What to do with my LSPV after OME lift installation?

[lechnito]

After installing my OME lift kit, my braking performance went from adequate to bad. After installing 255/85/r16 tires, my braking performance went from bad to "holy s*** this is scary dangerous".

Went through the FSM and several threads on mud. After performing some routine diagnostics, I disconnected the LSPV spring from the rear axle and zip tied it to the body. Bingo! I'm stopping better than ever.

The way I see it, I have three options:

1. Keep the LSPV and fabricate a spacer to fit on the rear axle housing to adjust the spring height.
   
2. Delete the LSPV and simply run the hydraulics without any proportioning at all.
3. Delete the LSPV and install a wilwood manual proportioning valve in the engine compartment off the MC.

I don't have plans to tow anything and very rarely haul more than a few hundred pounds in the cargo area. The rear springs are OME heavies.

What do you think I should do?

 

[Kleatus]

Don't get rid of it. As you have discovered, it really does work and serves an important purpose. I installed a new Tough Dog suspension the other week and simply made a spacer bracket from a scrap of 1/8" steel. Works great.

The system as intended will help reduce the likelihood of locking the rears up in a panic stop, especially when lightly loaded - which could be especially helpful when going around a corner on a loose road surface.

 

[lechnito]

Don't get rid of it. As you have discovered, it really does work and serves an important purpose. I installed a new Tough Dog suspension the other week and simply made a spacer bracket from a scrap of 1/8" steel. Works great.

The system as intended will help reduce the likelihood of locking the rears up in a panic stop, especially when lightly loaded - which could be especially helpful when going around a corner on a loose road surface.

Roger that. I should be able to fab up a simple bracket like yours.

What's the story on calibrating the spring? Should the spring be set to a 90 degree angle when unloaded?

 

[89BIGBLUE]

I made a spacer with longer bolts and a block of UHMW I had laying around. Sorry for poor picture, raining today. Hope this helps.

 

[Kleatus]

Roger that. I should be able to fab up a simple bracket like yours.

What's the story on calibrating the spring? Should the spring be set to a 90 degree angle when unloaded?

When I looked at how it was set up on the factory springs, at normal unloaded ride height the rod simply flexed when the suspension was compressed, as the valve was already closed. Only when the suspension was unloaded (as under hard braking) did the valve begin to open. Call it mechanical ABS.. There is a procedure in the FSM for proper adjustment but seeing as how mine was working fine before I simply put it back where it was pre-lift.

 

[red66toy]

My version

 

[lechnito]

You guys are awesome. Thanks for showing me examples of this spacer in action.

I went to the hardware store and bought 4"x3", 5"x3", and 6"x3" pieces of 1/8" thick flat bar steel. I figured I can bend 1" on both sides, drill new holes, and mount it up similarly to @Kleatus.

Haven't measured anything yet, but I'm guessing I'll need 3" of vertical length to offset the springs and larger tires.

 

[Skniper]

Yep, make a spacer. Best bet is to make a spacer that is equal to amount of lift you achieved over original stock height. I believe the usual with OME is about 2 1/2-3 inches lift over stock height.

Before my OME install my 62's springs were really shot and flat, which mimics a heavy load to the LSPV. My rear brakes would lock up quickly under firm braking, really annoying. When you raise the rearend (I.e. OME lift) it mimics a light load to the LSPV and very little pressure gets sent to the rears. Your bigger tires did nothing to affect the LSPV, just added larger circumference for the brakes to stop on an already compromised system.

Years ago on the old 3FE Forum, we had a member make a bunch of really nice LSPV spacers for lifted FJ62's. Works perfect, really balances out the brakes.