Where to get OME leaf springs for a 1985?

TheManOutside

TheManOutside

New member
Hello! I just recently picked up a 1985 4runner, 22re with a solid front axle. The leaf springs are completely flat, and the front ones are just barely starting to bend the wrong way :yuck:

I have pretty much made up my decision that I would like to get OME (Old Man Emu) leaf springs in the front and back (I'm thinking medium weight, since I don't carry much, but I'm not too sure. I plan to get some moderately light tube bumpers in the future and take the back/top off). Only problem is, where on earth do I buy these???? Haha, might sound crazy but I feel like I've searched all the way into the armpit of the internet, and I can't find much. Can someone point me the way to a good website to use? I just feel like I can't find anything, maybe I'm just blind. Who knows.

Also, what are all the parts necessary for the OME leafs, and can I use bilstein 5100's with them? I'm looking for a good daily driver and rock crawler. Thank you!!
 
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I gave up! I gave in and bought the All Pro kit for the front and back. Stupid amount of flex, rides smooth as hell, handles great. But, some people aren't going for all the trailing stuff. Look up "old man emu" from what I've read, they're basically oem springs. Pretty cheap too.
 
CheifDesertYota said:
I gave up! I gave in and bought the All Pro kit for the front and back. Stupid amount of flex, rides smooth as hell, handles great. But, some people aren't going for all the trailing stuff. Look up "old man emu" from what I've read, they're basically oem springs. Pretty cheap too.
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All pro kit? Is it all pro offroad? Can you post a link? A stupid amount of flex sounds wonderful haha. I really want to be able to flex like crazy.

Also, I'm looking for Old Man Emu (OME) OEM is the manufacture stuff, which I could care a less about. Sorry if my first post was a little confusing :0
 
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TheManOutside said:
All pro kit? Is it all pro offroad? Can you post a link? A stupid amount of flex sounds wonderful haha. I really want to be able to flex like crazy.

Also, I'm looking for Old Man Emu (OME) OEM is the manufacture stuff, which I could care a less about. Sorry if my first post was a little confusing :0
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https://www.allprooffroad.com/tech-info-mainmenu-63/model/4runner/84954runnerselection i got the 4 inch up front, and 5 inch in the back. The extra inch in the rear (giggity) makes up for the weight of the shell.
 
Cruiser Outfitters (http://cruiseroutfitters.com/sus_pu4runner_dakar.html). The difference between the medium duty and heavy duty setups is just an add-a-leaf, so definitely order the medium duty and then if you find you need more you can order the extra leaf and slap it in there. And if you don't mind another recommendation, skip the Billies and go with the OME Nitrochargers. I have OME springs and shocks front and rear on my '85 and it wheels like a dream, flex all day and it soaks up the hits when you're rallying too.

I would order the greasable pins and shackles to go with it. You might be able to get away with reusing your old hardware, but there's a good chance you'll have to cut at least a couple pins to get the old springs off, so I'd plan on all new hardware from the get go.
 
KidVermicious said:
Cruiser Outfitters (Cruiser Outfitters). The difference between the medium duty and heavy duty setups is just an add-a-leaf, so definitely order the medium duty and then if you find you need more you can order the extra leaf and slap it in there. And if you don't mind another recommendation, skip the Billies and go with the OME Nitrochargers. I have OME springs and shocks front and rear on my '85 and it wheels like a dream, flex all day and it soaks up the hits when you're rallying too.

I would order the greasable pins and shackles to go with it. You might be able to get away with reusing your old hardware, but there's a good chance you'll have to cut at least a couple pins to get the old springs off, so I'd plan on all new hardware from the get go.
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There we go. Thanks! So would the Budget Light Kit be the way to go? And then get the pins and shackles somewhere else? I'm kind of a tight-ish budget, so anything over $1000 might not work as of right now. I don't know very much about the nitrochargers, so I was gonna stick with what I knew would work (5100's), but if they're as good as you say it might as well be worth a shot! They're not too expensive either.
 
I went with the All Pro offroad extreme lift kit & Hy-steer kit. See my build thread; "And so it begins..." for pics. Still working on the install.
 
TheManOutside said:
There we go. Thanks! So would the Budget Light Kit be the way to go? And then get the pins and shackles somewhere else? I'm kind of a tight-ish budget, so anything over $1000 might not work as of right now. I don't know very much about the nitrochargers, so I was gonna stick with what I knew would work (5100's), but if they're as good as you say it might as well be worth a shot! They're not too expensive either.
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Honestly, I'd go ahead and get most everything in the complete kit. Or at least get the front pins, because most other aftermarket greasable pin kits aren't designed to work with the 4Runners front stock spring hangers (looking at you, TrailGear) and you'd have to do some modding to make them work. The OME front spring pins should work with the stock hanger. And honestly, you really want greasable shackles and pins all the way around, and by the time you buy all those from somewhere else you'll be coming near the price for the complete OME kit anyway. You could skip the anti-inversion kit, you don't really need that, but I'd get everything else if I were in your shoes. Save up another month or two if you have to, you won't be sorry.
 
