OME 2885 springs definitely sag over time, lift settled 48%-58% since new

I tried to do this scientifically to prove what I knew just by looking at the truck. I installed 5100s and 2885 springs to my 18 DCSB RWD. To this point they have 10k miles on them and were installed in May of 2018.

These are my original front fender measurements in May of 2018 after initial settling/install of the 2885 springs; this is the bottom of the fender to the center of the axle (which removes the tire altogether from the measurement).

Stock suspension before 2885/5100: 20.25" (left/right)
Suspension after 2885/5100: 22.75" (left/right)

The rear with 1" blocks measured 22.75" also.

My truck initially had 2.5" of lift from the new setup. It was basically perfectly level and I was stoked. I suspected it would settle a bit over time down to 2" which was just about where I wanted it. A few months ago (9 months after install), it was getting nose down a bit, so without measuring after I installed 0.25" strut spacers, which add somewhere between 0.25" and 0.5" of lift. After this it looked level to me again.

I took a picture a few days ago, now 12 months after install, and it looked nose down again with a little rake! No added armor, no added unsprung weight, no driver. I'll admit it, this truck hasn't been offroad but 5 miles since I've had it so this is not offroad wear and tear. Here is original install versus recent picture. If you look at the tire gap and the rake you can actually see the settling.



Ok, I wanted to figure out how much the springs settled. I took some physical measurements and even some pixel measurements on these measurements to confirm axle to fender measurements. I used the rear axle as my baseline so I could trust my measurements.

My original 2018 measurement of the rear axle was 22.75". My new measurement today, both physical and by pixels were within .1% of the original measurement. So, I trust my measurements.

Using the same physical measurements and verifying with pixel count on the images, here is where the front is now.

Original measurements after install/settling: 22.75" (left/right)
2019 measurement after 10k miles (and with 0.25" strut spacers): 21.8" (left/right)

Considering the strut spacers add 0.25-0.5" of lift, that means the following:

The springs have sagged 1.2" to 1.45" over a year
The springs settled 48% to 58% of their original height

The springs are now lifting the truck 1.05" to 1.3" over stock after a year.

Also consider this isn't with 4x4 guts or armor which could exacerbate this. I'm not sure how I should feel, I'm suspecting that we all presume the lift will be pretty close to the original measurement, maybe 10%? I kind of feel like 2" should be 2", say maybe down to 1.8". I need a solution to go nose up again, and something I would prefer to hold steady so my tires that didn't used to rub will keep not rubbing and I don't have to revisit this again in a year.

 

Off topic but I like the stink bug look than the first bro look . More functional. Levels out with cargo .

 

I have 5100’s and 887 with 1/4 spacer for lean.
I too am experiencing this and I installed my lift 2 weeks ago. (Purchased back in November)
I only got 1-1/2 in the DF and 1-3/4 in the PF when I was hoping for 2 inches.
I read somewhere that OME did some changes to their coils and now they’re settling more unfortunately.
OP I would suggest bilstein 6112 or I was thinking of adjusting the 5100’s to the second notch but many people here say you shouldn’t preload OME springs, but with the spring sagging lower than stated doesn’t that mean preload actually is reduced?

 

Hmm, well the shocks aren't going to hold up any better or resist sag. I think the preload notches could be raised on the 5100 to compensate, but I think you would want them fully settled first and then it's probably a bit of a science experiment to adjust right at the point the sag/preload match up.

 

The whole point of an extra 1" to 1.5" in the back is level load carrying. I get that and that the truck is designed that way. That isn't the point of this post to debate front to back stance.

 

Some of the drastic difference from a visual standpoint is your tires look to have gone up as well between your photos.

 

885’s should only lift a 3rd gen about 1.5 inches after initial settling/alignment. Gen 2’s suspension sits an inch lower and are lifted 2.5

 

I'm in the same boat. I have the 888s w OME soft valve shocks. Dakar medium duty leaf pack. I haven't put tape to the fenders yet, but I was right at 3" w the initial set up... I parked next to a bone stock Tacoma the other day and our noses were almost identical. I have the 1/2" spacers on both side also, because I was trying to get a level stance. I've heard they want you to send the springs back, but who the heck has a spare set of struts laying around???
I commute every day and will def be looking into buying a new set of struts and springs for the front. My truck looks silly it has so much rake now. For the amount of research and $$ I spent on this set up, I would have figured 10 months and 5 k miles, w no armor, no wheeling, no mud, or any abnormal driving would have the springs settled as low as they have.

 

This isn’t cool. I was planning on 5100 with 887s...

 

Yep, the newer OME springs seem to settle more, my newer 887 springs have settle to just a little over what my old 885 springs were.

I'm not going to fret about it anymore it's just a fraction of an inch but anyone considering this setup should expect some more settling than before.

I'm right at 2 inches with my 887s.

I do find though the height changes depending on when you take the measurements, if the truck is sitting overnight it compresses to 1.75 inches, after driving a bit during the day and exercising the suspension it goes back to 2 inches.

 

Get rid of that junk and buy some real coilovers. Problem fixed. Good luck with your truck.

 

Savage as usual.

 

For the last 25 years I've been building trucks, brand name springs (OME are revered here) and bilsteins have always been a better than average solution.

Totally worthless input.

 

That's your perception. My opinion is they are junk. There are better options out there.

 

I was looking at this suspension setup, so this has me interested. I roughly edited your photos to make them more level, I just tried to line up the curbs as a base point. I know you have measured the sag, but it’s still interesting to look at.

 

have 888's and medium dakars and i have hella rake

 

I noticed this same thing recently after getting a new steel front bumper but I assume it was the extra weight. Mine has dropped 2” from the rear since install but I do off road too. Mine just keeps sagging in the front. I thought about lowering the rear. Thinking about new front suspension with some adjustability. Any suggestions?

 

Now that I read about it more closely, 2885s are only advertised as 1.5" for 2016+ tacos, so at 1" to 1.3", it isn't completely out of the realm of what was advertised. I fail to see how a heavier 4WD is going to get 1.5" of lift from 2885s if a 2WD sags to 1". Looks like 2887s or 2888s were a better solution for what I was looking for, so maybe someone else can learn from this.

Ah well, since I'm RWD, I decided to go with lift spindles for the simplicity and because they reset all of the suspension back to it's factory geometry and I'll go from there. Might as well take the single advantage afforded to 2WD Tacos. Spindles with higher ground clearance and stock suspension geometry.

 

The truck looks great IMO. It looks like you have some negative offset on the wheels, I wonder how much effect, if any, this has on the springs.

 

I like the stance in the May 2019 pic.