Desert run / OME paint sucks now?

[Baja Runner]

Finally got out to the desert. My rear OME shocks now have 50% of the paint chipped off. WTF is up with that? Both sides. No one else have this problem before? I've had 3 sets of OME shocks before and never seen this.

Truck did good though. The Icon's are good for the high speed stuff, and OK with the crawling. They soak up the big stuff good. Hit a few whoops and was impressed.

No rubbage up front with 285's and 2.5" of susp. lift. No body lift, just fender pounding. All my rubbing was in the rear, with OME 890's and 1" wheel spacers. Also never see anyone complaining about that.

A few pix.

My truck and my buddies FZJ80 (we are matching green)

Cool background

Jeep getting sideways at fish creek. We've run this trail both directions the last few years (Pinyon mountain to Fish Creek, heart attack hill, Squeeze, etc) but this obstacle has got pretty bad. There is a 3-4 vertical wall you have to go up now.

Corrizo Creek

OME shock:

Rear rubbing:

 

[Gerdo]

That desert sand will do a number on stuff. We had some brand new UTVs and the sand blasted the powdercoat off suspension parts.
I must feel good to get the rig out and play. Looks like a cool area.

 

[Baja Runner]

Yeah I hear you. The thing is I had OME shocks that had probably 500 hours of desert time on them and didn't look this bad... This was a single trip and its just sand blasted off? :/

 

[Garage Guy]

Is that in the section between Harper Flat and Split Rock? After coming through the Squeeze and the Pinyon Dropoff, that used to seem like nothing, but it has been getting worse over the years. I'll have to get out over the Christmas break and check it out.

Jeep getting sideways at fish creek. We've run this trail both directions the last few years (Pinyon mountain to Fish Creek, heart attack hill, Squeeze, etc) but this obstacle has got pretty bad. There is a 3-4 vertical wall you have to go up now.

 

[bikerjosh]

Wheels are LC FZJ80s.
BTW-great pics, always sorry I never went out there when I was at school in SD. Of course then I would have been out there on a mountain bike or in a 4wd tercel wagon.LOL- So probably better I didn't.
josh

 

[Baja Runner]

Yep thats the area. Its really bad right now. A few jeeps I thought were about to roll. We used to go up/down it no problem. Its changed a lot. Wish I had more pictures of it but it wouldn't really do it much justice anyways.

 

[derekabraham]

Damn! I'm glad mine didn't look like that after my few Ocotillo runs.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Now that the weather is turning nice we all should put together a east county run.

You're still in Del Mar right? If you are looking for a group run let me know. I'd like to head out to Borego sometime.

-Brian

 

[fattirerider]

I would think the wheel spacers in the rear are whats causing the rubbing. Looks like the outside of the tires are getting ripped up from contact on the fenders. Not sure if you were looking for ideas on that from your post?

Nice looking rig! Did you get into any high speed stuff with the Icons? If so how does the rear set up compare?

 

[Baja Runner]

Now that the weather is turning nice we all should put together a east county run.

You're still in Del Mar right? If you are looking for a group run let me know. I'd like to head out to Borego sometime.

-Brian

Yeah Brian, seems like there's a lot of people on T4R that are in San Diego. I am interested for sure... There are SO many trails out here its sort of overwhelming.

It was like 80F out there, just perfect.

 

[Baja Runner]

I would think the wheel spacers in the rear are whats causing the rubbing. Looks like the outside of the tires are getting ripped up from contact on the fenders. Not sure if you were looking for ideas on that from your post?

Nice looking rig! Did you get into any high speed stuff with the Icons? If so how does the rear set up compare?

Yeah its cause the wheel spacers. Only reason I am suprised is a lot of guys run wheel spacers without trimming. I didn't even think I needed to trim but I will now

YESSS!!! Probably 50% of the time we were running through washes... I was stoked on the Icons. I wasn't that impressed with them on the rocks though, but high speed stuff was great! I think the SS front kit was better for rocks. More squishy. The rear end felt great as well, I had no complaints.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Baja,

Have you exposed them to brake fluid or the like? Travel through some hazardous roads?

I like this present 4runner better than the other one, but it is just my opinion. I really dig the LC rims.

Did you ever get that hard start figured out?

 

[scoobydann]

Do you know, or can you get a measurement from the ground to the bottom of the fender. I'm runnign a similar setup in the front (SAW's at 2.5" and 285's) and on my last jaunt I pushed the tires up into the fender causing them to bubble a bit. Im thinking i need to go highter but would rather run bumps.

thanks

 

[Baja Runner]

Baja,

Have you exposed them to brake fluid or the like? Travel through some hazardous roads?

I like this present 4runner better than the other one, but it is just my opinion. I really dig the LC rims.

Did you ever get that hard start figured out?

Thanks Caesar, I appreciate that. Yeah this one is maybe a little more fun because I don't feel I am going to flop over anymore I do wish I had a set of some MTR's or something though for wheeling. The BFG's are a little "thin" when trying to get traction.

And to your questions...Nope, the OME's are less than a month old and I sure hope they haven't seen any brake fluid otherwise I'm in trouble! LOL. And no, the hard start is still there... I still think its a gummed up or lagging fuel pump...

Scooby: Are you talking about the front or the rear? I didn't have any problems up front (where I thought I was for SURE), but the rears were rubbing on a lot of obstacles. Not bad, but definitely needs some massaging or trimming.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Yeah Brian, seems like there's a lot of people on T4R that are in San Diego. I am interested for sure... There are SO many trails out here its sort of overwhelming.

It was like 80F out there, just perfect.

I'm down to go on a trip with you fellows... I'm only in south orange county

In fact, Baja Runner, do you remember that photo of you I took on the freeway in your old 4Runner?

 

[BrianSD_42]

Well definitely PM me next time you guys head out!

James, sorry I didn't call you about the motor. I still want to pick up; normally not a flake but this was a crazy weekend.

:dammit:

 

[scoobydann]

Front por favor. My rears seem to clear no problem.

 

[Big John]

I wouldn't mind scratching the hell outta my shocks at OW:moon:. I miss the desert… ugggghhhhh. Not enough to move back though:naughty: