Guys, I've been hunting the forums for pics of a 3" OME lift that shows the top of the front strut from the top of the tire.

Apparently they did my install wrong and I need to show then how to do it right.

Here are the views I need;


I'm told the "cup" is supposed to be installed upside down from the stock installation but having never done it myself I don't know what "cup" is being referred to. I think it's this one but I need someone to verify it.


I know the spring is not indexed correctly and I will get them to put it all the way in the slot.

I'm not having any rubbing issues but every time I go over a bump as you can see the top of the strut hits the wheel well and I can hear the washer slap like the strut isn't compressing at all.

If anyone knows what threads they are in can you please reply with a link or if it isn't too much trouble could you snap a few and post them.

Much appreciated.

 

I have never seen a lift that looks like that. To me, that looks like the 1'' differential drop spacers. If i were in your shoes i would take those out asap, you say its hitting the wheel well, your going to poke a hole through it.

Edit: Guess i should read what forum its under, Dont know anything about hte FJ's. to me still looks like the diff drop spacer.

 

Nope - no drop spacers. The springs and struts were replaced with longer ones - that's all.

 

Something is not right. The upper bushing under the nut should be compressed. Either the nut is not tight or they are missing something between the top plate and the bushing to take some of the slack. I looked at some other pictures on this forum of FJ top bolts and it looks like they threaded that one all the way down so the later of my thoughts is probably right. It is possible they are the wrong struts as well.

My guess is however they left out the circular bushing on the under side of the top plate thus makeing the shock rod too long and the nut does not compress the bushing. This would probably make a horrible clunk when driving.

I wouldn't worry too much about seating the spring in the lower cup however they are going to have to take everything apart to fix your other problem so might as well make it right.

where did you take it?

 

The more I think about it I am sure they forgot the lower bushing. This is what it should look like. I think the item with the red arrow is what they forgot.

 

Mike's visual on the bushings are right on the money. The coil will seat itself so don't worry.

good luck

 

KD, call up ARB in Renton and see if you can maybe drop by and have Chris take a gander at it, and he can point out what is wrong.

If you are familiar with the area around the Longacres site, they are just down the road from me a mile.

You might be able to email them the pics too and they can see what is up.

 

I'll give them a call. Maybe I can go down there and get them to fix me up.

 

It might be worth a shot.
If anything, Chris might be able to just look at it when you pull up and tell you what is wrong by looking at it.
They have done a few FJs now including mine.

I watched them do my whole install, I was amazed.
No way would I have been able to do the front.
The rear maybe, but I have never had ball joints and other stuff apart before.
The whole frontends guts were hanging out

 

It looks like that is definatly the issue. I looked up there and I could see that there was no bushing. I have to wait until Friday because their suspension guy is off tomorrow. I'll give them a chance to make it right.

 

Posted similar on FJCrusierForums

You know between FJCrusierForums and here you guys kick ass.

It's great to have a place to come and get first hand info on something that no-one knows anything about.

I consider myself a pretty good wrench turner and fabricator and there are a lot of things I haven't done but I feel a lot better trying some of these mods having you guys around.

 

Glad you got help.
You will want to "experience" the whole OME effect

 

I got a hold of ARB and they verified that both the lower and upper cap bushings should be salvaged from the stock parts. None were salvaged and apparently the mechanic doing the work has discarded all the hardware including the dust guards.

So they have ordered new hardware which of course one of the bushings has to come from the east coast, and Chris at ARB just by chance happened to have a set of extra dust guards lying around and is shipping them to me.

So next week some time I hope to have the problem corrected.

 

Sorry to hear about that. In my opinnion this was a pretty bad screw up on evergreen's part. Leaving off the dust boots is bad enough but ditching the bushings and installing that way......Thats just horrible.

BTW, I have found that many shops use the wrong spring compressor. They use one that has long fingers that extend too far into the spring. Then once they have the spring compressed they find the strut won't fit into the spring with the boot on so they just toss it.

I am glad they are making it right but if it were me I would be extremely pissed.

BTW, shoot me a PM before 2 or 2:30 if you want me to pick up your dust shields. I am headed down to ARB anyway. You might also call bob bridge in Renton to see if they have the bushing. They have one of the best inventories. If they have one I can pick it up as well on my way through.

 

Much appreciate the offer. Bob Bridge doesn't have them in stock and I've pretty much called all the Toyota dealers. One place can get the three of them here by tomorrow but the other one is coming from Jersey.

Chris from ABR already shipped out the dust boots and UPS guarantees overnight delivery in the same area even when shipping ground.

So thanks again for the offer that was mighty nice of you but I think I'm stuck waiting for shipping.

Oh and I told them the dust boots will be installed.

 

Glad Chris at ARB took care of you.
He is a great guy.
They are all great down there!

 

And the end of the saga... Turns out that the dust guards that were thrown out were the issue. The dust guards have a bushing attached to them.

The dust guard/bushing assemblies have been installed and everything is clocked properly and she's ridin' great

 

woo hoo!

 

Nothing like a rig running great.
Glad to hear it is OK.