Yotamafia kit or Old Man Emu (suspension/lift)?

I drive a lot of off-road and after 15-years of replacing OME and Bilstein shocks every few years I got Kings on all 4 corners. It’s a financial hit up front but the performance is in a different league! Totally stable on washboards, takes pothole hits at 70MPH, they don’t fade, I can revalve to my liking and rebuild when necessary. They have 40k/mi on them now and still feel fresh.

 

My 2003 DC had a previous owner’s lift kit (Bilsteins, SPC control arms, blocks on rear spring U-bolts) and FJ Cruiser 17" wheels when I got it in 2017. I converted to Old Man Emu kit and to the OEM wheels (from my 2001, with BFG A/T 235/85-16). My shop replaced the SPC control arms with aftermarket Moog OEM style because they couldn't get good alignment with the SPC control arms. IIRC. The OME lift kit at about 2" was an inch or so less than the previous owner was running with his setup. The SPC control arms looked pretty well made, I'll note.

I installed the Old Man Emu OMETACO4HKS kit on the truck I have now. Nitrocharger Sport shocks in the kits today, compared to old Nitrochargers on my earlier OME installs. I'm perfectly fine with the Sports. That particular kit number includes the 2881 heavy front springs and medium rears without extra leaf. There's always some weight over the rear axle; I ran a Mountain Top (Denmark) aluminum tonneau with my first kit, and an ARE canopy with the current truck.

That particular image of my white 2003 DC was taken at the Wedge Overlook in the San Rafael Swell of central Utah, @BradleyS. My 2002 and 2015 Tacomas, however, have spent plenty of time in New Mexico, and with luck I'll relocate to northern NM over the next two years.

 

May I just say I appreciate how well built the drawers are. That looks amazing, almost factory built. Well done.

 

running the 881’s and RA leaf pack. 48lb bumper up front. Canopy, BedSlide, and toolbox on the back end.

 

Anyone with the OME setup need to replace their UCA's?

 

My shop took OFF SPC control arms put on by the previous owner for the lift he was running and went back to OEM style for the OME kit I put on to get proper alignment.

I put OME on my XJ Cherokee, a previous Gen 1 Tacoma, and my Gen 2 Tacoma -- all with stock upper control arms and all with excellent alignment for the approx 2" lift they all got.


So I'd say it would be unlikely anyone would need to change stock upper control arms.

 

Glad to hear you're happy with that set up. I'm still on the fence as far as Billstein or OME shocks. OME front coil springs and replacement rear leaf pack for sure. I think I may go for the SPC UCA's if I do the Billsteins. Thx for the info!

 

I've been told by some friends Kings are the sh#@. I like your description of how they handle. If you don't mind, about how much for them? Also, between Billsteins 5100 or OME nitrochargers, which one would you recommend? Many thx! Nice rig! and I bet there's a lot of terrain around you to explore.

 

yerah the SPC UCA's look pretty bomber. 10-4 on the 2881's. Man UT looks great! NM has similar looks. When you make it over this way lemme know. I'm in North NM, and have been for some time. This truck I got a couple years back is really helping me to get out and explore. That's interesting about the SPC UCA's not really jiving with the OME set up. Thx for the info, much appreciated!

 

Thx! From a youtube build I found. From 'paskmakes'. You can find it there. I improvised of course, gotta say they took quite a bit of work. but worth it.

 

been wondering the same. According to Yotamafia, they advise to get the SPC UCA's with the Billstein kit (I think is about .5"/half inch taller kit).

 

Thx for the info 4XDog, been wondering about this, as well as someone above (think you saw). When I asked Yotamafia about the Billstein kit they said it would be advisable to replace with SPC UCA's (as an option on the site). Someone above also said that they replaced the SPC UCA's back to more OEM style. Thx for info. I appreciate you guys.