| Author | Message | ||
     Alonzo Terrell (Pikey) New Member Username: Pikey Post Number: 3 Registered: 03-2004 |
I know this topic has been beaten to death but I'm looking for a quick answer and don't have time to search this second. I would like to do a mild OME lift, nothing extreme just something that would allow better performance offroad. Something of a medium fashion. I would also like to fit 245/75-16 tires. Now the question is by doing something this small am I going to have to change any drivetrain componets or other more expensive upgrades? I know that a small amount of triming on the rear fender is a must, or at least that's what it says in the tech section. With the minute larger tire size will I have to change the gearing? I do not want to have any problems that will occur in the near future because I can't afford to fix it. I'm a college student about to go into debt to get a masters and doctorate. I just want a more capable truck that I can use for camping and mild adventures. One more quick question, my truck is a stock 94, would I need to but HD springs if I were to add a roof rack? | ||
| Dave Statler (Falconx84) Member Username: Falconx84 Post Number: 141 Registered: 02-2004 |
www.expeditionexchange.com Probably your best resource on OME springs. I have a stock truck, so this is not from experience, but research. It's generally recommended that you go with HD springs. The more you carry, the more your springs are compressed, and the more your springs are compressed, the less "functional" lift you have. It might be fine to have a 2" lift, unloaded with med springs, then throw in several hundred lbs of camping gear, recovery gear, etc, and suddenly your lift drops. (besides, on EE, MD and HD are the same price) And believe me, lbs add up really quick. With search and rescue, my 3 day supply of gear was roughly 85 lbs - and that was one backpack without a tent and with only the basic navigational and rescue gear BEFORE we split the teams gear up between ourselves. That was also without a tent or sleeping bag -- if I had to stay out, I built my own shelter out of a length of rope and piece of plastic  | ||
| Dave Statler (Falconx84) Member Username: Falconx84 Post Number: 143 Registered: 02-2004 |
Oh, and typically you can have a 2" lift and not getthe driveline vibrations -- it's possible, but unlikely that driveline components would need to be replaced -- again, not from experience, but from research | ||
| Alonzo Terrell (Pikey) New Member Username: Pikey Post Number: 4 Registered: 03-2004 |
Thank you for your imput, anyone else running a simlar setup and had problems concerning the driveline. | ||
| Knut Nerheim (Knut) New Member Username: Knut Post Number: 21 Registered: 04-2003 |
Installed an OME HD spring and shock set. About 2" lift. No driveline problems. | ||
| David (98disco) New Member Username: 98disco Post Number: 40 Registered: 03-2004 |
I have the OME Heavy with 2" lift. I would recommend the HD setup "just in case" you decide to add things in the future (winch, winch bumber, roof rack, etc.). You can carry the roof rack itself with the medium setup, but if you're planning to fill that rack up with gear you'll need the heavy springs. You're not going to hurt anything on the drivetrain adding the larger tires, but you will lose power and engine performance. The tire size you're talking about is going to reduce your final gear ratio from the stock 3.54 to about 3.22. If you have the money I would suggest changing the R&P gears to the 4.10 or 4.70. It sounds like the 4.10 would be all you need. A suggestion: Why not put 235/85/16 tires on? They are the same width as your stock 235/70's and won't need any trimming to fit. The 245's you're talking about are nearly 1/2 inch wider than the stock tires and still over an inch shorter than the 235/85's. Just a suggestion - good luck. | ||
| Greg French (Gregfrench) Senior Member Username: Gregfrench Post Number: 762 Registered: 11-2002 |
I have a 3" RTE and OME HD shocks. No problems at all, apart from steering wander due to castor angle. I had 245/75's on with no lift and 100k miles on the stock suspension. Small amount of rubbing at full flex. I would go with the heavy duty, but then again I like the stiff ride (That sounded dirty) | ||
| d moler (Taxi) New Member Username: Taxi Post Number: 9 Registered: 01-2004 |
