OME lift problems

[TNRunner99]

I just had an OME 2.5in lift installed on my 99 4Runner SR5. Everything was done correctly (by a ASE certified mechanic that has worked on Toyotas since '86) but it's not sitting level. The rear drivers side and the front passengers side are both sitting exactly at 2.5 in of lift (which is what I want). The front drivers is only at 2in of lift and the rear passengers is at 3 in of lift. I measured the vehicle the day before with the stock suspension and everything was level. What can I do to get it to sit correctly? Does it matter which way the shocks and struts are turned? Will it level out by putting miles on them? Im gonna call toytec and see what they say. Just wanting to know if anyone has had a problem like this. Thanks

 

[fish0281]

I just had an OME 2.5in lift installed on my 99 4Runner SR5. Everything was done correctly ...

I would say that it was not done correctly! Well, first, make sure you're measuring on level ground. Then, make sure the right coils are installed on the correct sides - there is a specific driver's and passenger side coil for front and rear. Also, if you didn't, you may want to install a leveling spacer on the driver's side(?) front. They (Toytec) typically sell it with the kit, or at least they did for me... it just compensates for the extra weight on that side of the vehicle.

 

[gannonrt]

I assume that you are still using the stock panhard bar rather than adjustable one. Many here install an adjustable panhard bar with a lift of this height. The panhard bar attaches to the rear axle housing on the driver side and the frame of the car on the passenger side. When you add 2.5" of lift between the axle and the frame by upgrading the suspension and keep panhard bar the same length then your rear end is slightly shifted to the side and you won't sit level. I'm don't know if I agree with poster above who says there's a left & right to OME components on the front of our 4Runners. That's not true for the lift in my sig.

 

[fish0281]

It might be that I'm confusing the 99 talls i installed at one point, but I do know Toytec recommends a small spacer on one side to level out the lift...

 

[TNRunner99]

Thanks, I will look into this. I am measuring in my garage which is level. It is parked in the same spot where i measured the stock suspension. Will the adjustable panhard bar allow the drivers side to be lifted up? I saw toytec's OME 5mm spacer. It said it was for drivers side sag. But with a brand new kit that was just installed, I don't see why there would be any sag showing up? Thanks for your help any other advice would be greatly appreciated. Whats the install on a panhard bar like?

 

[IanB]

The front springs are labelled side specific, I believe OME springs are labelled for RHD in Australia, so you would need to account for that (driver side spring = passenger side of your truck). Double check they were put on the correct side, and if they were, stick a spacer on the driver's side front of your truck, it will push that corner up, and the taller passenger side rear down as well, if you use the correct size spacer that should sort you out.

 

[TNRunner99]

Thanks Ian I will have to look at that. Had no clue that the fronts could be side specific. Toytec never mentioned that. Would the spacer be better than doing an adjustable panhard bar?

 

[fish0281]

... Would the spacer be better than doing an adjustable panhard bar?

Yes, probably. I think most people run just fine w/o the adjustable(longer) panhard bar, but I'm not 100% on that. Either way, the spacer will likely get everything situated where it's supposed to be.

Glad to know I wasn't hallucinating on the side-specific thing. ;-)

 

[gannonrt]

The front springs are labelled side specific, I believe OME springs are labelled for RHD in Australia, so you would need to account for that (driver side spring = passenger side of your truck). Double check they were put on the correct side, and if they were, stick a spacer on the driver's side front of your truck, it will push that corner up, and the taller passenger side rear down as well, if you use the correct size spacer that should sort you out.

IanB - Where are the labels for the side on the coils? I just pulled up my old receipt from ARB and it only shows that I ordered a pair of 880 coils.

 

[IanB]

IanB - Where are the labels for the side on the coils? I just pulled up my old receipt from ARB and it only shows that I ordered a pair of 880 coils.

There will be white sticker tags on the actual coils themselves, about 1/2 way up, labelled A (RHD driver's side) and B (RHD passenger side).

 

[rickashay]

The stickers on my old OME suspension were gone. I just compared the lengths of the coils before I installed them. I knew the longer front coil was for the drivers side (to account for the driver's weight always being there) and the longer rear coil was for the drivers side also (to account for the weight of the drivers AND the gas tank located on that side). Hopefully they are simply labelled like Ian said....

