Old Man Emu: Questions, Answers & Pictures

Synthetic seems to be the crowd favorite. Strong, lightweight, less dangerous.


Also, more fragile, less robust, more expensive.

 

Yea the fragile and less robust part is what I was afraid of. Although no more than I would probably be using it, it may not be that bad.

 

The slide in shims from headstrong. Do I need to do anything with the center pin of the dakar? Or just place these underneath? Do these just sit on top of the axle or get bolted down other than just the U bolts? Do you recommend the pin through over the slide in?

 

You'll need the centering pin lengtheners. Did you get those?

 

I have synthetic. If you take care of it it'll take care of you. Steel is pretty bullet proof but can be sketchier.

 

This

 

No I didn't. ....does headstrong carry those? If not where might I pick up some? Are they just longer replacement pins for the dakars? Wait....it actually says that the shims from headstrong come with them......yeah.

 

Headstrong does, yes. I need some myself (I ordered some but didn't see them in my box).

They are essentially a spacer.

 

Yeah j ordered some with my lift

 

The thing with their shims is they are a couple mm too thick for the OME and OEM ubolts. All other aftermarket ubolts measure more like 2 5/8", which is slightly wider.

What does this mean for those with factory or OME ubolts... you'll have to try and squeeze them in-between using force (say hello to your mallet) OR take the shims down a bit so they slide easily into place (the better non-temperamental approach). Ask me how I know after "sliding" these into place on my neighbors truck

I guess this is why they have this statement on their site (its me missing details like this that get me each time)

"NOTE: depending on application and remaining thread left on ubolts longer ubolts may be required. Also shims may need to be filed down a bit in order to fit between the ubolts (this is common with factory as well as OME brand ubolts)".

 

I have Toytec shims on with the U bolts that came with my OME kit , we didn't have to file them but I also didn't slide them in , they went on with the U Bolts slacked right off

 

I haven't installed my dakars yet but when I ordered them from Wheeler's, Dan said to get the next longer length U-bolt (8.5") to run with the Toytec 3° shims. The shims also came with the longer center bolts to replace the ones that come on the dakars. I can always trim the u-bolts if the look too long but an inch shouldn't matter much.

 

Shims from Headstrong are slightly wider than the OME u bolts. They offer Maxtrac u bolts which are wider as an alternative for those who anticipate or choose to run the shims, which are slightly wider.

I have OME u bolts and plan on just machining a little off the shims instead. I think at the time of my order they were out of stock on Maxtrac u bolts.

 

The shims are not that thick so longer center pins and ubolts are not really needed. There's already enough length there to support the addition of the shims.

 

Agreed. Plenty of length on the u bolts. I drilled out the bump stops a little to avoid cutting the centering pins down should I want to add an AAL or something later.

 

Yeah the ubolts and the center pins are long enough to support the addition of their AAL thus adding shims (both slide in and none slide in ones) wouldn't be an issue.

 

I think there is some confusion re longer centre pins and pin head lengtheners / pin collars

 

Regardless of shim design both will need more length from the center pin and ubolts. In the case of the OME rear set-up both the ubolts and center pins will allow for the addition of shims due to their length.

 

I'm not sure either and just went off their recommendation. I believe that the standard u-bolts are 7.5". I just checked the shims and they measure .250" on the thin end and taper up to .465". There is a .020" counter bore on the one side of the hole which must be for the bolt head to rest on.

 

But slide in shims don't work without extending the head of the centre pin by using a collar