Removing a blade from OME front suspension

[Family_Dog]

I had fitted a full OME suspension set to my 4Y Hilux, new shocks all round, and six leaf springs, front and rear. While this certainly increased the ride height to about 35-40mm higher than I previously had with the negatively-arched standard front leaf springs, I found the ride comfort to be uncomfortably hard. I then found out that OME has two suspension kits available for the old SFA Hilux, a 5-leaf kit as well as a 6-leaf kit. I figured they had fitted the wrong kit to my vehicle, inspite of asking for the "comfort" suspension to be fitted. I don't have a winch nor a heavy diesel engine, so I am sure I can get by with the standard 5-leaf kit.

I am taking the vehicle in tomorrow for this extra blade to be removed, will be interesting to see the difference in driving comfort as well as body-height afterwards.



-F_D

[Family_Dog]

I had the blade removed today, and the overall result is a much smoother ride. Downside is I lost about 15mm in height clearance, but will have to live with that rather than the bone-juddering harsh ride I previously had.

Taking a tape measure and measuring from the bottom of the front rim above the tyre beading), I get 83mm to the lower end of the wheel arch now.

What do other people get for this same measurement?

-F_D

[SYRON CONVERSIONS]

Hello Family Dog

Yes you are very correct about the various kits that they sell, if you are concerned about the ride height, you could still consider fitting larger tyres to your truck, this will also give you more height, some rear revolver shackles will also give you more height, but to fit these shackles there are a few other items to consider.

Your truck sure looks nice and clean, nice looking vehicle.

On my Hilux I have std Hilux springs fitted and then Black Diamong front springs, on the one side, (drivers side) there is one extra spring than the left hand side, the reason being, the extra weight of the driver, power steering box and the fuel tank have to be considered.

On your trucks now, are there the same amount of spring blades all round.

[BenHur]

Simon

The Procomp kit I have, have different spring packs for left and right but these springs have the same amount of blades on each side. It is as you rightly said to compensate for the weight difference. between left and right.

On my Procomp kit I had to install the blade marked L on the right and vice versa since the kit is deigned for Left hand Drive vehicles in the UI ma sure the OME should be similar

[Riceburner]

The leave spring perches on the driverside is lower than the passenger side. Marlin crawler ships a spacer with the kits to compensate for this.

[KZN KZTE]

Hi FD,

I know this is an old post, but the subject drew my attention.
Coming back from my 1st long business trip since I bought the bakkie last month.
I traveled up country through some of KZN's gravel and pothole filled roads and I found the suspension extremely hard on my back. I really don't know how long the front suspension can last with all the hard knocks it's taking which causes me to have to bite on my teeth.

My bakkie is stock standard and I wanted to know if this is normal. I always heard the jokes about Toyota and kidney belts but never knew it's this bad.
Driving on tar is an absolute pleasure but the potholes and bad roads are killers!
Is this 'normal' or is my bakkie's suspension just shot (145,000 on the clock).
Tyre pressure is on 2 bar.

Can I remove one of the blades on my standard leave springs?
I even thought of fitting springs to my driver seat to absorb the knocks :)

Any advice?

[LouisZ]

Hi Eric.

The Ome have for the SFA right and left hand side Leafsprings, It should be OME99A(OME91A) and OME99B(OME91B) old part #. Last # is the 6 blade one. Then the new part # is the OMECS008FA and OMECS008FB. Heavy duty is the OMECS009FA and OMECS009FB.

The A is Right(Driver side) is about 8mm higher than the B(Passanger side). Another thing is to check for the front saddles if they are not distorted.. I think already did a write up here somewhere how to correct them. This will without changing changing anything increase the height in the front between 15- 30mm, depending on the condition of the blades.

If there is more questions let me know.

Louis

[LouisZ]

Pierre,

Check your Shocks.

[Dadz Toy BFI]

Another thing is to check for the front saddles if they are not distorted.. I think already did a write up here somewhere how to correct them. This will without changing changing anything increase the height in the front between 15- 30mm, depending on the condition of the blades.

This was the case with mine Louis, I'd be keen to hear what your remedy is for this; :arrow:

my right is affecting by 30mm, we are proposing the installation a of a spacer between saddle and pack :|

What do you think

[Mud Dog]

Did you consult Darryl, Richard? .... not perhaps fitted on the wrong sides?

[Dadz Toy BFI]

Did you consult Darryl, Richard? .... not perhaps fitted on the wrong sides?

No man, Daryll was there for the fitment, I didn't do it myself; it has the right spring packs. :roll:

The front right saddle was very worn (convexed) :?

