Are OME 906s the answer for me?

[jcush87]

Hello,
I am currently contemplating an upgrade to my 1996 SR5 4wd. I have noticed that the rear is sagging a bit.
How I use the truck:
It is a daily driver that I generally drive about 3 miles per day to work and back.
I usually tow a 20' boat about once a week about 1 mile round trip.
If I do go off of the Navy base I live on, the roads are terrible. There are potholes everywhere about 2-6" deep.
I generally have a passenger and 2 children and a 100lb dog in the back when I leave base.
Off roading is somewhat common to get to the beach or out to blue holes, not much suspension flex, but roads are generally rocky/ shallow mud.

I would like to improve stance and ride quality (the rear can bottom out sometimes) I do not want the vehicle to be stiffer and bounce on every pot hole.

I don't want to lift very high because of the wife and kids (although I would enjoy it!)

I would imagine down the road going to maybe 265/75R16s. I dont want to do any major suspension geometry changes due to reliability in a remote location.

So I was thinking of just getting OME 906 coils for the rear. keep the front the same, keep the stock shocks. Would this suit my needs?

Would my ride be at least as comfortable as it is now with the stock setup?

If I did want to go to to 285's what would it require, would a 1" body lift do it?

Thanks!

 

[fish0281]

Hello,
I am currently contemplating an upgrade to my 1996 SR5 4wd. I have noticed that the rear is sagging a bit.
How I use the truck:
It is a daily driver that I generally drive about 3 miles per day to work and back.
I usually tow a 20' boat about once a week about 1 mile round trip.
If I do go off of the Navy base I live on, the roads are terrible. There are potholes everywhere about 2-6" deep.
I generally have a passenger and 2 children and a 100lb dog in the back when I leave base.
Off roading is somewhat common to get to the beach or out to blue holes, not much suspension flex, but roads are generally rocky/ shallow mud.

I would like to improve stance and ride quality (the rear can bottom out sometimes) I do not want the vehicle to be stiffer and bounce on every pot hole.

I don't want to lift very high because of the wife and kids (although I would enjoy it!)

I would imagine down the road going to maybe 265/75R16s. I dont want to do any major suspension geometry changes due to reliability in a remote location.

So I was thinking of just getting OME 906 coils for the rear. keep the front the same, keep the stock shocks. Would this suit my needs?

Would my ride be at least as comfortable as it is now with the stock setup?

If I did want to go to to 285's what would it require, would a 1" body lift do it?

Thanks!

I had the 906's with stock shocks and the ride was almost the same as the stock configuration, but it stayed higher and did not sag with a load in there. I definitely recommend it.

I can't say for sure what it takes to get 285's w/o rubbing (depends on the wheel's backspacing first, then lift/clearance). I have a 1" body lift, about a 2" suspension lift, and aftermarket wheels that push the wheels out about 1" (if I remember correctly). With this configuration, I have not encountered any rubbing.

 

[quicksilvr]

Hello,
I am currently contemplating an upgrade to my 1996 SR5 4wd. I have noticed that the rear is sagging a bit.
How I use the truck:
It is a daily driver that I generally drive about 3 miles per day to work and back.
I usually tow a 20' boat about once a week about 1 mile round trip.
If I do go off of the Navy base I live on, the roads are terrible. There are potholes everywhere about 2-6" deep.
I generally have a passenger and 2 children and a 100lb dog in the back when I leave base.
Off roading is somewhat common to get to the beach or out to blue holes, not much suspension flex, but roads are generally rocky/ shallow mud.

I would like to improve stance and ride quality (the rear can bottom out sometimes) I do not want the vehicle to be stiffer and bounce on every pot hole.

I don't want to lift very high because of the wife and kids (although I would enjoy it!)

I would imagine down the road going to maybe 265/75R16s. I dont want to do any major suspension geometry changes due to reliability in a remote location.

So I was thinking of just getting OME 906 coils for the rear. keep the front the same, keep the stock shocks. Would this suit my needs?

Would my ride be at least as comfortable as it is now with the stock setup?

If I did want to go to to 285's what would it require, would a 1" body lift do it?

Thanks!

