TStango

I broke both of my OME shocks last month and had to replace then with some cheapies. I was kind of suprised to find that the OME shocks had the same travel as the cheap ones. I always thought OME had at least an inch or two more in them. Anyway, it's time to get some real shocks under there again since I am having problems with the upper mount on one of the cheapies.

Anyone know of a slightly longer shock to increase the rear articulation a little more.?

gregbreakseverything

From what I have read, I think the LC shocks are longer, but for some reason need to be paired with the LC coils. Someone who knows more should chime in.

BajaRunner

I have the LandCruiser OME shocks, and they are realllly long...but, they fit under my rig just right. As long as your bumpstops are in the right area, you shouldnt have a problem with them bottoming out...

What about making a new upper shock mount? For better angles for travel and have it higher, so you can accomidate a larger shock without a 100" of lift. Im suprised I dont see many guys doing that here.

sschaefer3

Here is a question for you. Why did the tops break off?

What fixes that? It is a known issue and has a known solution.

TStango

Obviously limit straps are the way to go. I have them up front. But the real contributing factor for both OME rears failing was that one of the upper link bolts loosened up and fell off. I recently swapped out the rear end and didn't retorque everything as well as I should have.
The axle was wiggling around enough to cold work the upper mount on the passenger side first. I was on the way to a wheeling trip and had to replace that shock in the parking lot of Vatozone. I still hadn't noticed the missing upper link bolt and the driver side shock was quick to follow. It almost got me through the whole day of wheeling though.

So yes you are right. To do this right, I should put some limit straps on along with a set of new shocks.

I want to look into the landcruiser OME's as SC4Runner suggested. I haven't extended my bumpstops so that would be something else to add to the list.
Is it safe to assume that the soft valved LC shocks are what you (SC4Runner)used?

calrockx

Could it beeeee.....SATAN?
Or something that begins with a p and ends with a anhard bar.

TStango

It definitely is SATAN.

C'mon, Panhard bar is something I've been neglecting for years.

sschaefer3

Well if the stuff does not line up anymore, then it's going to rub on one side and over time right through those studs.


Rear limiting straps was a Downey Idea, one that has proven to be worthless.

calrockx

My procrastination has gotten the better of me, or one of my shocks at least. A few months ago I broke the rear driver side shock stem...sheared clean off. The shock is repaired and back on there, but I really gotta get that panhard drop I got from you so long ago.

TStango

I guess limit straps wasn't the obvious answer after all.
You would think I would know this after installing adjustable track bars on two other lifted vehicles.
So to get the rear end in good working order I need new shocks, adjustable panhard bar and some bumpstops.
Time to read up some more on Schaefers web site I guess.

BajaRunner

I have the OME 71E's, whatever that is. I cant remember if they were comfort valved or not. I got them through sleeoffroad.com.

To be honest, I dont know what the obvious answer is too...bumpstops or panhard bar or limiting straps or leafsprings.

Supposidly, to get the optimum shock, you need to measure the compressed distance from mount to mount and then extended from mount to mount. That should give you a ball park figure.

After all this crap that ive been through, im never lifting a truck again unless it has 1 leafspring under each corner.

TStango

I just thought it was suprising to find an aftermarket OEM shock replacement (Gabriel is the name of the manufacturer)to physically look almost identical to the OME. I'm talking compressed and extended length were the SAME. And it was only $25 or $30 and has a lifetime warranty. That's why I'm thinking about finding something a little longer.

Tanto

Rear limiting straps are not worthless, just not helpful in resolving the issue posed in this thread.