OME install on 2010 TE

[Wepps]

Bit the bullet and purchased a OME suspension kit from Wheelers Offroad and picked it up from ARB on Wednesday. I spoke with Marc about installing the OME suspension on a KDSS equipped vehicle and the advise was to ratchet strap the hydraulic cylinders to the frame so they don't expand. Off to Sears to get some spring compressors and late Thursday night I went to work.

All in all it wasn't to bad of an install and I was able to complete it in about 8 1/2 hours (few beer breaks) also, able to complete it on my own and my shoulders are reminding my that it was not a good idea.

What I learned. You will need to drop the UCA's to get the coilovers in and either use the bottle jack to get the lower portion of the coil overinto place (I positioned it against the LCA and the frame. In using the extra leverage to get the coilover into place I did see the KDSS cylinder tension the **** out of the ratchet strap but once both coilovers were in place the ratchet strap was as tight as when I started.

Rear suspension. I needed to compress the rear springs to get them out and you know what that means... Had to compress the OME springs to get them into place. That took up the bulk of the time of the install. I also fretted getting the rear shocks out until I saw at the top of the shock body a nut. Takes a 19mm to hold it in place while you loosen the top nut. It still took the use of the bottle jack to gain some extra clearance to get springs and shocks into place.

I am very impressed with the suspension and took her out for a road/trail test yesterday (Tinkham rd off of I90) and she handled very nice. My main concern was the KDSS and I have not noticed anything that would indicate something wrong or off with the KDSS.

With that, know that I've done an install if anyone has any questions please feel free to ask. I'm fairly confident I can answer any questions regarding an install on a KDSS equipped 4Runner.

Pictures I posted over on Tacomaworld.

Front Driver coilover, you can see the KDSS ratchet strapped.


Out and on the way up Tinkham.


Driver front height before install.

Driver front after install and before any settling.


Passenger front before


Passenger front after install and before settling.


And a scenic shot.

 

[DEKA3]

Sweet. I know of a few people including myself looking to do this.

 

[CmdrCody]

I have been looking into lifts also, and I am running an OME on the Cruiser. I have been very satisfied with the lift on the cruiser, so I am interested in the OME lift for the 4Runner.

Reading the other multitude of threads on lifts, it seems there is still much discussion on the necessity of changing the Upper Control Arms to be able to properly align the front wheels.

I am curious what you think about the on-road handling of the truck, post lift.

And if you have/had the front end aligned, could you share if it was able to be brought into specification?

 

[UtahSooner]

Wepps, great info and impressed you attempted (and completed) the lift by yourself! If all goes according to plan I'll be installing my Toytec kit next weekend with the help of 2 buddies.

I like your the KDSS ratchet strapping method - I think that'll work better than the jack + wood block method of support I was planning to use. I'm assuming that you only need the straps on the KDSS piston side or did you fully disconnect the entire sway bar assembly (as called for in the manual)? I've been planning on supporting the KDSS piston but only disconnecting the sway bar ends (leaving the 2 other mounting locations attached).

Did you have to disconnect/support any KDSS components in the rear?

I may have a couple of other questions for you later this week...

 

[phillyd2]

Which OME coils did you use, front and back?

 

[NHinAK]

Looks really nice. I installed the lift on my Tundra myself but might have the dealer do the Runner. How are the alignment specs? Any plans to go with a new UCA?

 

[Wepps]

I have been looking into lifts also, and I am running an OME on the Cruiser. I have been very satisfied with the lift on the cruiser, so I am interested in the OME lift for the 4Runner.

Reading the other multitude of threads on lifts, it seems there is still much discussion on the necessity of changing the Upper Control Arms to be able to properly align the front wheels.

I am curious what you think about the on-road handling of the truck, post lift.

And if you have/had the front end aligned, could you share if it was able to be brought into specification?

I have not taken it in for an alignment yet. I did notice today that the passenger tire has a bit of positive camber. I'll most definitely be taking it in this week to have it aligned and once I get it back I'll post up the results. I'm hoping that ARB isn't stretching the truth when they say the OME coils and springs are designed to be installed and aligned without the changing of the UCA's.