906's sounds perfect for you, but I would upgrade your rear shocks. Your stock ones (if they're original) are due for replacement anyway, and the 906's are definitely stiffer....so a good shock like a Bilstein HD or Bilstein 5100, or even the soft ride OME shocks will dampen it correctly.

Also, if you don't do anything to the front, you'll have a decent amount of rake when you are unloaded. If it was me, I'd install the springs, and see how bad the rake is when it's all said and done....then decide if you want something new for the front.


To run 285's, you'll want a 1" BL, and obviously something besides stock springs and shocks for the front. In order to not rub like crazy (not flexed, just driving flat), you generally need to add about 2-2.5" of clearance up front for 285's.

 

[jcush87]

Great info guys! Thanks. I have replaced shocks in other vehicles, but it is usually when I have excessive bouncing. My truck does not have that with the current springs, is that likely to be an issue with the OME 906s?

 

[dapslappy]

Airlift?

Consider installing Airlift suspension airbags. Less than $100. Easy install. Deflate to 5 lbs when not needed. Air up as needed for larger loads and towing. I do not know if they have any effect on suspension travel when off road. I detach my endlinks and zip tie them and the sway bars out of the way when off road. Suspension works better, ride is less bouncy. Takes maybe 10 minutes. Installed my airbags recently and won't be off roading until next spring. I suppose I could just jack up a rear wheel and see if the airbag causes interference before the axle hits the bump-stop.

 

[01thunder]

that is what i have. read my sig. :brick:

 

[bpowa]

If you are not going to raise the front and shocks. 906 is not right for you. Sounds like you would be better off getting airbags in the stock springs as stated earlier.

I lifted 2" in the front and 906 in the rears. There is still a 1" rake. You will definately get 3" of rake without lifting the front.

The 906 are definately stiffer than stocks. But tolerable. I switched wheels and tires at the same time. I bet if i let out 5psi on the tires it be perfect softness. I have my psi set at 37 cold. To get a bit better mpg. But the stiffness is tolerable for me.

 

[TheDurk]

If you are not going to raise the front and shocks. 906 is not right for you. Sounds like you would be better off getting airbags in the stock springs as stated earlier.

I lifted 2" in the front and 906 in the rears. There is still a 1" rake. You will definately get 3" of rake without lifting the front.

The 906 are definately stiffer than stocks. But tolerable. I switched wheels and tires at the same time. I bet if i let out 5psi on the tires it be perfect softness. I have my psi set at 37 cold. To get a bit better mpg. But the stiffness is tolerable for me.

What year were your stock springs? Sounds like you might have a 2000 while OP has a '96. Stock height varied considerably so experience with rake results will vary by MY. Several folks run 906's with stock tall '99's in front and report just a mild rake.

Most of us put this info in our sigs so it is always there.

 

[TheKorstjens]

906s are awsome. I am very happy with them and everything else is stock height on my rig. See pics in my thread....in my sig. A bit of rake but depends on what u want/need/like

 

[bpowa]

What year were your stock springs? Sounds like you might have a 2000 while OP has a '96. Stock height varied considerably so experience with rake results will vary by MY. Several folks run 906's with stock tall '99's in front and report just a mild rake.

Most of us put this info in our sigs so it is always there.

Lol. I will update my sig tonight. I never thought to. Heck i did not even plan on keeping the runner. Don't get me started on a build thread. As soon as I put one up. I bet my bank acct will run dry.

Here is a pic. As it sits. Its a 2002. Stock front springs. Rear ome906. All bilstein shock strut. Strut are set on 3rd notch (middle groove). It still has a rake as you can see. A bit over an inch.

I like how it sits now. The front got a bit stiffer after i set it to the 3rd groove. I throut it felt perfect on the second grove. But there was too much rake for my liking. Keep in mind more rake causes more nose dive when braking. Its best to have a balanced suspension. Right now its well balanced. The rear is still slightly stiffer. But. Not enough to bug me. Btw the front are tundra struts.

 

[jcush87]

well thanks again for all the advice! Just one last question, how will the 906's compare to the stock ride? the loose old suspension is pretty good at absorbing potholes and rocky trails (with a bit of extra swaying back and forth.)
it has a pretty smooth ride now, but it may be partly due to the P rated tires on there?
Thanks!