 

[IanB]

The stickers on my old OME suspension were gone. I just compared the lengths of the coils before I installed them. I knew the longer front coil was for the drivers side (to account for the driver's weight always being there) and the longer rear coil was for the drivers side also (to account for the weight of the drivers AND the gas tank located on that side). Hopefully they are simply labelled like Ian said....

I'm not 100% certain that logic is sound, as the driver sits on the RHD in Australia where the springs were made/designed. The gas tank is on the LHD regardless of the truck though (for 4runners/Surfs), so that's the likely reason for the longer spring on the left. I thought the rear springs were the same, not L/R specific, at least I think my 906's were. It's been too long, lol.

 

[TNRunner99]

Ok I looked a little into this. The rear springs are labeled with an a and b like Ian said. But no such markings are on the front springs, they both have identical labels. The only problem is that I took the labels off the springs before I noticed the problem, so I don't know which spring is which. Does anyone know if they are stamped somewhere on the spring itself? I'm assuming with the slight difference in height that I have I need to switch the rear springs and maybe that would level off the various height problems I'm having. The front passengers side is sitting perfectly at 2.5 inches of lift and thats where I want the rest of the truck. I don't think the panhard bar would be the problem. With it being mounted to the frame on the passengers side, if it were too short, it would pull the passengers side down and not push it up. The physics of it just wouldn't add up. Thank you everyone for your help. If you have any other suggestions please let me know. Happy Thanksgiving

 

[TNRunner99]

Back at the shop now. Called Toytec and found that the longer rear spring is for the drivers side. Pulled mine off and the longer one was on the passengers side, of corse. Switched them out. Side by side the drivers side spring is about 1/4 of an inch longer. Also the front struts are backwards. I had Toytec assemble them and there is a gold colored spacer at the bottom of the spring for the drivers side. Of course mine was on the passengers side. Really wish Toytec would give you a heads up when you purchase a kit from them. It's the least they could do when you spend 800 bucks.

 

[IanB]

Back at the shop now. Called Toytec and found that the longer rear spring is for the drivers side. Pulled mine off and the longer one was on the passengers side, of corse. Switched them out. Side by side the drivers side spring is about 1/4 of an inch longer. Also the front struts are backwards. I had Toytec assemble them and there is a gold colored spacer at the bottom of the spring for the drivers side. Of course mine was on the passengers side. Really wish Toytec would give you a heads up when you purchase a kit from them. It's the least they could do when you spend 800 bucks.

In all fairness, it's not a problem that comes up that often. Your shop installed them wrong, if they didn't know they should have found out rather than just making guesses.

Hope that fixes you up.

 

[quicksilvr]

Yup, what Ian said.

Just because mechanics are ASE certified and experienced with Toyota's doesn't make them any better than someone like myself working in my garage. I've fixed/correctly stuff that mechanics with 5 times as much experience couldn't figure out or did wrong....because I took the time to think about it, and I cared enough to sort it all out.

 

[audiness]

Yup, what Ian said.

Just because mechanics are ASE certified and experienced with Toyota's doesn't make them any better than someone like myself working in my garage. I've fixed/correctly stuff that mechanics with 5 times as much experience couldn't figure out or did wrong....because I took the time to think about it, and I cared enough to sort it all out.

exactly why i do all my own work. I have a good toyota mechanic that i trust, but when it all comes down to it, they have 14 cars to get fixed and just do things "good enough".

 

[TNRunner99]

Yeah No doubt. I understand that. I just don't have the tools and equipment needed to do that kind of work.

 

[IanB]

Yeah No doubt. I understand that. I just don't have the tools and equipment needed to do that kind of work.

So did you get it all sorted out?

 

[TNRunner99]

Yeah I did. Switched the rear springs and both the rear drivers and passengers sides are sitting at 2 3/4 inch lift. Switched the front struts and the passengers side is sitting at 2 1/4 in lift and the drivers is just a hair shy of 2 1/4 in. But it is sitting much more level. Would like to have about another 1/2 in on the front though. Guess the weight of the bull bar is what pulls it down some. But I ran the level along the frame and it is reading level at the areas I checked.
Much better. Thanks for all the input.