New OME Dakar Leaf Pack Review

Thanks Nick

 

No problem that's why we're here on TW

 

What is the OEM measurement from center hub to fender? 22?

 

Gen 2 is ~21"

 

OK, well my front with the 5100's is at 22, and the back is at 24. I believe I used the stock springs which appear to have settled a lot over 40k, with the 5100 at 1.75, Dakar's 96r are new in the back. I carry around 500lbs of weight, so here is a picture of what they look like with weight on them.

 

@HeadStrong Off-Road

Q: if i already have the EL095R and want to add-a-leaf (

$55 EL46XL ARB XL to Suit El095R 96R

EL46XL) do I need a longer centerpin?

 

Hard to tell from those photos being so close, are the leafs even flexing that much?

 

Any comments on the finish/paint of these new Dakars?? The OP seems to state that it doesn’t look as good as the previous sets. One of the reasons I’m getting away from my Allpro leafs is that after 2 years they’re blocks of rust.

 

Mine look alright. Need a bit of paint here and there. I'm sure it's hard for paint to stay put when heavy heavy steel parts are smacking into things.

Anyone recommend a specific paint?

 

I put some rustoleum where there were nicks from shipping.

 

I'm not as concerned about shipping damage as I am about their ability to hold up against salt and rust.

A couple of my friends run the old Dakars, and theirs look pretty good after a few years. I was hoping for the same by buying these.

 

Well it is more of just wanting to cover exposed metal so it never rusts at all.

 

Yeeeeeeeah. That's not how things work here in Minnesota.

 

Well that's what I mean, you guys have lots of salt and stuff right? Just make sure that all the metal of the springs is covered as much as you can. With paint or something like that. You want to keep it from being exposed to the air

 

Doubt there is really a lot of data, as they have only been out for a short time.

 

You know maybe this is a dumb question, but is anybody running the dakars with aftermarket Bilstein 4600? I was told that you couldn't, but honestly I'm using them right now because I didn't have time to change them yet today. And it seems to ride just fine. Or is there perhaps that perfect bump that might cause a problem?

I will say that even though they also said you don't need to extend the brake lines with the standard dakars... I'm probably going to go ahead and do that here pretty soon. It isn't horrible but it does make me nervous

 

I went with the 2 inch extension and 5100 shocks.

 

Installed mine today, details here

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/thatguyjzs-build-thread.307978/page-9#post-17462357

In short, EL095R with top overload removed has me at ~23.5" hub to fender with an empty bed. Goes with the Baja/Pro suspension very well.

 

Which way does the

$55 El46xl ARB XL to Suit El095R 96R

El46xl AAL get installed in an EL095R pack? I can’t find any instructions for it. Notched end forward looks like the best fit to clear the front and rear hangars. Don’t want to install it backwards though.

 

I installed the EL096R's over the weekend. Considering I only have ~120lbs in the bed, I think they ride just fine. They ride just as good, if not better, than the Allpro packs that were on there.

I don't know, I don't get all the worries/complaints about new leaf packs riding too stiff. Yeah, it's a bit stiff, but it still rides better than my wifes Kia Sportage. Potholes in that thing are bone-jarring. And now I have a ton of capacity. We'll see how they sit when I have it all loaded up and throw the trailer on. Both packs were +'s.


edit: Oh, yes, when they were delivered they had a shit ton of paint damage. I primed and painted as well as I could a couple days before install. That was a bit disappointing.