Installing Old Man Emu rear springs!!
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Installing Old Man Emu rear springs!!
Finally after a few months getting all the parts together (and waiting for the school semester to be over) me, some friends and my dad started the installation yesterday.
We had a failed attempt last month because the bolts are incredibly corroded, so this time we just cut them out.
Getting the old springs out was quite a pain, but now we've hit another roadblock due to the old metal sleeves being too rusted to use. Some of the stuff we removed looked like it was from the Titanic.
Everything will get back on track once I get the sleeves, but in the meantime here are some pics.
We had a failed attempt last month because the bolts are incredibly corroded, so this time we just cut them out.
Getting the old springs out was quite a pain, but now we've hit another roadblock due to the old metal sleeves being too rusted to use. Some of the stuff we removed looked like it was from the Titanic.
Everything will get back on track once I get the sleeves, but in the meantime here are some pics.
#2
[QUOTE=Mr. Gold444;51918417]Finally after a few months getting all the parts together (and waiting for the school semester to be over) me, some friends and my dad started the installation yesterday.
We had a failed attempt last month because the bolts are incredibly corroded, so this time we just cut them out.
Getting the old springs out was quite a pain, but now we've hit another roadblock due to the old metal sleeves being too rusted to use. Some of the stuff we removed looked like it was from the Titanic.
Everything will get back on track once I get the sleeves, but in the meantime here are some pics.
Holy Crap, I do not miss the rust belts at all, I feel for you.
We had a failed attempt last month because the bolts are incredibly corroded, so this time we just cut them out.
Getting the old springs out was quite a pain, but now we've hit another roadblock due to the old metal sleeves being too rusted to use. Some of the stuff we removed looked like it was from the Titanic.
Everything will get back on track once I get the sleeves, but in the meantime here are some pics.
Holy Crap, I do not miss the rust belts at all, I feel for you.
Last edited by bobbybouche; 05-18-2012 at 11:27 AM. Reason: Fixed it for BmcEL :)
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Just hit another obstacle. It turns out that the 14mm bolt I ordered is actually 9/16", so the metal sleeve is about ten-thousandths of an inch too small. We tried sanding the inside of the sleeve with an air drill to make the bolt fit, but progress is minimal.
Next we're going to try to bore out the sleeve or use a better abrasive.
But until then, the springs will continue to sit on the ground.
Next we're going to try to bore out the sleeve or use a better abrasive.
But until then, the springs will continue to sit on the ground.
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The day has finally come and the installation is now complete!
After receiving the sleeves, everything went swimmingly, except my tailpipe needs to be relocated.
However the results are a little unexpected. The springs are advertised as a 2" lift and I got about 5"! The springs are the CS009R, everything seems fine and the ride is superb. The rake is pretty significant so I plan on getting some ball joint spacers and I might put some weight in the back so the springs can settle.
Before the springs, the height was about 11", now it's 16".
After receiving the sleeves, everything went swimmingly, except my tailpipe needs to be relocated.
However the results are a little unexpected. The springs are advertised as a 2" lift and I got about 5"! The springs are the CS009R, everything seems fine and the ride is superb. The rake is pretty significant so I plan on getting some ball joint spacers and I might put some weight in the back so the springs can settle.
Before the springs, the height was about 11", now it's 16".
Last edited by Mr. Gold444; 05-28-2012 at 11:54 AM. Reason: Better picture
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I had exactly the same thing happen on my 86. I even called the guys I purchased the kit from to make sure it was the right set! After a while, they settled down a bit but I still have a bit of a rake. I got the HD set with torsion bars so I cranked my bars up a bit. Still a slight rake, but I don't really mind.
I noticed your problem with the sleeves not fitting. If I recall, the bushings for the OME kit didn't require the sleeves. I had to cut a bolt out too, btw.
Also, you may need the "anti-inversion shackle plate". I found out after wheeling it that the shackle will flip over when fully drooped. The guys I bought the OME kit from neglected to include (or mention) this. See my build up thread:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f199...thread-249175/
I noticed your problem with the sleeves not fitting. If I recall, the bushings for the OME kit didn't require the sleeves. I had to cut a bolt out too, btw.
Also, you may need the "anti-inversion shackle plate". I found out after wheeling it that the shackle will flip over when fully drooped. The guys I bought the OME kit from neglected to include (or mention) this. See my build up thread:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f199...thread-249175/
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Nice build you have there.
With your springs, were your shocks almost at max extension just sitting on the ground?
I only needed the sleeves because the bolt for the front of the springs is 14mm and the bushing is 18mm.
