By Jarrod Leonard on Monday, August 27, 2001 - 11:48 am: Edit

I know that this is a tired subject and question - but if a few of you can shoot me some quick responses, I would appreciate it....

I would like to get about 2" of lift for my 95 Disco in order to give it a beefier look and to be able to fit some 265/75 tires under it and not have them rub while four wheeling on moderate trails. My plan is to get some OME 762 springs for the rear of my 95 Disco and then swap the stock rear springs to the front.

This truck is mostly a commuter vehicle, but will also see trails and a lot of camping. My question is whether (given the description of what I am looking for) the OME 762 springs are a good choice? They will give about 1.5" - 2.0" lift? They will not stiffen my ride too much with a set of Bilsteins already on the truck?

Thanks in advance guys!

By Blue Gill (Bluegill) on Monday, August 27, 2001 - 11:55 am: Edit

It'll be a tough ride with bilsteins & 762's. If you want lift with more cushion, then maybe 764's are better for you (MD vs. HD).

also, those 265/75s will be rubbing with light articulation, not to mention moderate trails. 245/75s better but will still rub bottom rear fender.

By Ho Chung (Ho) on Monday, August 27, 2001 - 12:00 pm: Edit

jarrod, thats' a good idea. the rear stock disco springs should in theory work pretty well in the front... you may actually end up with more lift in the front than in the rear.

265/75 is a good size for the disco with mild lift such as OME. just some more cutting than the 245/75.

By Jarrod Leonard on Monday, August 27, 2001 - 12:14 pm: Edit

Bluegill - Ho,
Thanks for your quick responses guys! I will take the advice and go to a MD instead of a HD so I don't lose what is really a pretty good ride right now.
Ho - how much trimming will I need to do on those fenders for 265/75s? It is just trimming on the inner lip anyway right? And by the way, the swapping of shocks was not my idea - I just stole it from the board here and Ron confirmed that it would work a while back. : )

By gil on Monday, August 27, 2001 - 12:38 pm: Edit

i run HDs and Bilsteins and I love the ride, i would really go with the HDs especially if you ever plan on removing a swaybar. the ride is a touch stiffer, but to me thats a positive..as they are a little bit "rolly" stock. HDs are also more adaptable if you do any future mods (which im sure you will). cutting is a must with the 265/75, i trimmed the rear of the fender, but still get some minor rubbing inside the wheelwheel, no big deal, it just makes a little noise. maybe 235/85 would be a btter way to go, thats what i will do when i get new rubber...just the .02

By Ho Chung (Ho) on Monday, August 27, 2001 - 12:39 pm: Edit

http://www.discoweb.org/billgill/lr19rub.jpg

just a bit more than what bill gill has on that pic.

By Andy Nix (Andy) on Monday, August 27, 2001 - 12:43 pm: Edit

245/75's - trim on the inside only like the pic

By Jarrod Leonard on Monday, August 27, 2001 - 12:58 pm: Edit

This board is the best!

I have not had a lot of questions yet, but all that I have had so far have got great answers here.

So Gil, did I misunderstand the first time? You are recommending 762s or 764s? 762 is a MD and 764 is a HD right?

By Ho Chung (Ho) on Monday, August 27, 2001 - 01:06 pm: Edit

personally, i'd recommend the HD, but thats' my personal preference.

and as you all know, personal preferences vary. especially on what's defined to be a "smooth ride."

i agree with gil, the smooth ride that some people love is a bit on the "rolly poly" side.
especially on the trail when you come off some rocky steps... throwing the disco side to side, you'll see your passeangers hitting their heads against the windows very often.

By Blue Gill (Bluegill) on Monday, August 27, 2001 - 01:08 pm: Edit

that damn short passenger side spring (764 in this case) forced me to cut a bit more than that previous pic Ho posted. I just shaved the whole inner lip (photo is of cut in progress - that whole triangular section came off). I am thinking that a 762 HD spring would prevent some of this rub:

By Blue Gill (Bluegill) on Monday, August 27, 2001 - 01:10 pm: Edit

P.S. photo is with OME MD 764 springs, OME nitrocharger shocks, and 245/75/16s.

I'll be installing OME HD 762 springs in a week or two, with a packer on the passenger side to level things out.

Sounds like Gil runs the same setup you're thinking about, and it works for him...so there you have it!

By Blue Gill (Bluegill) on Monday, August 27, 2001 - 01:13 pm: Edit

other way around, Jarrod:

762=HD

764=MD

I have HD front & MD rear, but I'm switching to HD rear, too. The 762 & 764 springs are the same lengths but different rates (stiffer), which translates to about the same lift but stiffer ride.

By chuanchen on Monday, August 27, 2001 - 02:56 pm: Edit

Is there any recommendation for a ride that is smooth and confortable but not rolling like a boat on-road and, meanwhile, providing an excellent off-road ride/articulation off-road?

chuanchen

By Blue Gill (Bluegill) on Monday, August 27, 2001 - 03:42 pm: Edit

yeah - OME. Others will tell you Bilstein & HD Rover springs, or Bilstein & OME springs, others will tell you Rancho & Bearmachs, etc. It really comes down to personal tastes I've heard Bilsteins are a bit harsh compared to OMEs, that's why I mentioned that HD OME & Bilstein may be a rough ride.

By Perrone Ford on Monday, August 27, 2001 - 04:50 pm: Edit

The stock Bilsteins are valved quite a bit firmer than the OME HD. I finally got the REAL valving info from Bilstein on their OEM replacement shocks. In all honesty, if you run shocks stiff enough to take out roll on the street, they will be pretty stiff on choppy dirt roads and such. I think the OME HD is probably the best compromise for valving, but is a little short.

I am going to try the Bilstein 5100 in normal firmnes up front (slightly softer than the OMD HD) and then stiff 5100 valving in the back which is stiffer than the OME HD. I'll live with the back being somewhat bumpy off-road. Or, I'll carry a second set of softer shocks.

-P

By gil on Tuesday, August 28, 2001 - 03:33 am: Edit

Leave it to Perrone to complicate things.. OME HD with everyday regular Bilsteins does the trick. On road ride is very good, on road handling is very impresssive, especially with a 265/75, off-road is a little bumpy, but what the hell, your off road right?? isnt it supposed to be bumpy? heres a shot of the trimming I had to do to stuff the 265 with that setup; you can see on the frame where the big meat still rubs on the frame. its nothing you cant ignore though.

By Sil Gtevens on Thursday, August 30, 2001 - 03:54 pm: Edit

Thats some nice trim Gil! can I borrow your hatchet now that your done with it? MH LRG

By gil on Friday, August 31, 2001 - 02:33 am: Edit

its all yours chief....sorry about the other weekend...

By Mike Rupp (Mike_Rupp) on Friday, August 31, 2001 - 04:49 am: Edit

A couple quick points:

Gil: what did you use for the trimming? Dremel?

I know I'll get some abuse here, but what the heck. I use the Ranchos and OME HD springs for my setup and also have the rear swaybar off. The thing I like is that I set the shocks to 4 for the road which gives me a nice, tight feel in turns and then set to 3 for off-road which gives a smoother ride.

By gil on Friday, August 31, 2001 - 05:20 am: Edit

you cant beat the sawzall....