KidVermicious said:
Honestly, I'd go ahead and get most everything in the complete kit. Or at least get the front pins, because most other aftermarket greasable pin kits aren't designed to work with the 4Runners front stock spring hangers (looking at you, TrailGear) and you'd have to do some modding to make them work. The OME front spring pins should work with the stock hanger. And honestly, you really want greasable shackles and pins all the way around, and by the time you buy all those from somewhere else you'll be coming near the price for the complete OME kit anyway. You could skip the anti-inversion kit, you don't really need that, but I'd get everything else if I were in your shoes. Save up another month or two if you have to, you won't be sorry.
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Yeah, this is probably what I will do. I don't really know what I was thinking when I said I'd buy the pins and shackles somewhere else. What's an anti-inversion kit, and are the OME steering dampeners necessary? I'm fairly new to 1st gens (just got one, I'm coming from a 3rd gen). :D
 
The anti inversion kit is supposedly to stop the springs from going into reverse arch, and pretty much unnecessary IMO. I don't think the steering damper is needed either, you can always skip it and add it later if you find you want it.
 
I agree, It was worth saving up and buying my whole kit from All Pro offroad. Simple and easy, and I am not dealing with different parts from 5 different vendors. Plus they are only an hour away from me.....They have Great customer service and are a really good bunch of guys, willing to help with any info, or parts exchange I have needed.
The big thing for you is, are you doing the labor with help, or paying to have it done.....big difference in $$$
 
KidVermicious said:
The anti inversion kit is supposedly to stop the springs from going into reverse arch, and pretty much unnecessary IMO. I don't think the steering damper is needed either, you can always skip it and add it later if you find you want it.
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Alright, that's good to know. Thanks!

MT Tatman said:
I agree, It was worth saving up and buying my whole kit from All Pro offroad. Simple and easy, and I am not dealing with different parts from 5 different vendors. Plus they are only an hour away from me.....They have Great customer service and are a really good bunch of guys, willing to help with any info, or parts exchange I have needed.
The big thing for you is, are you doing the labor with help, or paying to have it done.....big difference in $$$
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I'm still at a tie between the All Pro Offroad kit or the OME kit, I'm leaning more towards OME but we'll see. I would definitely be doing the labor myself, with the help of a friend or two.
 
TheManOutside said:
I'm still at a tie between the All Pro Offroad kit or the OME kit, I'm leaning more towards OME but we'll see. I would definitely be doing the labor myself, with the help of a friend or two.
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Go OME. I don't have experience with first gens but I have had two 4Runners (3rd gen & current 4th gen) with OME complete kits all around. No regrets. My next 4Runner will have Old Man Emu too:)

Also my sister's boyfriend has a 2nd gen with OME and it's equally awesome.
 
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OME is seeming like the most promising option as of right now, but I still have some questions. Do you have to weld on new shock mounts? I wouldn't think so, but I just want to be sure. How much flex can you get? Does it really take a lot of effort to get one wheel off the ground (I would hope so :D) Thanks!
 
Everything bolts up in the stock locations, you won't need to move any mounts.

To give you an idea of how it flexes, this is the Bastard crossed up. I'm running the light duty Dakar springs with 6" shackles on the stock hangers. The high sides are on the bump stops, I probably had at least an inch of droop left on the passenger front, but the rear might be close to maxed out.

DSC_0783_zps4efe5b15.jpg~original
 
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KidVermicious said:
Everything bolts up in the stock locations, you won't need to move any mounts.

To give you an idea of how it flexes, this is the Bastard crossed up. I'm running the light duty Dakar springs with 6" shackles on the stock hangers. The high sides are on the bump stops, I probably had at least an inch of droop left on the passenger front, but the rear might be close to maxed out.

DSC_0783_zps4efe5b15.jpg~original
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That's good to hear, and that flex is even better. I want to be able to stuff some tires :) Thanks for the pic and info! Nice truck btw
 
This should be one of my last questions... are all the OME springs the same? For example, if I find OME rear leafs, but the website says its for a Jeep, will they still fit the 4Runner? I'm a little new to leaf springs in general, so I'm not sure if they work universally (as long as the lengths are the same as what fits) like most shocks and coils springs.
 
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