OME Dakar Leaf springs: Height and Rear shocks

My aal just came in. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

 

I didn't do any towing, but I'd suggest the AAL if you plan on it just based on my experience with Dakars and a loaded bed.

Although in your case since you'll be going from an unloaded bed to loaded +towing, airbags might be a better solution

 

waiting to hear if you encounter the dreaded squeaking after the AAL goes in and some time has passed. did you replace the front hangar bushing or leave the OEM rubber bushing that ships with the Dakars?

 

Thank you for the feedback! @Fuergrissa Right on, let us know how you like them!

 

Update; as I have suspected, the overly stiff ride was indeed attributed to the Fox shocks I had installed.

For those that were following, you knew I had suspected my shocks valving to be meant for a full size pick up.

For those just joining, 2 weeks ago I had just installed OME Dakar rear leafs, Fox 2.5 front CO's, and Fox 2.0 rear smooth bodies. The smooth bodies were not the OE-replacement but instead their universal variant with an additional inch of travel.

My Bilstein 5100's arrived today, so off to work I went.

One thing I noticed immediately was the fact that I was able to compress the Billy's by hand. I remember not being able to do that with my Fox shocks; for those I had to put them on the ground and use my body to compress them. This proved equally difficult when I installed the shocks on my truck seeing as how I had to fully extend one end to get the shock to fit.

The Billy's went on without even having to lift the truck.

An on and off road test also gave my different results. When going over speed bumps, the rear end jumped right back up similar to a rubber band that's been stretched and let go. The Fox shocks couldn't even behave in a similar manner and instead made the rear end jump up as if I had no suspension.

Continuing on road, there difference was more noticeable. Potholes were already soaked up pretty well by the front end, but the rear end no longer had that "shock" when the rear wheels met the same pot hole.

I live in the middle of nowhere and we have plenty of small "washboards" so I took it off road. Going over the washboards at 30mph caused a ton of cabin noise, but left me feeling like I was driving over a paved dirt road. Everything was soaked up and I almost wanted to go faster but didn't due to having road tires. It's only when I slowed down that I could feel the bumps.

All in all I'm stoked at the difference the Billy's made. What's funny is, now I need to find the "right" replacement rear shocks as the Bilsteins were only bought to test my theory. I don't plan on keeping them as I always intended to own something better than OME Nitrochargers and Bilstein 5100's. I just don't want to go fully custom because I do not rock crawl and this is a 5th vehicle.

The Bilstein's when they arrived.



The Bilstein's next to my Fox 2.0's; sad thing is the Fox shocks have almost 200 miles on them and they've already been replaced. The Bilsteins look shorter than the Fox shocks but they really aren't; at least not the longer of the 2 Bilsteins.



The Bilstein's installed.



And the initial picture with the Fox rears.

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@Kwikvette This is good to know. I have a similar Fox set up going on my 04 double cab (2.5 RRs DSC and 2.0 smooth bodies). I purchased my extended rears from @Wheeler's Off-Road Inc part numbers FRS 985-24-004-W / FRS 985-24-083-W. I wonder if I am going to have a similar situation with my Dakar leaf pack I'll be installing shortly.

 

Funny you say that; I had a conversation myself with @Wheeler's Off-Road Inc and though they offer the same Fox shocks, they did mention that Fox would inform customers about the firmness of their shocks.

Wheeler's hasn't received any feedback confirming this, but it seems Fox has.

I'm here to say that if you do get those shocks and you go unloaded, you'll experience the same thing I did.

By the way, I used part number 985-24-004 for both sides (same one you listed).

If you haven't purchased your Fox rears, and you'd still like to consider them, I'd be happy to sell you mine at half the cost of new +shipping

 

If that is the case, I may have to ship them off to @AccuTune Offroad for a revalve before installation.

 

Would they revalve them? I wasn't sure the Fox 2.0's were rebuildable. If that's the case I may have to do the same.

 

Good point, I am not sure they are either.. This is making me think long and hard about just doing a shock relocation and running a 10" 2.0 RR DSC rears.

 

Maybe @AccuTune Offroad can chime in and offer a revalve on my Fox rears.

 

The front 2.5's are really nice by the way, even preloaded with 2" of lift (I went with the standard travel variant).

 

The Fox 2.0's can be revalved as long as they have a remote reservoir. The IFP rear shocks are extremely difficult to take apart and it would cost more than upgrading to the Remote Reservoir shocks.

 

Thanks for that!

Knowing the issue I had, and what works for me now, do you guys have a recommendation for rears?

 

Yes, for 2.0's get the Fox-985-24-117 or -118 (R/R no adjuster), or the 985-26-117 or -118 (with adjuster).
The -117's tend to be a better length than the -118's, but it does depend on lift height.

For 2.5 rears get our Fox Tundra rear's converted to fit Tacoma's.
Non-Adjustable 883-24-006-TACO
Dual Speed Compression Adjustable 883-26-006-TACO

 

@Kwikvette I am curious to see if the extra weight of my double cab and 4WD may have a different effect with the universal rears. I would imagine I'm 300-400lbs heavier.

Worst case I install them, cant deal with them, then wind up doing a shock relocation down the road.

 

I do hope they work for you.

Driving on road, I had so little weight, it seemed as if the Fox shocks never really "compressed" which is why I felt everything.

 

Looking at your suggestions, they're all for +05 (2nd gen).

I take it the 2nd gen is a good bit heavier.

 

Ah crap, sorry. Didn't notice this was in first gen.

First gen's are tough, very little room with travel when using the stock shock mounts.
We recommend relocating and using a Fox 2.0 x 10" travel r/r shock.

 

Yep, the only real solution on our 1st gens.