Sonoran Steel 1.2 v. OME setup

[Clark White]

In that FAQ, he says that the 890's are the only OME's worth a darn. What is it that he or others don't like about the 891's or 892's?

Clark

 

[CYi5]

In that FAQ, he says that the 890's are the only OME's worth a darn. What is it that he or others don't like about the 891's or 892's?

Clark

I would run 891's or LC80's in the future, the 890's just don't hold a load of camping gear all that well and I needed to add trim packers to compensate somewhat. I've also heard that OME's are designed to work together, spring/shock set. Not sure if that's just a ploy to sell both spring and shock, but i'm satisfied with the performance of 890s and N86C's.

 

[freeze]

OME has put a good deal of R&D into matching their coils to their shocks. Although I've had the set on the Tacoma and can't speak for the Runner set up, I was really pleased with the rebound control of the shocks. You do have to have the right coil for the weight of the vehicle (preload) in order for it to work properly.

 

[digitalferg]

FWIW, I'm the owner of the 4runner CruiserOutfit is referring to. I second all that he has said. But I'd like to add that I actually went with the LX450 springs and LC80 factory tokico shocks for the rear. Unloaded, the ride is close to amazing cruising down the desert dirt roads (up to about 60MPH-then I get some nice scary sway ) and on the highway. But when I've had it loaded and takin some semi-rocky trails, the back end was floppin all over the place. My rear setup is waaaay too soft for a heavy load (heavy load being rear bumper with tire carrier, dual water cans inside, full camping gear in mid and rear sections of the inside). I'm actually looking to go to the LC80 springs (it is rumored that the LX450 coils are "softer") and I may ditch the tokicos as well. Also, this setup is near dead level front to rear with the SS front and LX450 rears when I'm unloaded (but with the rear bumper and spare). I end up a bit lower in the rear when I'm fully loaded.

There's a guy on yotatech that has tried pretty much every combination of shocks/coils available for the 3rd gen runner and he's got quite a bit of detailed info on what he recommends for what and why. I'll try and find the link now and post it up in here.

EDIT: Here it is: New Suspension Setup - TRD Front Lift for a 3rd Gen 4Runner! Seems like the guy is pretty knowledgeable/experienced with it all. Good info and seems to make sense (to me anyway), but I'm sure there's some plenty of people that disagree with him.

P.S. If anybody is wanting a nice soft ride or not running much weight in the rear, I've got some LX450 springs I'd love to trade or sell.

-Ferg-

 

[Bighead]

I ran the 891s for about 1.5 years on my 4Runner and prior to that ran Downey coils in the rear. I had a Rockware bumper with tire carrier during this time and carried about 100lbs of gear in the back. I went through two sets of 891s in that time. They worked well but eventually sagged to the point where I was maybe getting 1.5" of lift. I bought a new set and had the same issue...worked well initially and then started dropping again. My stop gap fix was to run 1" Cornfed spacers on the 891s.

I eventually went to the LC coils and Bilstein shocks in the rear and haven't had the same problem. I still carry about the same amount of gear (maybe a bit more) but now I have a 315/75 MT/R underneath in the stock location and a bumper that Sonoran Steel made for me (much heavier than the Rockware). It started off high in the back but eventually settled to about 3.5" of lift (I have 2" up front with Tundra coils and SS Bilstein struts).

FWIW, my experience with the OMEs was that they just didn't handle the tail weight of my 4Runner well. The SS 1.2 has worked much better for me.

DISCLAIMER: Steve at Sonoran is a friend of mine and I did a little bit of the kit testing for him but I am not trying to pimp his kits. I just wanted to give my experience with both setups being talked about.

 

[tacollie]

I have had the 881s and the 891s with OME shocks on my 2000 4runner for only a 1000 miles but absolutely love them. Good tires and a locker make up for the lack of flex. I have no doubt the ss kit is a great kit, but the OME is to pretty sweet also. I ran some 5100s on my 02 taco and preferred the OME shocks(with alcan springs) but can't speak for the 4runner. I would take 882s over racerunner coils any day of the week. Bang for the buck I don't think you can beat OME. What size tires are you running? I think the ss kit allows for larger tires than the OME. Just my 2 cents.

 

[digitalferg]

And since we're kinda on the topic, I've been wondering what the OME 80 series front no-lift coils would be like on the rear of a 3rd gen... They're supposedly the same height as the OEM coils but stiffer spring rate? Kurt, you ever dealt with them on any 80 series? Anybody else had any experience with them? I imagine they'd lift a 3rd gen rear quite high, but I'm wondering what they'd be like with a heavy-ish rear. Could perhaps be a nice option.

-Ferg-

 

[cruiseroutfit]

And since we're kinda on the topic, I've been wondering what the OME 80 series front no-lift coils would be like on the rear of a 3rd gen... They're supposedly the same height as the OEM coils but stiffer spring rate? Kurt, you ever dealt with them on any 80 series? Anybody else had any experience with them? I imagine they'd lift a 3rd gen rear quite high, but I'm wondering what they'd be like with a heavy-ish rear. Could perhaps be a nice option.

