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Part #: See Below
In the past I have gone with the big lift, big tires idea to get over all the obstacles. After a while I found out that I was no longer enjoying myself on the trails. Where was the challenge when you could just drive over everything. So this time around I decided to go minimalist, just enough lift to clear 33's. I had already installed my JKS 1 1/4" body lift, so now was time to put in a suspension lift. I had looked around at the kits that were out there. This is my daily drive so I really wanted something that was well mannered on the road and very capable off road. Now I really only needed 2 inches of lift, so that cut down my choices of lift kits. I didn't want to put in a budget boost, so that left me with a spring lift. There are a few manufacturers out there that make these kits. I looked at all of them and the front runner was Old Man Emu. What finally sold me on this kit was a comparison ride. I rode a similarly equipped Jeep with the OME across a section of broken concrete in the parking lot at work. Now this section is really harsh in the Rubi, so I expected with the lifted Jeep that you would be able to feel this and the Jeep would roll. I was really surprised when the OME just drove over it. You could still feel it, but you really had to think about it. The ride was outstanding. So I purchased the OME kit.
OME Suspension Kit (Direct from ARB USA) Front HD springs - OME 933 |
Now I have heard many different measurements for this lift kit, so I decided to take a set of measurements before I lifted it. My Jeep currently has a winch in the front along with rear corner guards, Hi-lift and recover gear in the back so I am fairly balanced on additional weight. I also have a 1 1/4" body lift installed.
Critical
Measurements (includes 1 1/4" body lift) |
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Before Lift | After Lift | Total
Lift (includes 3/4" front spacer) |
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Front
Fender (Centered through tire from ground) |
34 1/8" | 36 1/4" | 2 1/8" |
Front
Fender (From center of wheel) |
19 5/8" | 21 3/4" | 2 1/8" |
Frame
behind Front LCA bracket |
14 5/8" | 16 3/4" | 2 1/8" |
Center of Rocker Guard (Centered on middle body mount) | 20" | 22 " | 2" |
Skid
Plate (Lowest point under Transfer case) |
10 1/4" | 12 3/8" | 2 1/8" |
Frame in-front of Rear LCA bracket | 15" | 17" | 2" |
Rear
Fender (Centered through tire from ground) |
34 7/8" | 36 5/8" | 1 3/4" |
Rear
Fender (From center of wheel) |
20 3/8" | 22 1/8" | 1 3/4" |
Note: When I removed the factory shocks I was surprised when the vehicle dropped. I went back and remeasured the Front and Rear fenders from the ground. The front had sagged 1/2" and the rear 3/8". Nobody has ever mentioned this drop. Now the OME shocks are not high charged Nitrogen like the factory shocks, so if you go back to the numbers, take out the factory shocks and the Teraflex spring spacer the actual spring lift with the OME is 1 7/8" front and 2 1/8" rear. |
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Spring Characteristics |
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Factory Front | OME Front | Factory Rear | OME Rear | |
Length | 17 1/4" | 19 1/2" | 12" | 15" |
Width | 4 7/8" | 5" | 6 1/4" | 6 7/8" |
Wire Size | 0.508" | 0.558" | 0.610" | 0.640" |
# of wraps | 8 +1/4" overlap | 11.25 | 6.5 | 6.25 |
Shock
Characteristics |
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Factory Front | OME Front | Factory Rear | OME Rear | |
Extended | 21" | 23" | 19" | 22" |
Compressed | 14" | 14" | 12 1/2" | 13 1/2" |
Comp. Force | 90lbs |
10lbs | 90lbs | 10lbs |
Note: Compression
Force Measured on scale by applying weight stacks to top of shock.
Force is Approximate of what is required to hold shock compressed. |
Additional
Parts: Anti-seize Teraflex 3/4" spring spacer 6502468 - SCREW, Hex Flange Head, M8x1.25x20, Coil Spring Bracket, Mounting 52005917 - BRACKET, Spring, Coil |
Tools
Needed: Drill 1/2" Drill bit 7/16" Drill bit Pliers 3/8" Ratchet 4" extension 13mm Socket 15mm Socket 13mm Combo Wrench 15mm Combo Wrench 18mm Combo Wrench Phillips Screwdriver Flat tip Screwdriver Vise Floor Jack Jack Stands (6 tons) Small adjustable Wrench T-55 Torx |
Once
you have gotten everything installed you will notice that the steering
wheel is off. Your toe in will also be off, but that is a
little hard to see. You will need to get an alignment to set
everything straight. With the steering wheel of it is difficult
to drive it, lots of bump steer that can quickly lead to death wobble.
Real scary the first time. You will need to adjust the drag
link to recenter the steering wheel. Loosen the two nuts on
the adjustment with a 15mm wrench and adjust the drag link
out until the steering wheel is centered up. You may need
to drive it a couple of times and adjust as necessary. Quick
primer on Jeep Alignment. |
Now you will also need to adjust your headlights. Headlight adjustment.
Problems:
I know you don't want to hear that there is problems, but I have
a few issues so far. I had to take out the Teraflex shock relocators in
the rear. The shocks were bottoming out. I will reinstall these when
I decide on a lifted skid plate and have to rotate the rear pinion angle.
Now with these removed I have a small line across the passenger shock canister
right about the area of where it would hit the spring perch. No damage to
the shock other than the scratched paint, but I will be keeping an eye on it.
Front Passenger spring is rubbing on the mount. This appears to be a factory problem. I measured and this mount is actually located further from the front by 1/4" than the driver side. I will keep an eye on it to see how bad the rubbing actually is. The other thing I noticed while I was under there is that my stock tires are rubbing the mount bucket near the top. Time to upgrade to those 33's.
All of the shocks have popped the snap rings loose and have moved around on their bar pins. I took them all off and reinstalled the snap rings. This is something else I am going to have to watch now.
The rear track bar bracket has come loose on my twice now. Hopefully I got it this time. Nothing else was loose, so maybe this was a fluke. I expected things to be loose the first time, so this was a surprise.
N-m | Ft. Lbs. | In. Lbs. | |
FRONT Shock Absorber Upper NuT |
23 | 17 | - |
FRONT Shock Absorber Lower Nut | 28 | - | 250 |
FRONT SPRING RETAINER CLIP AND BOLT | 21 | 16 | - |
FRONT STABILIZER BAR UPPER LINKS | 61 | 45 | - |
FRONT STABILIZER BAR LOWER LINKS | 95 | 70 | - |
REAR Shock Absorber Upper BOLT |
35 | 26 | - |
REAR Shock Absorber Lower Nut | 100 | 74 | - |
REAR Track Bar Frame Bracket Nut |
100 | 74 | - |
REAR Track Bar Axle Bracket Bolt | 100 | 74 | - |
This page last updated: 16-Apr-2008
Content
and Design © 2002-present WanderingTrail, Ronald Seegert
Common Sense and Safety should always be observed when working on your vehicle or doing modifications. Jackstands, wheel blocks, disconnecting the battery are a few of the basic safety precautions that should be used and may not be mentioned in the write ups on this site. You are responsible for your own installation, these write ups are a helpful guideline and should not be taken as an official installation instruction. My write up may be different from the kits currently out there, so alwasy double check the manufacturers installation instructions when installing anything. I try to keep the site up to date with changes that have occured as I discover them, but may not have the latest unless someone lets me know. If you feel that an install is above your capabilities after reading my write ups, I recommend getting together with a club and getting some help. Only a few times have I needed to employe some actual help from a shop to get something done. Usually welding or A/C work. While I have spent many years working on mechanical systems, I am not an expert, nor do I pretend to be one. I hope these write ups have been useful to you.
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