Old Man Emu: Questions, Answers & Pictures

Question-

Can I use 885's and 2" AAL kit from OME to achieve 2"? I want to eventually get dakars but not quite yet($). If I add dakars later, how can I achieve 3"? I thought you used 885's for 3" and 884's for 2", but according to toytec's site, they're both for 2".

 

Or if I choose to go just 2", should I get one of the other kits? Say the adjustable 5100 kit with AAL?

 

You can use a 2" AAL for now in the rear....your truck will prob sit level.....when you add the dakars it will bump it up some more in the rear and you will regain your stock rake look.

The 884s are 2" lift up front
the 885s are 2.5" lift up front

those numbers are est and vary slightly with what kind of truck you have and the weight of its front end.

I would suggest you lift your truck with the 885s and then get the dakars when you can afford them.

 

Another 2" aal question. I'm going to run a 2" aal with overload with the rest of my ome kit, would the nitrocharger be fine for this application? Heard stories of 5100s being maxed out over 2" so thought I should try this route.

 

What's the part number on your overload? I have a 2" AAL and want to get a little more lift because I'm going to be about 3.2" up front... What have you heard or read about running the overload with the 2" AAL?

 

You can certainly go with 885s w/nitros and AAL if thats all your budget allows. If you go ahead and install the extended bolt kit now (you can find it for $15 ) it will allow you to easily throw in either spacer kit later when you do the Dakars to achieve the rake you desire.

Someone is bound to chime in with "but you don't need the extended studs if you only use the 1/4" spacer" and while that's all well and good, in the meantime if you decide to add on some plate armor your front is going to drop and you might need the 1/2" spacer to regain that lift and reduce the rake when you install the rear leafs. It's worth the investment now so you don't have to pay to have the springs compressed later when you are fine-tuning the front ride height.

Also, you may want to consider the trim packer- A lot of guys end up with the "Taco lean" and use that to correct it.

 

Ordered my dakars the other day and need to order the bushings for the open ends. Am I better to go with the poly bushings Wheeler's offers or getting OE bushings?

 

I went with oem bushings, but i have been told the poly bushings are a better choice

 

They're a lot cheaper too from what I remember

 

IIRC i paid around $8 a piece at the stealership, and you need 4

 

Which equals $32. I just ordered the Wheelers ones and they were $15.69 plus shipping which I'd like to hope won't be much

 

if i have an emu 3 inch kit would wheel spacers help me stop rubbing?

 

Wheel BS/OS? Tire size? Where does it rub?

 

MT classic 3 16x8 4.5bs et0. tires grabber at2 285/75/16

 

You're running a tire that's 32.8" brand new and just under 11.25" wide. You don't have enough lift to comfortably fit that rubber, especially at full steer and full compression while off roading. Mall-crawling will be a little more forgiving.

I run a 32" tire at 10.8" wide, and get a little frame rub, and when I bought them I knew I was pushing it.

Since you did not specify, I am assuming you rub on the frame and possibly the front cab mounts. You can cut down the cab mounts (search the threads for CMC or cab mount chop), but not to much you can do about rubbing on the frame. I would recommend you go down just a little bit in tire size so you can more comfortably offroad and flex without as much rub. Spacers might alleviate rub on the frame and possible the cab mount, but could cause rub on the fenders.

 

oh sorry. no i dont have this set up yet...but i will have in the next week. i just want to make sure what i have to do to not rub....

and i do not go off roading....the reason for my lift and tires etc is for the beach and i want a better set up for sand....

 

I think you'll have some rub. Those are some big shoes you're squeezing on. Once you get them installed do some investigating to locate problem spots that you may be able to address.

 

Dont do wheel spacers with 4.5" Back spacing. It could make the rubbing worse. Those wheels are good specs for 285s. If, or when, you rub you will just have to do some trimming

 

I have 285/70/17 Duratracs on a 4.5" wheel backspacing currently lifted with 5100's set at 1.75". I had to cut some plastic but it's fine for road use for the moment. Only rubs a bit on cab mounts at full lock. My caster is currently set at 2.3 though and I'm waiting for my 885's and shocks as well as CMC to correct the rubbing issue at full lock.

 

From what i've read no one has had issues keeping the overload in with a 1.5 aal so I don't see how the 2" would be any different, just heard it limits flexing. I'm going to be about the same up front so I was looking to get a little more than 2" in the back. I also read the wheelers/icon 1.5 progressive 3 leaf pack with overload gives a little more than 2" so thats something to consider.