OME Dakar + Bilstein 5100s!

Yesterday I started installing a set of OME Dakar springs (CS019R) and Bilstein 5100s so I thought I'd share.



You can see how bad the bro lean is on this thing. I do have a tent on top, but even without it, the rear end squatted pretty bad. The previous owner took a leaf out of the stock springs because he said it "rides nicer".





Currently sitting at about 36" to the rear fender and 16.5" to the trailer hitch.



This is what the old springs look like on the truck. You can see how close my bump stops are to the frame! It's aggravating to slam every time I go over a minor bump in the road.



Took these guys off first, then lifted the rear end by the diff and jacked up the frame.



This all went relatively smoothly. I started working on the U-bolts and pulling the leafs out next.



This is the passenger side compared to a brand new OME Dakar leaf.



While I was in here, I cut the exhaust so it would fit the dakar leafs. The driver side gave me a little more trouble...



The bolt was stuck in the sleeve inside the bushing on the front hanger. This is where it started to go kinda sideways. We tried to cut it out to save the bolt, but ended up ruining it anyway.



After we got the driver side spring cut out, I found out that my bushings were totally the wrong size. There were all sorts of problems with them, they were too wide, the sleeves wouldn't fit the stock bolts, etc. I bought OME SB108 bushings, which I guess was wrong. Does anyone have a part number for the right set to fit stock shackles?



She'll have to sit like this until I get the new bushings in...

 

Curious to see how the final project turns out. How big are your tires?

 

They're 285/75/17s, about 33 inch. Pretty low tread! But the next time I buy tire I might have to invest in 35s

 

Old Man Emu Shackle Bushing Kits for Single CS018R, 19R or 46R Leaf Spring (SB88 or SB89) Option For Stock Shackles
ARB-OMESB89

These are the bushings for the stock shackles. Wheelers Off Road has them for 10% off until Apr. 30th, so they are like $16 a set (you need 2 sets). If you need front bolts, get some M14 x 120mm grade 10 from the hardware store for like $3 ea. and get new nuts because the originals will not fit. You might get by with M14 x 110mm as well if the 120mm is too long.

Get some silicone grease for the outsides of the metal sleeves that go into the bushings, no need to grease the outsides of the bushings because they are not meant to rotate.

Be careful about using concrete blocks to support your vehicle because the concrete can crumble all of a sudden. You're better off using wood.

 

Thanks so much for the advice! I got a different bushing kit that gave another sleeve and the bushing for the top of the shackle as well but this really helped out. The M14x110 bolts worked perfectly.

The tires are actually 285/70r17s! my bad

 

Got home from my trip and was able to get these installed. Here's a pic with the new springs on. I did not remove any leafs from these.


Here's a photo of the Bilstein 5100s installed. Perfect fit with these springs. Just had to jack up the diff a bit to get them in.





The rear end looks a lot better with the new springs and shocks



Here's what it looks like overall! I don't think its too tall, I love the rake to the front end. It feels like a brand new truck!




Sitting at about 25 1/4" to the hitch and 41 1/2" to the fender! Much happier with it now. I took it off road right away and it was 10x smoother than it was before. I definitely need an alignment though, looks like my front passenger wheel is toed in now, and the wheel is turned left to keep it driving in a straight line

 

Before & After:

 

In about 2 months or so, it'll lower about an inch or so.

I had nasty stink bug when I first installed my Dakar's and fortunately they settled.

 

Cool I'm okay with that, I need a little breathing room for when I put the 35's on eventually

 

Cutting and welding for 35s, and the front tubbing will be the worst of it.

Several guys here have done it and I just sit back and watch in awe...

 

Honestly I think the worst of it is going to be the price tag for the wheels and tires

 

Eh, you'll find out.

If the price of admission was just the cost for the wheels and tires, I would've got them a long time ago.

It's the work involved to fit them that's painful.

@Wulf has done it and so has @m3bassman

I'm sure more have but I haven't seen more people post on it.

 

The real price is the cost of CV axles and new gears

 

Those Tundra CV's tho

 

Took her out for a few photos with the new lift!

 

Got a great price on these, had to buy them! Time to start cutting...