The on road handling is so much better now! I had the ARB bar and winch on with stock suspension and it rode like a land yacht. The ride is significantly more firm and I haven't noticed any difference in body roll over stock suspension.

Wepps, great info and impressed you attempted (and completed) the lift by yourself! If all goes according to plan I'll be installing my Toytec kit next weekend with the help of 2 buddies.

I like your the KDSS ratchet strapping method - I think that'll work better than the jack + wood block method of support I was planning to use. I'm assuming that you only need the straps on the KDSS piston side or did you fully disconnect the entire sway bar assembly (as called for in the manual)? I've been planning on supporting the KDSS piston but only disconnecting the sway bar ends (leaving the 2 other mounting locations attached).

Did you have to disconnect/support any KDSS components in the rear?

I may have a couple of other questions for you later this week...

I have a few pictures I took of the rear KDSS piston that I'll post up once I download them. I only disconnected the UCA's to get the coilovers out and back in, I never disconnected any portion of the sway bar or KDSS pistons. I'll post another post about how I got the stock coilovers out and the new OME's in

Yes I did ratchet strap the rear KDSS piston in place and left the rear sway bar connected.

Ask away when it comes time, if you absolutely need to get ahold of me PM me you number.

Which OME coils did you use, front and back?

I went with the 889's in the rear and the 887's for the front

Looks really nice. I installed the lift on my Tundra myself but might have the dealer do the Runner. How are the alignment specs? Any plans to go with a new UCA?

Once I get it aligned I'll let you know and decide if UCA's are in the future (hoping not)

 

[harper7]

Great job doing it yourself and documenting it!

Wow...from the pics ,you got 4+ inches of lift in the front and that's even with all that extra weight of a bumper and winch up there.What kind of lift did you get in the rear?

Without aftermarket UCA's I seriously doubt you will ever get it aligned within specs with that much lift. ARB couldn't on their 4Runner build over on the Expedition Portal forum. Then they wouldn't answer repeated questions about their out of spec alignment sheet they posted .:AK47:

I personally would also consider a differential drop with that much lift even though ARB again said it didn't need it.What kind of angles are your CV axles at when the front wheel is fully flexed? Ask ARB if they'll warranty your CV's? Pretty common knowledge for the FJ,Taco and 4th Gen peeps that actually wheel these things to use a 1 inch diff drop for lifts over 3 inches in the front.

 

[sandcrawler]

seriously, right? makes me honestly wonder about OME...

 

[Titanpat57]

Sweet. I know of a few people including myself looking to do this.

lol...yea


and when you get it down to a science you can help.me...I'm a chicken$hit...bawk,bawk!!


I had my eye on that also....looks great on the truck, wow, what a difference!

Great mod...please report back in awhile with your impressions.


Pat

 

[Wepps]

@Harper,

I also was running with the weight of the bulbar and winch (w/ synthetic) on the stock suspension when I took the before picture. If I recall I lost about 1/2" with the bull bar then another 3/4" with the winch. There is a TE at the dealership where I got it aligned today and I'll see if I can get some factory measurements from that one tomorrow when i take the Tacoma in for it's 90k service.

When I get home I'll jack the rig up on one side to get max flex out of the front suspension for a CV angle.

Now, the alignment specs... Toyota Tech said he got everything into spec except the Caster and SAI.