-Ferg-

I've sold & installed some sets over the year on, not many though and all have been on 80's. FWIW all the coil specs here:
http://www.cruiseroutfitters.com/tech_OME_coils.html

If there is one you don't see, lmk and I'll hurry and add it.

 

[E30RUNNER]

And since we're kinda on the topic, I've been wondering what the OME 80 series front no-lift coils would be like on the rear of a 3rd gen... They're supposedly the same height as the OEM coils but stiffer spring rate? Kurt, you ever dealt with them on any 80 series? Anybody else had any experience with them? I imagine they'd lift a 3rd gen rear quite high, but I'm wondering what they'd be like with a heavy-ish rear. Could perhaps be a nice option.

-Ferg-

Gerone down at TRDParts4u is running them on his 3rd gen. I can't find a pic of his rig at the moment but I'll do some diggin for ya.

Your best bet is just to give him a call and ask him for yourself.

 

[digitalferg]

I've sold & installed some sets over the year on, not many though and all have been on 80's. FWIW all the coil specs here:
http://www.cruiseroutfitters.com/tech_OME_coils.html

If there is one you don't see, lmk and I'll hurry and add it.

Actually, there is one I'm looking for info on that is not on your list. The OME 891. 4runner/prado rear. A lot of the 3rd gen 4runner guys refer to them as being a harsh ride. Sounds like just what I need. :sombrero: That and some nice matching OME shocks. Just would like to compare the 891s to the 861s before I make a decision.

-Ferg-

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Actually, there is one I'm looking for info on that is not on your list. The OME 891. 4runner/prado rear. A lot of the 3rd gen 4runner guys refer to them as being a harsh ride. Sounds like just what I need. :sombrero: That and some nice matching OME shocks. Just would like to compare the 891s to the 861s before I make a decision.

-Ferg-

Will do, check back tomorrow and I'll try and get the 891's and a couple others updated on that page. Anyone have some coils you would like spec'd? I also plan to add the TRD coils on their just for comparison sake (with calculated spring ratios)

Given your rig and the uses, I think 891's would work for you. Jason (sami here on ExPo) did the 890's and when loaded for the hills was really wishing for the 891's. I'd still like to do a rig swap for a spin around the block to see how our front suspensions feel now that they are theoretically the same. I was almost thinking that some very minor frame mods on my Tacoma would help eliminate that 'thunk' I'm getting.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

891 & 892 specs are up. I'll need a bit of time to figure out those rates on the OEM 80 coils. One other thing we could do Ferg... if we know the weight on your rear axle (by going to a scale) we could figure out which coil would be right for you given an estimated load. If you can't weigh it, we could calculate the weight based on the properties of the springs you have installed now. Very similar to the calculator I built for the 80 Series setups, I would need to tweak it with some variables from your rig (fender clearances), etc but totally doable and it would be neat to share with others too.

 

[digitalferg]

Total thread takeover is now complete.

Thanks for getting those up Kurt. Though I'm afraid the new info hasn't helped me make a decision. I guess I was sorta hoping for either the 891 or 892 to be near the same free height as (or slightly taller than) the 890 so that with the higher spring rate, the ******** end would sit taller. Basically, I want the ******** end of my unloaded 4runner to sit about 1" to 1.5" taller than the 890s I've seen and also have a higher spring rate so that when I'm all loaded down (loaded down: heavy duty rear bumper with spare tire swingout, dual-gas can swingout with full cans, dual water cans in the cargo area, cooler, camping gear, and ultimately a fridge and a roof top tent) I would like the rear to sit even with the front or slightly taller still and not be floppin all over the place on bumpier/rockier roads. Given the free heights and spring rates of the 890, 891, and 892, I'm not so sure any of those will give me that. BTW, I am perfectly happy with an ********-end high rig and semi-harsh ride when it's unloaded or slightly loaded, and I am 100% against saggy ******** at any given time.

So whats the best way to figure out ideal loaded spring height? As in the height of the spring at near max spring rate capacity... I figure if we can figure out the estimated target/max spring rate (target/max weight capacity), target unloaded/loaded spring height (target ride height), then perhaps we could find an OME or other spring that closely matches. :???: Kurt, is that pretty much where you were going by suggesting getting my truck on a scale? Know any local places that could weigh my truck?

I also will be working in a trail trailer into the mix in the near future for longer/family trips... Maybe I need to be thinking about air-bags at that point?

Of course I need to address the shock as well. I strongly believe my current rear shocks are waaaaay too soft. :doh:

Is this whole thing just a big pipe-dream? Maybe I'm just being a picky bastard? Or maybe I'm just crazy?

(Off to read more about coil springs and shocks etc)

-Ferg-

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Yup, get me an unloaded weight on your rig and we can go from there. As for scales? Is there an IFA in UtCo?

 

[digitalferg]

IFA rules. 4490 unloaded.

-Ferg-