OME 2 Lift - Sanity Check Needed

[Specks]

I figured I'd start my own thread so as not to hijack others. Stock TJR (soft top) and I have quickly grown to love the stock wheels. I realize I am limited with the 16" collection but I just dig the look.

I'll be mostly traversing forest roads and the like. That may change as the terrain here is diverse but for now I don't plan on anything extreme. I will be camping in remote areas and loaded with all the gear needed for a 2-3 day weekend. That's another reason I was thing the medium springs on the rear would be better.

Anyhoo, here is what I have thus far:

• OME HD Front Springs 2933
• OME MED Rear Springs 2941 (I may one day run across a hard top)
• Rancho 5000X 55239 & 55241
• JKS Rear Adj Track Bar 0-6” (is this overkill compared to the relocation bracket?)
• Spacers
• Adj Bumpstops

To be honest I've bookmarked and read so many threads I've about made myself dizzy. Perhaps this thread is a way for me to keep everything in one place.

I have the garage space, tools and willingness to learn my Jeep so I plan on doing the work myself. I have already noticed my front track bar grease fittings are busted so I plan to replace them when doing this work. The Jeep isn't a DD so if it takes me 3-4 days to complete so be it.

I have referred to:

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/a-beginners-guide-to-lifting-your-jeep-wrangler-tj.733/
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/codamans-2004-jeep-wrangler-rubicon.9347/
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/what-is-a-sye-cv-driveshaft-and-why-do-i-want-one.2701/
I'm definitely not into spending unneeded money but I also don't mind forking out a little extra up front if it makes things easier and is of better quality.

Thanks for any input in advance.

 

[JMT]

That lift would be fine for what you are trying to do. You could run 32's and get anywhere you want and have a great time doing it, probably no need to regear unless you have the 307 gears.

 

[Specks]

It has 4.10 gears so it should be good to go in that regard. I guess I was curious if the medium duty springs would be a good choice for my uses.

I'm also curious if the adj rear track bar is overkill, and if other upgrades like sway bars and the like should be upgraded while doing all this. I suppose I'm trying to cover all bases at once.

 

[gg1]

I have the HD springs and I wish I got the regular ones. Mine sits pretty darn high and I am running 33's with no issues.

 

[Moab]

I have the HD springs and I wish I got the regular ones. Mine sits pretty darn high and I am running 33's with no issues.

Do you still feel that way when it's packed for a trip? I mean does the extra load even or lighten the springs out? I'm trying to decide between HD and medium myself. And keep thinking of a loaded up Jeep with coolers, gear, tent etc. etc. Wondering if I'm going to wish I had the HD's when loaded up.

 

[bobthetj03]

Do you still feel that way when it's packed for a trip? I mean does the extra load even or lighten the springs out? I'm trying to decide between HD and medium myself. And keep thinking of a loaded up Jeep with coolers, gear, tent etc. etc. Wondering if I'm going to wish I had the HD's when loaded up.

You'll want the 942's unless you spend 90% of the time with no back seat, no heavy tire carrier/bumper, and no gear.

 

[pagrey]

OME springs are expensive. Moog makes good stuff too. You didn't say what size tires you are going to run which is kinda the whole thing. Did you measure where your Jeep sits now? If you are just running forest service roads you don't need any of that stuff, maybe new shocks if they are worn out. If you carry heavy loads camping just get airlift rear springs to balance things out. No spring lift combination is ever balanced front to rear anyway.

You need to pick a tire size.

 

[JMT]

Do you still feel that way when it's packed for a trip? I mean does the extra load even or lighten the springs out? I'm trying to decide between HD and medium myself. And keep thinking of a loaded up Jeep with coolers, gear, tent etc. etc. Wondering if I'm going to wish I had the HD's when loaded up.

You can’t know for sure where the lift will be with and without all that gear. ARB developed the OME HD for the purpose of supporting the extra weight. I have the HD’s, rear seat is always in, hardtop on most of the year, aftermarket Warn bumper, and I needed a 1” spacer up front to level things out. Rear fluctuates between 2.25 and 2.75” depending on hardtop or no hardtop and how much gas is in the tank. That’s what spacers are for, to get it where you want it.

