New OME Dakar Leaf Pack Review

I did mine, went with the tight's tight, too tight's broke theory. Hasn't given me an issue yet. Can't speak to the shims as I do not have those.

 

Thanks. Did you add a leaf or something?

 

Nope, just pulled them apart to clean up and re-paint. Mine got hammered in shipping.

 

so I pulled my old dakar pack apart, cleaned, painted, reassembled, added a second AAL, and added liners

had to add some extensions to the retainer brackets, good thing i’m a welder.

overall i’m happy, probably more of a true 4” rear lift unloaded. i’ll need to throw my bumper and swing-out along with my un-mounted sliders and full spare to see where it’ll sit.

took about a week of a few hours each afternoon to prep and paint. used 500F rated engine enamal paint.

bottom line, got my load capacity back and no sqeaks!

just waiting for the 4* shims to work out the 8mph take-off vibs

 

@HeadStrong Off-Road sent you a PM!

 

I removed the top OL leaf from my MD Dakars and got exactly 1" of lift. (I've since added it back to get the lift back to 2")

 

Gonna need a set of these next month....my allpoo standards are flat and i need to get my rear back up to match the front OME 886 and 5100. Is anyone with the HD pack and B110 extending their bumps? I already have flipkit, superbumps and extended lines so should be quick swap out.

 

I don't know that I've ever seen a torque specified for the center pin on a leaf pack. There's probably one. Just tight enough to hold everything in place but not so tight you break the bolt. It's only got to hold the pack together long enough to install it, the spring u-bolts are actually holding everything in place.

On the OME that will be a 3/8" pin and I personally just keep 4" long grade 8 fine thread socket cap bolts around for this. It's basically all "real" pins are but I find being able to hold the pin with an Allen key while tightening or loosening the pack is easier. I cut the bolt just a little long over the nut and peen it over, so they are toast when I have to disassemble the packs anyway.

The only time a socket bolt isn't good is if you use shims that sit loose over the pins rather than getting captured under them. Then you need taller heads on the spring pins and need to use the right fastener probably.

 

Has anyone else had problems with the edge of the brackets messing up the parking brake line?

 

@HeadStrong Off-Road or anyone else that may know, I have the EL095R pack and I need to add the AAL. Will I need to replace the Ubolts? I’ve read that it is a good idea to replace Ubolts when working on rear springs. The Ubolts are the OME bolts they recommend with the EL095R pack. Not sure of the part number. Thanks!

 

Heh. Opposite. The parking break line rubs the bracket and takes off all the paint.

 

I received my Dakar leaf packs and I noticed that I have one with a "+" and the other as a "-" I ordered the heavy duty packs so they should both have a "+" right? Also i am having a hell of a time getting my center pin bolt into the axle. it looks like I need to push the axle forward but it won't budge. what's a trick people do that can get it lined up into place? thank you

 

The “+”, “-“, or “o” just mean whether the spring is slightly over, under, or right on spec due to slight variations after manufacture (doesn’t have to do with being the heavy duty version or not).

Install the “+” on the driver side to help offset the “taco lean” (left side of the truck is heavier)

Do you have the rear axle hanging free and only working on one side of the springs at a time? I had to use ratchet straps to pull the axle into position so the springs would line up. As soon as you disconnect it from the springs there’s nothing to keep it from wandering.

 

Yes I started to work on the driver side not yet touching the passenger. I was thinking i needed to loosen up thr passenger side to get some more adjustment. It got dark so I had to call it a day. I’ll grt back to it tomorrow

 

So both my packs have a - on them. Not sure if they're supposed to be that way or if they're supposed to have 1 - and 1 + ? I was in the middle of installing them so I installed both of them anyways.

 

It does not matter. Some get 2 +'s, 2 -'s, 2 O's or any combination of them. Just the luck of the draw.

 

Perfect!

 

Installed Dakar HDs and b110s! Did a video on it and posted it up to youtube! Feel free to check it out! Planning on posting videos pretty frequently.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntNSMd0QYpA&feature=youtu.be

 

Nice vid!

 

Thanks so much I really appreciate that!