OME 2" Springs - Any word yet?

[Tom Wilk]

Doggone it Rick, a picture really is worth a thousand words. You told more about the spring with that image than I could if I wrote all day (which it probably seems like I did).

 

[greengoose]

Tom,
When are you going to get some pictures out? I am very interested in doing the same to my 99 Limited. I am more and more against the Trailmaster lift since I wont be able to fit in my garage anymore.

Do you think you could squeeze in some 285 or 295/70/16s after your ome lift?

-Bryan

[Edited by greengoose on 07-11-2000 at 06:21 PM]

 

[GJarrett]

Hi Bryan!

Haven't heard much from you lately, you world traveler you....

I don't know how high your garage is, but I'll be able to do the 4" lift, but that'll be it... no safari rack on top of that, or I'll need a garage lift.

Tom and you both could fit 285/75r16's after the OME/torsion lift since I could, but it will also take a 1" body lift and the willingness to carefully trim out some of your bottom rear front bumper to keep the tires from rubbing it, like I did. I know you have a Limited and want to keep it pretty. When I carefully trimmed the front of my front fenderwells at the bottom of the front bumper, honestly, no one could notice it wasn't the stock setup. You can do it if you are willing.

 

[Tom Wilk]

As far as pictures, I don't have any of the installation, but I do have a couple of "after" pics. Problem is, they're still in the camera along with about 20 more shots. I'm going to a golf outing this Saturday and will be taking a few pics there, so I will get the roll developed soon. I'll also get a couple of pics under the rear of the truck to show how they look under there.

Gerald's right about moving the bumper/lifting the body. My closest clearance isn't on top and it wasn't even before the spring/torsion lift; it was the front bumper and the rear of the front wheel wells. I had barely 1/2" between the tire and the bumper when I turned the wheels about 15-20 degrees from center. Rear tires have a bit more room.

BTW, Gerald did an excellent job with his alterations. If he hadn't let on, I would never have known about the trimming and bumper adjustments. It looked perfectly normal.

 

[ExplorGM]

Forget the 1000 words!

Let's see those pictures Tom!
Rick

 

[Tom Wilk]

Took 2 more pics today, 18 left to go.

I might be ready for a "featured" Explorer soon. Or at least a before and after set of pics.

 

[William Schumacher]

finally have the ome springs on !!!!!!!

I just got the truck back from the spring shop,I had them put my OME-36 spring's and new spring bushings on,I also had them put the (B-code) torsion bars on,and then had them level it out,the spring guy said that the front is 1/4" lower then the back,I thought that was perfect,this came out realy well.
a side not though,what a mistake it was to get the stock size tire a few months back when I got the bfg,t/a ko 255/70/16,I may try to trade them in,they only have 3600 miles on them.I really can go bigger,(how much I dont know),if I don't take a huge hit,I'll trade them in.
thanks,

 

[Ray Lobato]

Hey Tom,
It's time to update you registry entry with a PICTURE!!!!!

William,
Tom is runnings 32's right now, You should be able to do the same.

Well, I guess I'm not the only one with OME's anymore.
Welcome to the club guys.
PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES
PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES

Get the HINT?

 

[Tom Wilk]

Alright Ray, I'm working on it. I guess I need a digital camera.

As a side note, I'd like to find someone with a ramp where I can do a comparison of articulation with the sway bars connected and disconnected to see how much of a difference there is. I'm suspecting quite a bit, especially with these springs. If I find a willing ramp owner, I'll do it and post the results (also with pictures).

 

[William Schumacher]

sway bar links disconnected

hey Tom, I just ordered the perrson off-road systems sway bar disconnect a few days ago,they are way behind in production though,this seems to be a well built(almost all stainless) easy to use system,when I get them,along with the energy front sway bar bushings (for on-road use),I'll post the results !!!

 

[Maniak]

Tom,
If you can't find a ramp.. Here is a link for instructions on how to find you RTI score so you can compare the difference betwwen the sway bars connected and disconnected.

RTI Calculator Link http://mark.legendz.com/ramp.html
link explaining how to get the number needed for the RTI calculator.. http://mark.legendz.com/4x3/van-ramping4-1999.html

Keep in mind, these number are not exact but will work for you to figure out how much disconnecting the sway bar helps.

 

[Rick]

My OME springs just arrived today. Very nice stuff. I'm going to remove the bolts on top of the clamps to allow more travel, the remaining brackets will keep the springs in line. That should give the best of both worlds.

 

[Tom Wilk]

Maniak, thanks for the excellent idea, as well as the calculator. Although I'd like an official score, my real goal is to see just how much of a difference the sway bars make. I suspect that the rear one will offer the greatest improvement when it is disconnected due to the springs and solid axle setup. There's just more articulation available back there. I definately need to keep those paws on the ground.

