I read all the time that the OME suspension drives better on and off road; I have an 85 FJ60 with stock(and fairly flat!) springs and I actually like the way it drives quite a bit. It's nice and firm but not to rough. That being said, I wouldn't mind a little lift and of course the springs are nearly 25 yrs old so I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to replace them. So what exactly do ya'll mean by better? Firmer? Softer? Not many cruisers around here so I've never even ridden in another much less one with OME.
What exactly does "better" mean with OME? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter tclark
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SHERMAN FJ62
Charlestons' King of Cruisers
It is stronger and is an improvement over stock suspension. It can be pricey to install if you dont do it yourself
I have OME heavies (total kit..shocks, greasable shackles) on my 86 and my wife has stock springs and new OEM shocks on her 87. I have driven both and hers is rougher. Where I notice it most is when I cross the railroad tracks about a mile from the house. With mine it is thump-thump. With her 60 it is bam/bam. My tires are 33's; hers are 31's, if that has an effect.
Maybe if my wife's 87 had new bushing and greasable shackles it would ride better.
Maybe if my wife's 87 had new bushing and greasable shackles it would ride better.
The difference is night and day. OMEs have more travel and its progressive, giving the sensation that you can drive almost any speed over any road, and the articulation is vastly improved as is the load capacity. I have 185K on the same set.
I put OME heavys on the front and lights on the rear several years ago and it was a 100% ride improvement over stock in my opinion.
- Thread starter
- #7
So they handle well on rough dirt roads; that's good because that's what the vast majority of my "off-roading" consists of. I know a lot of you guys do some real off road stuff--I was worried that better just meant stronger and stiffer. Sounds like just what I need--now if I can convince the wife......
ntsqd
technerd
I put OME med/heavy on my '84 and the ride didn't really improve, but the way that the truck drives and behaves is a large improvement over the worn-out springs and extra long shackles that it came to me with.
Compared to my '84 Mini with unknwn fronts and rear GM 63's the ride is no where near as supple or as smooth. I have chased desert racers with the Mini for many years. I would not even consider it with the 60. The Mini has Bilstein 5100's front and 7100's rear, the 60 has Fox 2.0's front and rear.
I'm waiting until after the V8 goes in before I do any further suspension tuning.
Compared to my '84 Mini with unknwn fronts and rear GM 63's the ride is no where near as supple or as smooth. I have chased desert racers with the Mini for many years. I would not even consider it with the 60. The Mini has Bilstein 5100's front and 7100's rear, the 60 has Fox 2.0's front and rear.
I'm waiting until after the V8 goes in before I do any further suspension tuning.
I was in the exact same situation. The FJ60 was the wife's rig and if she wasn't happy with the results for all that money, I was dead. She was afraid the ride would be harsh and uncomfortable. So I too asked everyone that would listen to be sure I would survive the upgrade.
Well, I did survive. She was happy with the rig and so was I. We loved to go into the Oregon outback (central and eastern Oregon) and run hundreds of miles of dirt roads. Some roads were in good condition, many were not. We typically were packed with all our gear, water, fuel, spare tires, etc. The suspension was awesome. 33s, OME, FJ60. You couldn't ask for a better backroads rig (well, maybe a diesel). Anyhow, OME sounds like it will work well for your situation.
I always throw in this disclaimer. I bought my OME quite some time ago when they were made in Austrailia and there were no Dakar OME. So I can only speak for the product I have. I do not know if the current offerering is the same as what I have. Enjoy!
make sure you get the heavys with the ome bushings.
ntsqd
technerd
And know that if you want OME bushings that those are not what MAF is going to send you unless you ask for them specifically.
Thats why you call Kurt at Cruiseroutfitters
- Thread starter
- #13
Seems like anytime OME is mentioned so is Kurt---he must be the man! I'm sure that's who I'll call when the time comes. The OME bushings are a different size than the stock ones correct? I've gotta get new tires next week and I'd like to replace the worn bushings, but don't won't to do it all over again a year from now(since apparantly the OME is what I need). Reckon I'll stick with cheap 31's and worn bushings for now; surely can't swing gears, lift, tires and all --old vehicles and tight budgets don't go together near as well as I'd like! All I can hear is "what would Dave Ramsey say....."
Thanks for the advice guys
Thanks for the advice guys
rover67
SILVER Star
My stock suspension would bottom out all the time.
The OME springs are stiff, but the truck can carry more now. I like the way it handles with the OME springs... much better than when it was stock.
I air down on most any dirt road to help smooth it out, I do wish they weren't so harsh sometimes... but it seems that with heavy springs it's what you get.
upside is you can jump the hell out of it without bottoming out. I don't think the springs really work for rock crawling though.. seems like spring over is the way to go for that... but you kinda loose load carrying capacity.
All that being said, I think they work pretty well for an "expidition" style vehicle or around town.
The OME springs are stiff, but the truck can carry more now. I like the way it handles with the OME springs... much better than when it was stock.
I air down on most any dirt road to help smooth it out, I do wish they weren't so harsh sometimes... but it seems that with heavy springs it's what you get.
upside is you can jump the hell out of it without bottoming out. I don't think the springs really work for rock crawling though.. seems like spring over is the way to go for that... but you kinda loose load carrying capacity.
All that being said, I think they work pretty well for an "expidition" style vehicle or around town.
ntsqd
technerd
I tried. He was on a trip and my window of opportunity was very small.
For around town use I wouldn't go with the heavies in the rear. Just won't need them and the ride quality will suffer for it. Unloaded mine barely moves when all 200 lbs of me jumps on the rear bumper. Should you need the additional capacity later that leaf or leaves can be added to the springs.
I've got 9 years on a complete OME suspension on my 84 fj60, including mediums up front and med/heavy in rear. Also OME shocks, greaseable pins, anti-inversion shackles, poly bushings. The ride is plush and they're almost impossible to bottom out and you just float over washboards. (Low pressure gas shocks help there!)
But I've had some issues. Rust. Clunks and squeaks. Lost about an inch all-round over the years. Worst was a bad case of passenger side spring sag.
I read that this sag was common, someone even wrote that was intentional to counteract the usual 'cruiser driver's side sag. But it was bad. After putting up for it with almost 5 years I pulled all 4 sets, disassembled the leaf packs, and re-sorted the leaves both front and rear so that the eyelet heights matched left and right. Reinstalled with a good greasing... Since then its been spot on, but I hold a grudge over having to do that...
My only experiences were stock versus OME, but I've heard good things about Alcans and maybe some other brands. I'd shop around but don't skimp on shocks.
But I've had some issues. Rust. Clunks and squeaks. Lost about an inch all-round over the years. Worst was a bad case of passenger side spring sag.
I read that this sag was common, someone even wrote that was intentional to counteract the usual 'cruiser driver's side sag. But it was bad. After putting up for it with almost 5 years I pulled all 4 sets, disassembled the leaf packs, and re-sorted the leaves both front and rear so that the eyelet heights matched left and right. Reinstalled with a good greasing... Since then its been spot on, but I hold a grudge over having to do that...
My only experiences were stock versus OME, but I've heard good things about Alcans and maybe some other brands. I'd shop around but don't skimp on shocks.
AHHHHH make sure get dont get A and B sides mixed up
- Thread starter
- #18
AHHHHH make sure get dont get A and B sides mixed up
So is there something differing between sides or are do you just mean they are designed to compensate for the "cruiser lean"?
yes and yes
Stand up both rears with the bottom sides up and you will see one side is bigger than the other. The higher side on the drivers
Stand up both rears with the bottom sides up and you will see one side is bigger than the other. The higher side on the drivers
