3" lift with Stock wheels/tires

hey guys, i have a little vibration from my needle bearings for my front axle around 40mph. there is a tsb for it so im thinking it was purely coincidental. Other that that i have no vibrations i have no axle shims, diff drop or carrier bearing drop installed. I bought the carrier bearing drop with my lift kit in case i needed it but i don't. i also have no top plate spacers, and i still have stock UCA's. I also removed my front swaybar

I have the 885 coils and lifted my 4cyl 5speed access cab 3.25 inches exactly in the front on both sides. I put the trim packer on the driver side strut. For the rear i installed deaver AAl i got 2.25" lift out back. I have the ome nitro shocks all around. Had to take a grinder to my rear shock perch's on the axle housing to get the shocks to fit(different style on the 15's)

My alighnemt is fine. i marked and put the alighnment cam bolts back exactly where they where at stock my truck has a little positive camber but its within spec.

I can not recommend the shock's
I was planing on getting ome coils and billy shocks, but went full ome. A lot of people are happy with them, i was told and the general opinion around here seems to be the ome coils should have the ome shocks. "Tuned for them","Valving" ect. a lot of good technical words thrown around.
I figured ill cough up the extra $$$ for some ome shocks. The simple truth of the matter is the front shocks are not long enough. Maybe arb spent all there money engineering the "valving", and "tuning" and over engineering metal internal bump stops that they didn't have enough money to have a guy read a tape measure

Don't waste your money on these shocks. Thats my take on it and i wish someone told me that before i bought mine. Never the less ya live and learn!

They seem to be alright on the road (avoiding speed bumps and dodging bigger pot holes of coarse) They are bearable on gravel/logging roads as long (as you go slow) but thats it. If you like to off road on even slightly rockier stuff or like to drive on the beach (sand) faster then 20mph once in a while your going to hate how it bangs you truck around.

I notice myself driving much more cautious since I put this lift on... seems to be the opposite of what I wanted when shopping for "offroad suspension"

i have no issues with my rear shocks!

 

Here's my 3rd Gen with 3" lift and stock wheels and tires! Waiting on my new wheels and tires!

 

So you did Bilstein 5100's in the front with OME coils and a spacer to avoid taco lean. Then just a 2'' AAL in the rear?

What did you set the Bilstein's to?
You didn't replace rear struts?

 

5100's set at 0"....NEVER preload OME coils.......885X's, 1/2" plate on drivers side (needed that to get level side to side) 2" Deavers AAL and 5100's in rear.

 

This is an interesting thread. Been tossing up whether to go Billies or full OME for my 3in lift and I have read nothing but good things about OME so i was leaning there. Now after finding @yesmar post about them not being as good, and for the first time hearing about it, makes me want to do even more research than i have over the past several months.

Was originally looking for pics for lifts with stock wheels because I am also debating that too. Thought about it and figured I don't really need new wheels just new tires and may spend that money on a sweet set of clazzios. How did you guys paint your wheels black? plasti dip or powder coat them or something else?

 

Here's mine. Toytec AAL and spacers up front. 5100's and coilovers will replace the spacers this fall.

 

Keep in mind that the name brand lift components all have their strengths and weakness'. OME shocks have a strong following, so I'm quite sure MOST people would be abundantly pleased with them. As well, Bilsteins have quite a fan club too. My "thing" has always been about cost. If "A" is good and "B" is just as good in all regards, and B is less expensive, I'm probably leaning towards B.

My history with lift kits goes back to the early 70's when leaf springs front and rear were very common. If you needed extra shock dampening, you put TWO shocks on each corner. Fortunately, the "hobby" has advanced to the point it is today where you can get high performance parts developed for off road racing that perform FAR beyond the every day needs of most of us. At some point, you get to where it's "How good do you NEED to be"? (Which equates to how much do you want/need to spend?)

THAT said, If 40+ years ago anyone would have tried to convince me a 4wd could ride this plush and controllable, I'd have thought them to be nuts..... On and off road performance far exceeds MY needs. And it LOOKS good. Not sure what else you could ask of a lift than what this one provides for me.

 

I see what you're saying and not arguing by any means, it seems like you have a much longer knowledge base of the situation. But I guess my question would be is this YESMARs truck or is this the lift in general. As most are extremely satisified and state that they have amazing ride quality with ful OME but YESMAR states the ride quality is not as great, specifically off road, then this would lead me to believe that maybe it is the truck. but also there is the variable of personal preference. I am mostly just interested to hear if anyone else has negative reviews of the full OME lift.

I agree with what you said though, who doesn't like an equally performing system for a couple hundred dollars less. Maybe i will go with the Billies/OME setup, I have time to decide so I'm not really worried just want to make the best choice first.

 

read the ome thread