Funny thing about the inversion plate, I bought it but my stock shackles were so rusted I just bought new OME shackles. The shackles have a triangular shape and there's an inversion pin on the point of them.
The only thing I'm questioning is that for the shackles, the springs aren't quite in the middle, one bushing is against the shackle plate and the other bushing has a gap before the plate. I'm sure it's probably not a problem though.
With your springs, were your shocks almost at max extension just sitting on the ground?
I only needed the sleeves because the bolt for the front of the springs is 14mm and the bushing is 18mm.
Funny thing about the inversion plate, I bought it but my stock shackles were so rusted I just bought new OME shackles. The shackles have a triangular shape and there's an inversion pin on the point of them.
The only thing I'm questioning is that for the shackles, the springs aren't quite in the middle, one bushing is against the shackle plate and the other bushing has a gap before the plate. I'm sure it's probably not a problem though.
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Thanks!
I thought about getting the greaseable OME shackles but I couldn't convince myself to cough up the dough. Someday!
My shocks are definitely close to full extension. They look just like yours. I thinks its fine since you won't get much more droop before the shackle stop.
Your shackle plate gap sounds strange. So the inside width of the shackle is wider than the bushings? I can't think of how that would be bad. I suppose the bushing might wear funny if it can slide around some. Did you get the OME bushings?
I thought about getting the greaseable OME shackles but I couldn't convince myself to cough up the dough. Someday!
My shocks are definitely close to full extension. They look just like yours. I thinks its fine since you won't get much more droop before the shackle stop.
Your shackle plate gap sounds strange. So the inside width of the shackle is wider than the bushings? I can't think of how that would be bad. I suppose the bushing might wear funny if it can slide around some. Did you get the OME bushings?
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that is weird. maybe talk to someone at OME/ARB (i think ARB owns them). That bottom picture is what i'd be afraid of, where the bushing is coming out of the shackle mount.
#11
you sure you didnt have sag before the spring swap? they said 2 inch lift from factory height. im sure you didnt have 3inchs of sag or maybe. but you should see how it settles than remeasure.
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Toyo: You are right. I definitely had a sag, prob around 2" and I got the HD springs, which are rated for constant 500 pound load so I was sprung another 1". add the 2" lift and there's the 5". I had to do the math myself and then I felt less surprised!
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How's the ride, Mr. Goooooooooldmember? lol. Seen so many saying, "MY OME SPRINGS ARE SAGGING ALREADY", .... Guess you have to think ahead on the 'settling' part, right? I LOVE the products I've bought from them thus far(Shocks and stabilizer).... Been thinking of an F150 Pack mod, a lot, lately. Good write up, man.... Nice job!
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How's the ride, Mr. Goooooooooldmember? lol. Seen so many saying, "MY OME SPRINGS ARE SAGGING ALREADY", .... Guess you have to think ahead on the 'settling' part, right? I LOVE the products I've bought from them thus far(Shocks and stabilizer).... Been thinking of an F150 Pack mod, a lot, lately. Good write up, man.... Nice job!
The descriptions on ARB's website are pretty lackluster, so it's kind of hard to tell what is meant for what. Right now I have the OMEGS3 shackle and it's the same size as the stock shackle. The only thing that interferes with the width is the anti-inversion pin. If the pin was removed then I could tighten the shackle to the width of the spring. Looking at the application guide it says the shackle is for all leaf springs, but it also says 1979-85 Pickups.
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Measure the width of the shackles. If they are 88mm wide, you got the wrong set. IIRC the shackle width for '79-88 Pickups are 70mm. For 89-95 pickups, the width of the shackle where it bolts to the frame is 88mm, then steps down to 70mm where it bolts to the spring. To me, it looks like you got a wide body shackle set for an '89-95 Pickup, where the width of the shackle is 88mm where it mounts to the frame and where it mounts to the spring.
Last edited by 93Xtra-Cab; 05-28-2012 at 03:33 PM.
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I just went out and measured and it's not looking good. I measured 3.5" inside to inside which is 88mm.
I really don't want to buy any more shackles because the ones I have were kind of pricey. Here's the application guide I used. http://arbusa.com/uploads/PDF/access...oyotaHiLux.pdf
Could I just add some shims?
I really don't want to buy any more shackles because the ones I have were kind of pricey. Here's the application guide I used. http://arbusa.com/uploads/PDF/access...oyotaHiLux.pdf
Could I just add some shims?
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The anti-inversion pin has about 3/4" of thread on each side and the rest is a shank. The only thing I can think of it adding washers to center the springs.
Would this cause any problems?
Would this cause any problems?