OME 890 (light duty rear coils) WEAK!

CSL

CSL

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Took our first camping trip this weekend with the new coils/struts OME lift I did earlier this year. We woke up to essentially a blizzard and 4" of fresh on the ground...but that's another story...

Despite what I was told by the 4x4 shop (no grudges though), Light duty 890 coils in the rear cannot handle the load of camping gear. I was sagging in the back really bad!

stock rear bumper, 80lb dog, 7gal water, cooler and camping gear for a family of five was too much weight for the light duty coils. (BTW, for a family of 5 we pack pretty slim)

I am going to upgrade to the medium (891) or since I want a custom rear bumper and skid plates some day, I may just go ahead and get the heavy duty (892)

POINT IS:
if you load your rig with lots of camping gear and still want good 4-wheeling angles and flex, DO NOT GET THE LIGHT COILS.

I found gear (plus dog and water) is enough weight that it needs to be considered in your suspension sizing. (I was laughed at by the 4x4 shop when I discussed sizing with them and talked about loading it with gear. They said "gear isn't anything to worry about in suspension sizing") WRONG!
 
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This is what happens when you 'level out' your suspension. What did you expect? Your rear is probably working just fine, its the front that was sitting too high to start with.

890 coils are designed to run with 881 up front so when they absorb the load they sit no lower than level, and then don't reduce braking performance.
4Runners are not designed to sit level unloaded.Definitely upgrade to the 891's and accept that the rake is an important aspect of suspension dynamics.

I run the 890's and have no problems with vehicle stance when I'm fully loaded.
 
500 lbs is no issue with the 891s

I am currently in "gravel season" again to top off my driveway.

I love my 891s with about 500 lbs of rock in the back.

But when "unloaded" -empty-I want you to be aware that they are stiff stiff stiff.

You may want to ride in mine a bit unloaded before you make a rash decision. It is an acquired taste and may not suit the family.

And I do have rake-but I like it.

Techno just curious what do you run up front? A coilover of some sort?
 
techno said:
This is what happens when you 'level out' your suspension. What did you expect? Your rear is probably working just fine, its the front that was sitting too high to start with.
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Actually, it is what "I" expected, but I went with the advice from the shop instead...that the gear is not heavy enough to be concerned. I think your right, the best thing will be to be high in the rear when unloaded, and level after loading. I would rather still be high in the rear when fully loaded than EVER be sagging.

I don't think the front is too high though. I have an aftermarket bumper and winch, so I think the heavy duty (882) is the right choice, otherwise what else would they be for. The only additional weight in the front that I expect in the future is another battery and big skids plates, but that's probably only another 100lbs or so on the front.

Ron, based on your comments, I will just go with the 891's right now and wait to get the 892's when I actually do get a custom rear bumper (if ever) Since this is now just a recreational vehicle and not a daily driver, it it will be loaded most of the time. Even when not camping and just wheeling, I assume the standard gear, dog and day cooler will still be enough weight to take some of the stiffness out.

What other choice have I got. Maybe it was just in my head, but I felt it was sagging enough that my visibility over the hood to see the obstacles ahead was affected...slightly.
 
Have you considered installing some of the 10mm trim packers in the rear? Perhaps they (or even a 5mm on top of them too) could be a good solution. They would allow you to keep the present ride comfort but help with the apparent load sag.
It can be hard to get the right combo for particular needs, and the varying descriptions by retailers don't always help. The 890 coils are listed as light duty sometimes, and both medium and heavy duty with the same 330lb constant load. Purchasing off a description can be misleading.

And I'll give you credit for cramming 5, plus a good size dog and camping gear all in a 4Runner! Not surprised you packed slim.
 
techno said:
Have you considered installing some of the 10mm trim packers in the rear? Perhaps they (or even a 5mm on top of them too) could be a good solution. They would allow you to keep the present ride comfort but help with the apparent load sag.
It can be hard to get the right combo for particular needs, and the varying descriptions by retailers don't always help. The 890 coils are listed as light duty sometimes, and both medium and heavy duty with the same 330lb constant load. Purchasing off a description can be misleading.

And I'll give you credit for cramming 5, plus a good size dog and camping gear all in a 4Runner! Not surprised you packed slim.
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+1

I have the same set up as you but I'm running a 10mm trim packer out back as well. I haven't loaded it down quite like you have it loaded but it does have a bit of a rake at the moment. I wouldn't mind a bit more rake and I'm hoping my 882s upfront settle a bit. good luck figuring something.

Do you have any pics of what your truck look like with and without load???
 
I've got 891s in mine and always have about 100lbs of gear in the back, more when camping and wheeling, they do ride a little stiff with just the 100lbs of gear but not enough that I mind it at all really.
 
spongerx said:
Just curious... what is rake?
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The Height of the rear of the vehicle in comparison to the front. Basically the angle at which the car sits in comparison to the ground. A "level" vehicle sits parallel to the ground.
 
nquaint said:
I've got 891s in mine and always have about 100lbs of gear in the back, more when camping and wheeling, they do ride a little stiff with just the 100lbs of gear but not enough that I mind it at all really.
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I personally don't mind a stiffer ride, but what prompted you to put 891's on your ride in the first place. I ask because it sounds like you and I may share similar ideas.
 
97-4xFunner said:
I personally don't mind a stiffer ride, but what prompted you to put 891's on your ride in the first place. I ask because it sounds like you and I may share similar ideas.
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well after researching it for a while i gathered the general consensus was that you should not get 891s unless you have some gear in the back at all times along with already having a tow hitch. That fit my description, but since then I have taken off my tow hitch for better clearance since I never tow. Didn't notice much of a difference... I can't really do a fair comparison though since I've never had 890s.
 
JUst to clarify the 881 and 906 are the light duty, the 882 and 890 are medium duty coils and the 883 and 891 are the heavy duty coils. If never heard of the 892 but they must be the next step. If your really disappointed with the 890's then I'd suggest going 891. I think the 892's will be a bit much. If you want a plush ride and then for it to be level when loaded I'd go with the Land cruiser coils. They will be a lot softer loaded or unloaded then the OME's. They will have a rake though.
 
97-4xFunner said:
I can dig that, but what exactly made you decide to swap in the first place?
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what do you mean swap? I wanted a three inch lift and the ome 890 or 891s give you that.
 
Thanks for all the replies. Wow, pretty confusing and lots of rumor out there. Nice work with the ARB spec sheet, Techno.

So I do have options...what to do...??

Maybe I should just put spacers in for now, and then get the 891's when I get a rear bumper. If at that time the 891's aren't enough, I can put the spacers in again. That might be the cheapest way to go, unless I can find a buyer for near-new 890 rear coils.
 
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