sagged springs and minimal bump gap is the problem, I have some measurements somewhere of my bump gap with a 50mm lift, oe would be 50mm less than that, if I can find them I will post them up. Resetting the OE springs is an option but springs that old, may not be the best option.
Dobinsons USA
6332 NW 97th Avenue, Doral, Florida 33178 USA
I would say sagged springs and minimal bump gap is the problem, I have some measurements somewhere of my bump gap with a 50mm lift, oe would be 50mm less than that, if I can find them I will post them up. Resetting the OE springs is an option but springs that old, may not be the best option.
Dobinsons USA
6332 NW 97th Avenue, Doral, Florida 33178 USA
- Telephone:
786-508-4962 - Email:
sales@dobinsonusa.com
I would like to know the OE distance between the bumpstop if you have it. I was looking for that number in my thread. TIA.
- Thread starter
- #8
Thanks guys! This is good info. Got a quote for re-arcing at almost a third of an OME.
I had the springs re-set in a few fj40/fj45 trucks back in the 1990's and I was always happy with the results I never had problems with them sagging etc, however you need pretty good communication with the spring guy to get what you want and the height you are looking for if they are set too high or too low you're going to have problems and disappointments.
If you did have the budget for OME springs its money well spent they work really well on 70 series trucks
If you did have the budget for OME springs its money well spent they work really well on 70 series trucks
$3k, even CAD to USD that is $2300. Shop around:
Cruiser Outfitters
I bet we could land it to you in BC for under $2k. Make a trip to the U.S. Border (we shop to border towns regularly) and more like $1700 all in.
OME equipped 74's fwiw:
Cruiser Outfitters
I bet we could land it to you in BC for under $2k. Make a trip to the U.S. Border (we shop to border towns regularly) and more like $1700 all in.
OME equipped 74's fwiw:
x2.
If money is tight now, arcing the springs will help. When you do it, make sure you drown the bushings in grease during reassembly. It will help as well. Last but not least, add some lubricant (graphite if possible) between leafs.
As for shocks, OEM ones made by Tokico will do while you get some money.
Hope this helps.
Juan
I just put new OME springs and shocks on my BJ70 at Christmas. I bought the heavy duty front and rear springs that OME offers for the BJ70/71 series (which as I recall would be the same for a BJ74). The front springs are doing fine. However, I am extremely disappointed in the rear springs.
Long story and possibly more detail than what you were seeking, ...
I concur with your efforts to research other options before making a purchase.
My brand new OME heavy service system is not performing properly. I will be calling the OME office in Florida again seeking help with their product.
Good luck.
- The rear of the truck sags without load (the rear shackles are close to 60 degrees past vertical when empty).
- As a test, I loaded 350 pounds in the cargo area earlier this month and the rear dropped another 2.5 inches. This is not the performance that I was expecting from the OME data sheets.
- As a further test, I attended Round Up this weekend and ran the trails effectively empty (bag of recovery gear plus co-pilot; no tools/parts or CO2 tank in the rear cargo area). From the flexing on the trails, the shackles laid flat against the frame. They did come back to their prior position during the drive back (luckily).
Long story and possibly more detail than what you were seeking, ...
I concur with your efforts to research other options before making a purchase.
My brand new OME heavy service system is not performing properly. I will be calling the OME office in Florida again seeking help with their product.
Good luck.
What springs are you running? Who did you buy them from? Which springs are you running specifically? CS017RA? B? +? -? 4R's?
Front Springs = CS006F +/- ["+" on the left and the "-" on the passenger]
Rear Springs = CS004RA/RB
I bought the kit from 4 Wheel Parts after reviewing the specifics the ARB Jacksonville tech team (how I would drive it, load it and my objectives) to ensure that I purchased the right equipment. I have already spoken with 4 Wheel Parts and their only suggestion was call ARB , which I did immediately. The ARB tech team in Jacksonville recommended loading it with weight comparable to how I load it for a trip and operate it for a while.