'96 2.7 5 speed. OME 880 / I think my front is too high!

[eurasiaoverland]

Hi All

I've just come back from two long overland trips across Russia. That was 45,000 km (28,000 miles) of often tough conditions; rough roads (lots of ice roads) and very low temperatures (down to -43º C and often around -30º C).

I've given the truck a good inspection and find that both upper ball joints are seriously worn, with a lot of play. There is also some play in one of the lower ball joints, though not as severe. All 4 will of course be replaced.

All the joints were brand new, genuine Toyota at the start of the trip. It seems they have worn prematurely. Now maybe it's the rough conditions (especially cold and corrugated ice roads), but I'm wondering if my front suspension is too high?

I have a '96 2.7 5 speed. Bilstein 4600s all round, OME 880s on the front and OME 891s on the rear.

The truck started out pretty level, but after being loaded and driven this far, I'd say the rear was a bit lower than the front. I think this comes from having the 4 cylinder petrol engine which is so much lighter than the diesel or the V6.

So I'm wondering what to do, lower the front or just trim up the rear?

I'm wondering what will get my front lower; switching back to factory shocks, or factory springs? I guess shocks?

Alternatively, if someone has experience of off-roading in the North in winter, and can testify that ball joints are somehow affected by the cold, I'd be glad to hear it.

Incidentally, if anyone is interested in some trip pictures, check out https://www.facebook.com/EurasiaOverland/

Thanks for any input,

EO

 

[rkntoy]

Easiest would be to shim the back up a bit - how much are you needing to go up?

If you are wanting the front lower I would go with a Bilstein 5100 that will give you some different settings to use. I have the Tundra 5100 in front that have 5 clip settings. I generally am a clip lower than what people with the 5vz are running for comparable height.

 

[Kanoe]

I have mentioned this a couple of times in the past. The info you find here for the V6 auto guys does not seem to directly transfer to the 3RZ 5spd.

I went the 99 tall front and OME 2906 rear route. Front was too tall, even though lots of others run this set up.

I am now using 2004 Tacoma Offroad package Dual Rate springs in the front which sit 3/4 inch lower than the 99 talls and ride softer being a dual rate spring. Still OME2906s in the rear.

For you I would get a shorter spring and then the 5100 adjustables so you can fine tune the ride height.

 

[octanejunkie]

If your suspension bushings are shot, this will not only affect alignment and handling, but ride height to some extent.

Address the bushings first, then circle back to suspension and ride height.

:worthless

Impressive journey, would love to see some pics of the truck in those conditions.

 

[St Runner]

I agree with octanejunkie on this, if your new upper ball joints are shot check your upper (and lower) control arm bushings. I have the OME 880 with bilstein 5100 in my single cab 4cyl tacoma and they are stiff with a full 3" of lift. What helped was running a SPC light racing upper control arm and removing the sway bar. That allowed them to flex much better but they are stiff enough to keep the roll down. If your upper control arm bushing are shot you might want to think about replacing the control arm with an aftermarket adjustable one

 

[eanema]

There's enough people that can help out with your suspension, but I just want to say that sounds like an epic, time of a lifetime typa trip! I'm gonna check out your FB page


Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[rkntoy]

I agree with octanejunkie on this, if your new upper ball joints are shot check your upper (and lower) control arm bushings. I have the OME 880 with bilstein 5100 in my single cab 4cyl tacoma and they are stiff with a full 3" of lift. What helped was running a SPC light racing upper control arm and removing the sway bar. That allowed them to flex much better but they are stiff enough to keep the roll down. If your upper control arm bushing are shot you might want to think about replacing the control arm with an aftermarket adjustable one

Which 5100 and which clip setting?

 

[St Runner]

Tacoma 5100 with the three settings. I have them on the lowest setting. From the factory my single cab 4cyl tacoma is 600lbs lighter than my 6cyl 4runner, thats where the lift comes from

 

[rkntoy]

Tacoma 5100 with the three settings. I have them on the lowest setting. From the factory my single cab 4cyl tacoma is 600lbs lighter than my 6cyl 4runner, thats where the lift comes from

Thanks. Interested to hear other folks setups.

I'm biased, but I don't understand why more folks are not running the Tundra 5100 with the Tundra TRD springs. You get a 5 setting strut and a really nice progressive rate spring. So comfy.

 

[spartacus]

I just went on the face book page and man what an epic adventure, amazing. Will definitely keep reading tonight.

 

[eurasiaoverland]

Hi guys

Thanks for so much input. As far as I can tell the bushes are all good, but I'll take off both LCAs and UCAs (to knock the ball joints out) and check them then.

The more I think about it, the more I believe that the wear was down to the conditions. I think the grease froze solid (many of the other lubricants were swapped for low-temperature conditions) and there was dry metal-on-metal wear. I don't think it's to do with the height of my suspension.

Here's a picture of the truck sitting at the customs yard in Istanbul after coming off the ferry from Odesa (in the background). It doesn't look too high at the front to me. What do you think?

<a href="https://ibb.co/gHjZEH"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/hZuC1x/Stage_45_62.jpg" alt="Stage_45_62" border="0"></a>

So rather than laying out a whole load more for new front shocks and springs, I think I'll just trim the back up a bit. The early JDM Hilux Surfs didn't have the rubber cone bumpers in the top of the rear coils, so I'm adding a couple of those, and I have two OME 10mm trim spacers to go in too; that should get me about 15 mm and level the truck.

As for the trip; yes, it was an amazing, probably never-to-be repeated experience. Here's a picture from the Lena River Ice Road. That's 1200 km up a river through some of the remoter parts of Russia. About 850 km of it are driven on the frozen river itself. What is pictured was the best bit... it got way worse, as did the weather!

<a href="https://ibb.co/kmNqMx"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/mKxPgx/Stage_44_32.jpg" alt="Stage_44_32" border="0"></a>

Thanks again,

EO

 

[jarhead2811]

spare tire carrier

where can i find a spare tire carrier like that?

 

[eurasiaoverland]

where can i find a spare tire carrier like that?

They're a factory option on JDM models. You could buy one in the UK and fit it, but you'll need to reinforce your rear side member.