OME Shocks - rust prone?

Trying to decide between Bilstein or OME shocks for lift setup. Going with OME 887 coils and most likely Dakar leaf pack. Marie at Headstrong mentioned it in some email correspondence and I've seen a couple guys mention it on the forum, that the yellow OME shock finish is crappy and rust out easily(?) They dump a fair amount of salt on our roads here in Utah and if the OME's are going to rust out quick, I need to take that into consideration. Might push me toward the Bilsteins. 90% on-road with the off-road being hunting, fishing and camping outings. Truck has Leer topper on back full time.

 

Go 5100's and spray them with Mavcoat or Fluid Film regularly.

Mavcoat Steel Shield Industrial Grade Corrosion Protection, 13 oz. (1 Can)

https://www.amazon.com/Mavcoat-Stee...e=UTF8&qid=1511894165&sr=8-1&keywords=mavcoat

$13 Fluid Film® Aerosol 11.75oz

https://www.amazon.com/Lubricant-Co...TF8&qid=1511894191&sr=1-4&keywords=fluid+film

 

Unrelated, but those shocks are different valvings too, so you should really research the differences between digressive (billy) and progressive (OME) valved shocks and pick the one better suited to your uses.

 

Plan on hitting the truck with some Fluid Film this week and will hit the shocks once installed.

 

Try to stay away from any rubber as it states it makes it expand.

 

Understand....I received the following description from Marie....

"I have many people who go back and forth between the Bilstein 5100’s and the OME’s. What typically differs from the Bilstein 5100 kits and the OME kits is the shocks themselves. Most of the other components stay the same (rear lift options). Since this is the case I find it helpful to compare the shocks side-by-side, this way you can see which ones would be suit your specific needs.

Some of the differences between the OME nitrocharger sport shocks and Bilstein 5100 shocks are below:
Bilsteins are a steel body that has been coated with their triple-C coating which seems to hold up better in the elements the powder coating that OME’s has on their steel shocks.
There are two different OME struts available the standard 90000 which are the firmest and the 90021 soft ride struts. The Bilsteins fall in the middle as far as valving is concerned.
The OME’s have a slightly larger shock diameter then the Bilsteins.
The Bilsteins are a monotube shock and the OME are twin tube.
The OME shocks have an internal component which can be noisy at times. Some people refer to it as the “speed bump clunk.” The Bilsteins do not have this same component design.
The OME rear shocks will work the Dakar pack and not require bump stop modification or longer brake lines but they limit the amount of droop you see from the Dakar leaf pack. The standard length Bilstein 5100’s really should be used with one of the add-a-leafs or a block up to 1.5”. The extended length RCD/Bilsteins will also work with the Dakar leaf pack but longer brake lines are needed and possible bump stop modification but you get more droop from the pack."

 

i spoke with Buddy from ARB a couple months back and expressed those concerns to him. he told me that he hadnt heard of the issue, he also assured me that even if the paint were to chip and rust the performance would no be affected bc the shocks are fully sealed. plus you get a 36 mo 36,000 mi warranty on the OME and their cust service is great. i will be installing the OME shortly.

 

Let me know if the attached pics error out... But this is from my last truck, shocks were new in October and these pics were from December/January I want to say. Granted this is October 2013 to April 2014 so they might have updated the coating on them. But judging how the paint blew off of my new leaf springs I don't have much confidence in their coating department. Buy the Bilsteins and get the NH Oil Undercoat or something similar and you wont have to really worry about corrosion

Correction: Pics are from April 14 not January 14

EDIT: Will add I did reach out to ARB USA about this, and got the "Due to the North East Climate you should wash the shocks regularly blah blah... and we won't cover any coating warranty due to road salt and environment" kind of tough to wash the truck in the middle of January

 

23k on mine





Can get close ups if you would like OP

 

this makes me rethink everything....

 

I don't want to sound like the negative nancy but I ended up getting 40ish,000 miles out of them. Ended up blowing apart the internal valving. Could take the shock and rotate it and hear the oil sloshing back and forth. Will correct that these pics are from April 2014, they went in October 2013.

 

Thanks for the reply and pics. They go along with other posts I've read along the way.

 

NO! NOT AT ALL! i get it man, the truth is appreciated, id rather buy once and cry once.

 

Same way with me. Last truck I went from a spacer lift, OME full kit, then swapped in a custom set of coilovers.

This truck I went with what I should have from the very beginning Bilstein 6112s up front, Dakar leaf pack, and RCD Extended Bilstein 5100s in the rear.