[Mr_B]

I'm also considering removing a leaf in front, since I have had the axle moved forward and a shim/support placed on the leaf springs perch I find that small sharp bumps have become pretty hard, jarring...

Any thoughts / advise?

B

[Mud Dog]

The front right saddle was very worn (convexed)

By "saddle" I assume you're refferring to the pedestal on the axle housing? (It should be flat surfaced)

since I have had the axle moved forward and a shim/support placed on the leaf springs perch I find that small sharp bumps have become pretty hard, jarring

I don't know, Bretton, but common sense would suggest that the best spring performance would result from the axle being mounted centre on the leaf pack. Once you move the axle forward you are shortening one side of the pack's flexing length, thus making it stiffer.

[LouisZ]

I need a volunteer to part of R175 that we can do a write up on this issue. I need the Hilux for a day. Remember the outcome can vary because of the age of the blades, the newer the better the outcome.

Anyone interested?

Louis

[Mud Dog]

What are you proposing, Louis? Do you want to remove a blade and do "before and after" tests? What kind of tests?

[LouisZ]

I want only to correct the saddles where the blades rest, make it flat again to show how it affect the ride height in the front.

[Dadz Toy BFI]

I want only to correct the saddles where the blades rest, make it flat again to show how it affect the ride height in the front.

Sounds like a great exercise :!:

Shame I'm in CPT

[Evert Deyzel]

Jy kan dit met myne doen Louis.
Sê net waneer.

Evert

[Mud Dog]

Should be interesting to see how much difference it will make. I can ubderstand how the U-bolts will pull the spring down (flatter) if the edges of the pedestals are worn away and the rest surface is then convex. The problem, where it exists, can be shimmed to correction or the pedestal itself beaten on the sides in order to raise the leading edges.

Have you come across this often Louis?

[LouisZ]

Hoe lyk jou planne volgende Woensdag? Dankie Evert.

[LouisZ]

Andy,

Since the time that we did Scotts Hilux we were becoming aware of this more often than usuall. The saddles get distorted with age, just as we fitted the new suspensions before that time the people bought it back and said the blades sagged. The saddles is the culprit, not the blades. Remember if the std blades is in and it is old it can be a different outcome than if there is new blades in. I see that Evert has the Mikems in, before and after measurement will tell the difference.

[Evert Deyzel]

Louis

Volgende woensdag klink goed.
Hoe laat moet ek da by jou wees?

[LouisZ]

Evert, so tussen 8 en 9uur. As jy vroeer wil kom sal ons dit kan reel.

Groette,
Louis

[Evert Deyzel]

Louis

Dit is reg so
Sien jou woensdag

Evert

[Hiluxman]

Ek het een bladveer uitgehaal elke kant voor, en camil coil-over shocks ingesit wat hom weer terugvat na oorspronklike hoogte maar tog beter laat ry. Nog 'n opsie, alhoewel die camil shocks kritiek kry oor hulle olie in het en nie gas nie

[LouisZ]

Evert is dit nog reg vir vandag?

Louis

[BenHur]

Arthur

Mooi dink, dit gaan nie oor olie of gas nie maar die kwaliteit van die shocks wat hulle gebruik, klomp ouens het al issues gehad. Die ander ding wat jy in ag moet neem is dat die damp rathe van die coil en blade springs verskil en hulle kan dalk teen mekaar inwerk en jou performance belemmer

[hilux hilife]

Hi All
i read this thread with interest as I suspect a problem with either my steering geometry or my front suspension - my blades are also negatively arched which might be because of the saddles as mentioned here but what worries me more is the bakkie wanders terribly on the road. If the road has the slightest imperfection, bump or ridge the bakkie is all over the place as if the steering is loose. I nipped up the adjustment on the steering box but it didn't really help. Any ideas or advice would be welcome.

[Dadz Toy BFI]

Hi All
i read this thread with interest as I suspect a problem with either my steering geometry or my front suspension - my blades are also negatively arched which might be because of the saddles as mentioned here but what worries me more is the bakkie wanders terribly on the road. If the road has the slightest imperfection, bump or ridge the bakkie is all over the place as if the steering is loose. I nipped up the adjustment on the steering box but it didn't really help. Any ideas or advice would be welcome.

Mike

Have a read here man (this Thread split to be more specific):

viewtopic.php?f=95&t=7412

Good luck

R

[Mud Dog]

If there is no uneven wear on the front tyres then there is no likely geometry problem, but how much play is there in your steering? Any play in the drag link or steering arms knuckles?

[KZN KZTE]

Louis - what happend? Could you do your tests?

[LouisZ]

Pierre,

Look at this viewtopic.php?f=95&t=7412.

Hope it helps.
Louis