 

[Specks]

OME springs are expensive. Moog makes good stuff too. You didn't say what size tires you are going to run which is kinda the whole thing. Did you measure where your Jeep sits now? If you are just running forest service roads you don't need any of that stuff, maybe new shocks if they are worn out. If you carry heavy loads camping just get airlift rear springs to balance things out. No spring lift combination is ever balanced front to rear anyway.

You need to pick a tire size.

Sorry I thought I had put that down, 265/75/16. IF I ran across deal I couldn't pass up with some 15" wheels and 33x10.5 I might would consider going that route and adding a BL to accommodate that, but that is definitely not a given.

If you measure the bottom of the flares dead center with the tire the front is currently 33 and rear 33.5

The PO did install HD Bilstein shocks. Those have to go for sure, no matter what I decide. The ride is too stiff for my liking.

I will read up on the Moog.

 

[AussieNick]

Agreed on getting dizzy from reading all the threads and advice on this topic. I want to get to 33’s and found this complete kit from DPG

Ultimate TJ Kit

Anyone know how do the OME shocks ride compared to the Rancho’s? I have a TeraFlex lift on my JK with TeraFlex shocks and I find the whole setup too firm.

 

[JMT]

Anyone know how do the OME shocks ride compared to the Rancho’s?

Word on the street is the new OME Nitrochargers are firmer than the older generation, which were comparable to the Rancho’s. So the Ranchos run better and they’re cheaper too.

 

[Goatman]

You could just go with spacer lift while waiting to see how hard of a trail you actually want to hit. Get a ZJ steering upgrade. You'll appreciate that every time you go off pavement. I went with a Rough Country #5752 adjustable track bar. Very well built, easy to adjust and repair if necessary and did not need to drill out my track bar mount on the frame. I have the OME lift (from OP) and like it, but think the advantages of a spacer lift is that if you do get a (any) lift and it ends up settling more than you hope then you already have the spacers on hand to correct it.
Or add a body lift later. You still get to keep stock ride quality. I'd also suggest a good all terrain over a mud tire to start with. There are several in 265/75R16 to choose. I went Cooper and love them.
In the end you will (for a lot less money) know how heavy your TJ will be loaded to and be better able to pick the right spring for you. You may find all you really want to take is a tarp, a pillow and a toothbrush, or everything and the kitchen sink. You can see if you want lite and nimble more than you are planning now.

 

[Goatman]

Word on the street is the new OME Nitrochargers are firmer than the older generation, which were comparable to the Rancho’s. So the Ranchos run better and they’re cheaper too.

I had the OME and then put in the Rancho. I think for day to day the Rancho is a bit smoother, but off road I think the OME do a good job when doing more than just potholes. I'm mostly on road so the Rancho stay in. If I was going on a week long offroad trip I would swap in the OME at least up front (easy job). But a load range C tire at proper air pressure make either a smooth choice.

 

[gg1]

Do you still feel that way when it's packed for a trip? I mean does the extra load even or lighten the springs out? I'm trying to decide between HD and medium myself. And keep thinking of a loaded up Jeep with coolers, gear, tent etc. etc. Wondering if I'm going to wish I had the HD's when loaded up.

I had a full spare on the back and rear seat and it was very firm. I now have no spare. I can jump up and down on my rear bumper and it hardly moves. I cannot compare the regular springs compared to the HD ones I purchased. I don't know if someone out there has actually compared the two, so if they haven't their advice on comparison isn't worth much. I would like to try the regular OME 2" springs in the rear, but I just don't feel like getting them right now. I also run the OME shocks. They seem okay and I painted them black because I don't like colored shocks. I would like to try the Rancheros, but I would have to try and make them black somehow. They are ugly as heck.

 

[fuse]

OME springs are expensive. Moog makes good stuff too.

The Moog springs are good. I ran them for a year before replacing them with the OME springs, and the OME springs are a HUGE upgrade.

First off, the Moog springs are all for stock ride height (unless you're using parts intended for a different model), so you won't get any lift out of them. But you could add spacers if you liked.

