Suspension upgrade question... Is OME worth the extra $$$ or should I go with Bilsteins?

[OverlandBear]

Hello Overlanders! I'm new to the game and new to the community, but I am stoked to be here. This is a picture of the 94 Hilux I just bought. It's an LN 107 with the 3L 2.8L diesel engine. Lots of work to do but great bones. Super fun project so far.
My next order of business is to upgrade the suspension. My question for the community, and especially for the Toyota homies out there is, is Old Man Emu suspension worth the extra money, or should I just get some Bilsteins? She desperately needs new front and rear shocks. I'm not very keen on lifting the truck, it's got great clearance already and it's my understanding that without a whole lot of work and parts, lifting a truck like this is going to poorly affect the geometry. That takes the Bilstein 5100's out of the running, I've only been able to find that model for a 3-4 inch lift. So my options are Bilstein 4600's or some OME nitrocharger sports for $200 more dollars.
An important part of this equation is to include that eventually I would like to take the bed off, put a 6 foot flat bed on, and then build a sweet gear hauling box so I can bring camp/overland supplies, boards, bikes and climbing gear on expeditions. So, when all's said and done, she'll be have some weight.

Looking forward to hearing what folks have to say, hope everybody is staying cool and sending hard out there

 

[1stDeuce]

My experience with Bilstein shocks is that they're great for thrashing a vehicle hard without bottoming as much, but they're horrible for washboard or cobble roads. I would call them generally over-damped for most vehicles...
OME had the best setup, but really f'd up their valving with the introduction of the Nitorcharger Sport shocks a decade or so ago. They've since corrected the issue and valving for most apps is pretty good again, particularly for stock or OME springs. If there is a soft ride version of the valving for your application, I'd recommend that unless you're really going to be heavy or want to drive really fast on stock-ish height springs, at which point Bilsteins might be better for you...

Good luck!!

 

[NoDak]

My experience with Bilstein shocks is that they're great for thrashing a vehicle hard without bottoming as much, but they're horrible for washboard or cobble roads. I would call them generally over-damped for most vehicles...
OME had the best setup, but really f'd up their valving with the introduction of the Nitorcharger Sport shocks a decade or so ago. They've since corrected the issue and valving for most apps is pretty good again, particularly for stock or OME springs. If there is a soft ride version of the valving for your application, I'd recommend that unless you're really going to be heavy or want to drive really fast on stock-ish height springs, at which point Bilsteins might be better for you...

Good luck!!

Agreed. I’m pretty disappointed with the 5100’s on my SuperDuty unless I’m loaded very heavy. I’ve read that the 4600’s have the same valving now. The digressive valving or whatever they call it isn’t right for a lighter or unloaded truck imo.

 

[MR. ED]

Agreed. I’m pretty disappointed with the 5100’s on my SuperDuty unless I’m loaded very heavy. I’ve read that the 4600’s have the same valving now. The digressive valving or whatever they call it isn’t right for a lighter or unloaded truck imo.

I agree with the 5100's on super dutys. Trying to figure out my next shock selection too. And, I feel like OME is a better fit for your rig on my many years of anecdotal internet research.

 

[rruff]

The digressive valving or whatever they call it isn’t right for a lighter or unloaded truck imo.

I have Ironman shocks which also have digressive valving... and a lot of damping. The ride is firm if the bumps are small, so for typical road duty they won't be comfy. They work well on rough offroad trails though. On washboard, nothing seems to work very well besides airing down.

The really nice thing about these shocks is how well they handle. I removed the swaybars and I think it handles great. You'll get some sway in sweeping turns, but nothing crazy... the speed limit is no problem... and transitions are very secure; not a bit of wallow or bob.

 

[1stDeuce]

Generally, if your shocks allow you to have acceptable handling with no sway bars, I would consider them WAY over-damped, at least on the low speed end, which usually translates to overdamped high speed control as well, even if they promote them as digressive... (Difficult to have that digressive tuning...) The Bilstein 5100's on my TJ are certainly in that category. I suspect the 4600's for the same application are slightly softer but still pretty firm as evidenced by the set on my GMC, which is certainly over-damped for most situations but does handle being over-driven pretty well...

Part of the problem with shock tuning is that everyone's definition of "ride well" or "handle well" is a bit different depending on their priorities, vehicle and suspension setup, driving style, usual terrain, etc... Most aftermarket shocks are valved really stiff because they're tunded for heavy vehicles with aftermarket (soft) springs...

FWIW, my next set of shocks to try for the TJ will be a set of Doetsch 3000 series shocks, which are supposed to offer the best ride quality. It has been a long time, but I was very happy with their shock valving back in the early 2000's, and they have assured me their valving philosophy hasn't changed since then... Hopefully they have shock lengths that will work on my barely lifted TJ...

 

[rruff]

Generally, if your shocks allow you to have acceptable handling with no sway bars, I would consider them WAY over-damped, at least on the low speed end, which usually translates to overdamped high speed control as well, even if they promote them as digressive...

It may be a mix of preference and use.

Firmness on small bumps doesn't bother me... and on larger ones the response is good. Still firm and planted... which seems important when hauling a camper. I didn't realize how much I disliked wallow, until I got rid of it. Also, being able to ditch the swaybars lets the wheels behave more independently, which is good. It's not a trophy truck and I don't drive it like one.