Front: Left
Actual/ Before/ Specified Range
Camber 0*32' --- -0*45' - +0*45'
Caster 0*54' --- 2*28' - 3*58'
Toe 0.04in --- 0.02in - 0.07in
SAI 11*14' --- 11*25' - 12*55'
Included angle 11*46' --- 10*40' - 13*40'

Front: Right
Actual/ Before/ Specified Range
Camber 0*38' --- -0*45' - +0*45'
Caster 0*46' --- 2*28' - 3*58'
Toe 0.02in --- 0.02in - 0.07in
SAI 11*07' --- 11*25' - 12*55'
Included angle 11*45' --- 10*40' - 13*40'


Then the following which appears to be in spec.
Actual Before Specified Range
Cross Camber -0.06 --- -0*45' - +0*45'
Cross Caster 0*08' --- -0*45' - +0*45'
Cross SAI 0*08' --- -0*45' - +0*45'
Total Toe 0.02in --- -0.03in - 0.13in

 

[Wepps]

So, anyone with a stock Trail Edition on stock tires happen to want to take a measurement and post up the height? If so I would ask that the measurement be done centerline of the wheel and measured to the very bottom of the fender well. I took my measurements to the very bottom of the plastic fender thingy.

Appreciated!

 

[sandcrawler]

34.5" front, 36.5" rear. stock size 265/70-17 Duratracs and stock suspension.

 

[ssmathis]

Stock size Duratracs, 265/70/17, but with OME lift, arb bull bar and warn 9.5xp winch and both driver's side and passenger side at 37.25". Rear is just over 39".

Scott

 

[Wepps]

I managed to get the numbers from a TE that was at the dealership. I got only the front and it was 34.5" on the driver front and 34.75" on passenger front. Sorry I haven't posted sooner, packing up and road trip from Seattle to Oakland yesterday... I'm wiped out from it and I did notice a little more fight in the steering wheel from the caster being out of specs.

Since I just put about 1k miles on it since the lift I'm going to go and check the numbers again for lift and post up later... When I get of my ass.

UtahSooner, did you get the lift on?

Also, thanks for the replies on the stock height!

 

[DEKA3]

lol...yea


...I'm a chicken$hit...bawk,bawk!!...


Pat

That makes two of us!

 

[UtahSooner]

I managed to get the numbers from a TE that was at the dealership. I got only the front and it was 34.5" on the driver front and 34.75" on passenger front. Sorry I haven't posted sooner, packing up and road trip from Seattle to Oakland yesterday... I'm wiped out from it and I did notice a little more fight in the steering wheel from the caster being out of specs.

Since I just put about 1k miles on it since the lift I'm going to go and check the numbers again for lift and post up later... When I get of my ass.

UtahSooner, did you get the lift on?

Also, thanks for the replies on the stock height!

Wepps - not yet, planning to do it tomorrow (Sat). Looks like I'll be going solo though as my buddies can't do it this weekend. A smart man might wait another week till help was available, but I've been itching all week to get the parts installed and figure that since you and others have pulled off the install solo, I shouldn't be a pu*sy! Besides, I bought a floor jack and other mechanics tools on sale before Christmas for the specific purpose of using them for the install so I can't bring myself to pay a shop a couple hundred $$ to do it for me.

I may be PM'ing you tomorrow morning...

 

[Reata]

Stock size Duratracs, 265/70/17, but with OME lift, arb bull bar and warn 9.5xp winch and both driver's side and passenger side at 37.25". Rear is just over 39".

Scott

I got darned near te same out of mine as well. Same lift, same parts. No UCA's Toyota of Dallas gave me the written computer report getting it into spec, no problem.

 

[Wepps]

Wepps - not yet, planning to do it tomorrow (Sat). Looks like I'll be going solo though as my buddies can't do it this weekend. A smart man might wait another week till help was available, but I've been itching all week to get the parts installed and figure that since you and others have pulled off the install solo, I shouldn't be a pu*sy! Besides, I bought a floor jack and other mechanics tools on sale before Christmas for the specific purpose of using them for the install so I can't bring myself to pay a shop a couple hundred $$ to do it for me.

I may be PM'ing you tomorrow morning...

Well, did ya do eet?

 

[brockeverly]

I am mapping out my day for installing this kit when it arrives and am surprised by your 8.5hr install time. Were the fronts preassembled, or did that include assembling them? A buddy of mine and I did my Daystar spacer lift in around 1.5hr, was planning on around a 3hr install time for this (my fronts are preassembled). I am hoping it just took you that long due to KDSS if yours were preassembled as well.