Second, the spring rate on the rear Moog springs is pretty high. That might be an advantage with heavy rear loads, but I found that it just made the rear of the Jeep bounce around a lot. And that's with the hard top on and rear seat in.

The OME springs are much better balanced, so you don't get wildly different handling when you hit an obstacle with the front wheels versus the rear wheels.

 

[fuse]

Anyhoo, here is what I have thus far:

• OME HD Front Springs 2933
• OME MED Rear Springs 2941 (I may one day run across a hard top)
• Rancho 5000X 55239 & 55241
• JKS Rear Adj Track Bar 0-6” (is this overkill compared to the relocation bracket?)
• Spacers
• Adj Bumpstops

You're headed down the same path as my very recent upgrade except that I picked the 2942 rear springs. But I'm always either running a hard top or rear seat or both, plus gear and passengers. If you always run the soft top, no rear seat, stock rear bumper, stock size spare, and don't pack a lot of heavy gear on trips, the 2941 springs would be ideal.

You can see what I've been up to: https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/the-weekend-fun-build.25198/post-408806

One thing about the OME springs is that they do sit fairly high. I measured my lift moving from Moog "Rubicon" springs to OME 2933/2942 springs at about 2.25". Then I added a spring spacer to the front to correct for the boat anchor of a winch I'm running. If you used the OME 2933/2942 springs without much load in the back, I think you might want a front spacer just to level the Jeep.

I'm using the same Rancho shocks as you have and I'm happy with them. The ride is very nice, but you will find them to be fairly long when fully compressed. I had to install 2" of bump stop extension in the front and 1.5" of bump stop extension in the rear to keep the shocks from hitting full compression.

The Rancho shocks and OME springs do make a good combination. The springs put my Jeep at about 60/40 up/down travel on the shocks. Together, they'd be a good setup for 32" tires. I'm running 31" tires and I have plenty of space left before they'd rub.

Like you, I got the JKS rear adjustable track bar. It's nice, but it probably is overkill. With the bump stop extension I had to add for the shocks, there would have been plenty of room for the OME relocation bracket. And the OME relocation bracket is a lot cheaper than that JKS track bar.

I did add a JKS front adjustable track bar, which I think is necessary. You could pick a different adjustable front track bar, but you will want one.

If you don't have them already, consider adjustable quick disconnects for the front sway bar.

Also, if your spring isolators and jounce bumpers are old, now would be a good time to refresh them with OE-like parts. The old rubber gets hard and transmits a lot more NVH. New rubber can be a big improvement.

 

[pagrey]

The Moog springs are good. I ran them for a year before replacing them with the OME springs, and the OME springs are a HUGE upgrade.

Springs set the ride height and for 31" tires stock height is fine. You seem to have spent allot of money to do what a stock Jeep does easily. Don't you have vibes? Don't you have a transfer case drop? You've spent thousands to run 31" tires, I wouldn't advise anybody to go down that road. Adjustable control arms for 31s just seems like completely over the top. I guess each to his own.

 

[Specks]

Get a ZJ steering upgrade. You'll appreciate that every time you go off pavement.

Gee, thanks! Another upgrade to consider. Seriously, in all my reading I don't recall running across this. A quick search and it's something to delve into further.

Thanks for all the feedback thus far, I will start digesting it.

 

[AussieNick]

Like you, I got the JKS rear adjustable track bar. It's nice, but it probably is overkill. With the bump stop extension I had to add for the shocks, there would have been plenty of room for the OME relocation bracket. And the OME relocation bracket is a lot cheaper than that JKS track bar.

Great response and very informative. Thank you! Would this relocation bracket work ok?

Also, if your spring isolators and jounce bumpers are old, now would be a good time to refresh them with OE-like parts. The old rubber gets hard and transmits a lot more NVH. New rubber can be a big improvement.

Can you advise a good source and/or part numbers for said rubber? My ‘98 TJ has 180k miles on original rubber and it’s all toast.

This is a great thread! Thanks to the OP and my apologies for the slight hijacking.

 

[AussieNick]

Well in case that previous link didn’t work, is this rear track bar relocation bracket ok?