i've got a 95 disco, put on a wilderness roof rack and 245/75/16's. no other upgrades. problem: turning radius decreased as tires rub against frame (underneith, not body) and slower take off from a stop. solution: no super sharp turns and just deal w/ the rest. | ||
| David (98disco) Member Username: 98disco Post Number: 42 Registered: 03-2004 |
Alonzo - I need to correct myself on my gear ratio calculation above. If you go to the 245/75's from the stock tires you will INCREASE the final drive ratio from 3.54 to about 3.72 (not 3.22). I knew that didn't sound right when I wrote it. Anyway, you will notice a lack of acceleration response with the change. | ||
| David (98disco) Member Username: 98disco Post Number: 43 Registered: 03-2004 |
"problem: turning radius decreased as tires rub against frame (underneith, not body)" That rubbing is against the radius arms. You can adjust the steering stops to keep it from rubbing. Of course, you'll lose a little bit of turning radius. | ||
| John Brazelton (Florida_rover) Member Username: Florida_rover Post Number: 48 Registered: 07-2003 |
5000 miles on OME HD springs and shocks and going strong.>JB | ||
| Andrew Homan (Andy) Member Username: Andy Post Number: 66 Registered: 01-2004 |
Just did OME hd springs got almost 3" of lift cause my old springs were spent. rides good wheels good no vibrations using 245/75-16s now probably go a little taller 235/85s do it you like it. Cheers Andy | ||
| Alonzo Terrell (Pikey) New Member Username: Pikey Post Number: 5 Registered: 03-2004 |
Thank you guys so much for your imput. I'm now considering the 235/85s but I'm still a little unsure about upgragding the gearing. I plan on doing a little more research to see all the pros and cons, plus it's also a few more hundred bucks. Besides the lack of power during acceleration are these bigger tires going to cause me to break anything that would leave me stranded? I do realize that you can break anything depending on how and where you drive; I just want to be very cautious about this because this vehicle is all I have. But if I've read correctly it appears that this is a good setup that will work for my criteria. | ||
| Matt Anderson (Disco01) Senior Member Username: Disco01 Post Number: 388 Registered: 10-2003 |
David........you were right the first time. Bigger tires decrease the overall gearing, which is why you put shorter gears(4.10 etc) in to make up for the change. Alonzo, any change you make in height is going to make any driveline vibes you have now worse. So, if you dont have any now then it is not likely you will after the lift, but if you feel any slight vibration now it will be more noticeable after the lift. Basically, the lift will tend to wear your ujoints out faster as well as the rotoflex coupling. Being a 94 I am gonna bet you actually can feel a little vibe on acceleration at certain speeds, expect these to get a litte worse. It is not a big deal, just live with it. BTW, you girlfriend might like it. | ||
| Jim Macklow (Macklow) Member Username: Macklow Post Number: 45 Registered: 03-2003 |
You might be blessed with a "special" disco... I have a '95, have the OME MD springs, and had drive line problems. Front driveshaft sang like a swarm of killer bees whenever I coasted. Was told by many many purveyors of OME springs that "I shouldn't have any driveline problems with the MD springs". After I put on a beefy aftermarket double-carden driveshaft on the front, I find out that the driveshaft is rubbing on the anti-sway bar at full articulation. Again, talking to the driveshaft purveyor, was assured that with the OME MD springs, I shouldn't have any problems. On the other hand, my engine is doing fine with nearly 170,000 on the clock and (gasp) only using dino oil (and usually the cheap crap, too). So my advice is get as much info and advice before modifying your disco, but be aware your truck is one-of-a-kind, and may have weird oddities that no one else's has. | ||
| Big Ed (Sandman) Member Username: Sandman Post Number: 115 Registered: 02-2004 |
1996 with OME HD gave about 2" lift. No troubles with drive train. The 275/70R16 rub slightly in the rear (have not trimmed yet as it's not that bad) and adjusted the stops to eliminate rubbing. JMHO - it's not the stops that reduce the turning radius, its the tires. The stops are there to stop the rubbing. SandMan |
