OME DAKAR OVERLOAD SPRING REMOVAL?

The stock rear springs on my 2012 single cab 4x4 took a negative set right off the dealer lot. The soft springs allowed the axle to change angle upon takeoff and stops resulting in driveshaft vibs, driving me nuts. I removed the stock overloads and installed Icon AAL's which ended the vibs and improved performance through high speed dips (Fox shocks helping). Now, the main leaf has taken an "s" set causing the AAL's the flaten almost negative again. I just received a set of OME Dakars today and was surprised to see two HUGE overload springs mounted on the spring pack. As I need as much articulation as I can get, I will remove the OME overloads as the main spring pack is twice that of stock without them. My question is for those who have already done this. Any flatting problems with the Dakars with the overloads removed? I've read posts where recommendations were made to retain the lower overload. Your thoughts?

 

Why did you buy Dakars if your prerequisite was maximum articulation ?

 

Maximum articulation would require abandoning the stock configuration completely. As I cannot modify the gas tank and emission related components (Ca smog visual inspection), I'm forced to stick with a leaf spring configuration. After studying my options (i.e. Deaver) I settled on the most cost effective option: EMU. I have a nice fab shop and skills to fabricate but I can't get past the stupid CA reg's. I wanted to design a cantilever setup (JK), but the dang gas tank is in the way of linking the rear end and there's no room to three or four link the rear from the back and allow the installation of the horizonal mounted shocks. The IFS limits the potential unless I go to long travel, which I won't at this time as I'd need to change to glass fenders. The dang thing has taken me over stuff in it's current configuration which I'd never thought possible. I just need to fix the blanking rear springs.

 

There are a couple guys here that have removed the upper overload and others remove the 3rd leaf down from the top as per ARB spec but I think you would be the first I have heard of removing both overloads

 

Even if I pound them flat, they have to be better than what I have now. Overloades kill droop, but lack of overloads kills springs. I'll go with the later. I appreciate your posts and please share any insight you might have regaring my objective. Thanks.

 

Looking forward to your post install height to include in my Dakar measurement thread

 

why not remove the third leaf and the upper overload??

 

I am running Dakars with the top overload removed. The Dakars fixed all my issues with the stock springs.

 

little stiffer i think, but i still em

 

Not one in the know, how do overloads adversely effect flex? Presuming that your OL have an arc like a slight frown, I figured that this makes sure the rest of the spring pack doesn't bend beyond spec. Is removing it worth the risk of damage?

OP. Contact these guys. They may have some ideas for your linking desires.
http://giantmotorsports.com
Check out their DD Link kit.

 

I also removed one of the overload leafs for no other reason than I didn't want the full lift height. That way it keeps the same spring rate and about 1/2" less lift. That along with my 5100's up front with OME 885 coils it made the truck pretty much perfectly level. It has an ever so slight rake.

 

Now that I can see doing.

 

I have top overload removed and the pack performs great. I didn’t do this to limit the height I would get from them, but to allow the pack to flex better on uptravel. With the longer overload leaf in place on up travel the pack would run into it real quick which would in turn run into the bottom overload. This hindered the flex of the pack when offroading, specifically at moderate speed over bigger bumps. By removing the top overload I can now say the pack performs real well and is in fact my favorite riding pack (street and offroad) out of the other packs I tried. It also still supports the weight rather well since the shorter over load does a good job supporting the rest of the pack.

Personally I wouldn’t remove both overloads, performance wise I just don’t see the benefit. The shorter over load gives the pack a progressive type feel slowing the upward momentum before striking the bumps. If you do decide to remove both I’d recommend you adding some tall progressive style bumps to both limit the amount of reverse arch and to help soften the impact.

 

How did you deal with the retainer clips and rivets when removing the bottom overload ?

 

typo sorry , I removed the top (longer) OL and said bottom. I corrected my response.

 

the overload spring wont effect droop.... thats likely going to be your shock topping out before the spring is at full droop.

And if you can flex and hit the bumpstop... then your at max flex. That stated removing the longer overload is fine, but it sounds like you should of gone with something like the Allpro Standard pack if you want some flex.

 

Sub'd

 

Are you not running shems with this set up?

 

Sub'd
Was thinking about the wheelers 5 leaf HD to get less lift than the Dakars.

 

I installed the shims because they came with the kit, but are they really need if I deside to remove one of the overload springs?