Speaking of clamps, I had some fairly close tolerances between the fuel tank skid plate and the large clamp that attaches to the "overload" leaf. After adjusting the position of the skid plate and reversing the bolts on the spring clamp, I have about 1/2" of clearance. I will be watching this area closely, as I know that under extreme flex (if that's possible with my IFS front end), there will be some lateral movement on the spring. Hopefully, it won't bump the skid plate. If it does, I'll hve to modify it a bit more.

Rick, I'm interested in seeing how much more droop your slight mod allows. Do you think it will allow the axle to droop too far and pull the driveshaft out of the yoke on a stock setup?

 

[GJarrett]

Tom, regarding your fuel tank skid plate. Mine does catch the edge of my spring sometimes during extreme flex. Then when the wheel drops back down it will pull the skidplate edge down with and bend it way down. Then when the edge releases from leaf, it will gong like a kettle drum.

Just thought I'd prepare you so you don't freak out like I did the first time I heard that sound and didn't know what was going on.

 

[Tom Wilk]

thanks, Gerald. I've already heard the "gong" right after I installed the springs. If necessary, I'll take the skid plate off and adjust the edge with the sawzall or a large percussion tool (hammer, or BFH depending on your dialect).

Just out of curiosity, how much side to side clearance do you have between your springs and skid plate? I'm at 1/2" now as I view it from directly underneath the vehicle.

 

[jwild4x4]

Are most of you purchasing the springs and shocks just for the back? Do you need new shocks up front, or do the torsion bars act as the front shocks? Sorry, I haven't crawled much under my explorer yet.. I plan to with these new shocks!

Also, I know many of you have performed a body lift as well, I was wondering if any of you have tried this with a K&N FIPK? When you lift the body, would it modify the distance between the air filter and the body? If nobody knows, about this I might have to call K&N

Thanks for your help

Jason

[Edited by jwild4x4 on 07-14-2000 at 05:23 PM]

 

[NoBoundaries]

Well, I got my wheels on Thrusday! They were shipped out Monday from Florida, I wasn't expecting them for another week! Shipping only costed $45 bucks, not to mention the great deal I got on the wheels in the first place, at least I think I got a pretty good deal on them. I am looking for a place to buy my wheels, any suggestions on what is the best? Also, where is the best place to get the OME leaf's and shocks? Does National Tire and Wheel have them? I know a few guys who are serious fourwheelers. I heard if you play two big dealers against each other, you can make out pretty well. My brother-in-law was going between Nation Tire and Wheel and 4wheel Parts and Wholesalers, he kept going back and forth saying, "Hear is the price they are willing to give me, what can you do for me?" He ended up getting the lowest price possible and NO shipping and handling. They will especially do whatever they can if you are a first time customer. I have heard other stories of free shock boots, tee shirts, and free shipping just so you would buy from them! The big dealers seem to be willing to bend over backwards just to get your business. From what I understand, they also like package deals, say if you buy wheels and the leaf's and shocks, they can cut some of the price for you. Has anyone tried this with these companies? I figured I would mention it to everyone so they can get the best deal possible as well, because who doesn't mind saving some money?! I know that I am going to end up spending a lot on the tires alone (Why is metric so darn expensive?!), so I am planning on seeing what these two companies can offer me.


Hey Jason, if I were you, I would buy shocks for the front and back. It would effect your ride quality greatly if you had two different sets of shocks on your truck. Don't know about the K&N question, but you may want to ask it in this thread: http://216.10.4.111/forums/showthread.php?threadid=13721 The thread is titled "Found '95-'97 Explorer Body Lift" and I think there may be some people there who have done the lift and would be able to help you.

 

[NoBoundaries]

Oh yeah, before I forget. LETS SEE SOME PICS TOM!!!!!

 

[Tom Wilk]

Tim, your best bet for finding OME springs is to call ARB direct and ask them to locate a couple of dealers for you. I don't have the number handy, but I put the 800 number up in an earlier post in this thread. They aren't a stock item, so you'll have to order them through a dealer. You can have them drop shipped right to your door, so if the dealer is far away like mine was, you won't have to go pick them up.

As far as the pics, I have sent the film in today and should be picking up the pics tomorrow so I can scan them in and hopefully get them up somewhere. I also have some incriminating pictures from yesterday's golf outing on there, so that makes me doubly interested in getting these developed.

BTW, I've finally gotten my web page up, though it is far from finished. I only have the page that I made for school last year up, and I plan on making that page only a part of the whole thing. I'm anxious to show my Explorer off now.

 

[Tom Wilk]

Pics are finally up

Ray and others that are interested, the pics are up in the before and after topic. I wish I had remembered exactly where I stood for the before pics so that I could duplicate the angles. But, you can clearly see the difference in the wheel wells.