First Prado 120 OME lift in the USA

OME Mediums 884 front/ 895 rear/N140S frontshock/N142 rr shock = 3" lift front/ 2.75" rr


I've been researching alternatives for awhile and been emailing the Prado guys since they already had stuff dialed in. I called a vendor to see if they would import and what did you know? They had it! But no idea what it would do on a 4Runner...

I got one of 3 full OME sets avail in the US.
I told Bulldog-Yota about it asap since I knew he was waiting on OME. He has the 2nd set and I believe there is one more left (as of 2 weeks ago). Next shipment in 6-8 weeks or so.

I am running 10mm trim packers in the rear. Accounting for heavy loaded trips, it's ok if it sits a bit tail-high. I actually think it looks good.

I ordered OME 5mm trim packers for the front but didn't install them yet.

Running it for about a week now and impressions are very good. I really like the ride and the flex offroad is much improved.

The full kit runs approx $800. Ben at sleeoffroad.com is the guy with the foresight to nab these OME 120 kits for the US.

So now that we have another option for heavy duty coils; bumpers & armor can be properly accomidated! This is especially true for the REAR where there are no real choices. Now there are!

coils:
OME MED 884/895
OME HEAVY 885/896
OME XTRA HEAVY 886/897
SLEE 1 15% STIFFER
SLEE 2 10mm taller

shocks:
N140S/N142



Andries will be installing soon so we will have V6 and V8 OME lifts for comparison and review. His will be the first V8 too so it will be interesting. Mine is the same V6 as the 120 so a bit easier to predict the result.

We've been doing alot of brainstorming about fine-tuning the lift and Andries (the measuring king ) will take alot more pics of the install process than I did. It's all straightforward- even the XREAS disconnects went without incident. I'll write up more later.

We will continue to post results and info here so hopefully help others with the choice.

 

Sweet. $800 total for the front and the rear coils? Where do I buy a kit? Should I contact Ben or do you have another one left??

Thanks,

Ken

 

Actually I bought the first set but mine got shipped late for some reason You beat me to it you bastard

Hopefully I will get mine installed this weekend or next week. Waiting for some stuff to compensate for the weight in the front. Will give my impressions once it is on on the V8. FOr those of you with V8s you might want to wait till I'm done to get a feel of what it does.

I would recommend to just contact Ben at Slee Offroad and speak to him to put in a order. He is on leave till next week, so you can only wait (like I have )

Pricing for coils and shocks is about $800 and then add some shipping.

The smart guys among you might want to wait till you have more feedback on what these do on the 4Rs. We will post more feedback on how they perform, but I have had to listen to James brag the whole damn week

Keep the following in mind:
1) It requires XREAS removal, if you dont like that idea maybe just get a spacer lift first and see if it works for you. James and I have gone lots of places with just the Daystarr lifts
2) These coils and shocks were designed for the 120 Prados, which has an extra gas tank in the back and carries the spare on the rear door. They also have the GX body. So compared to the V8 4R the weight distribution is different. Time will tell how to fine tune it for the 4Runner.

The positive side is (according to James offcourse I can only hug mine in the garage every night ). Flex is a lot better, no surprise. Offroad handling is much umproved and bumps are hadnled much better on road. But most important of all the weight carrying capability of the 4R has been improved, by how much will remain to be measured This might ot be important to some of you, but we both got tired of the butt dragging when it was loaded up for a good trip.

I'll shut up now till I get mine on.

 

I got the V8 so I guess I will have to wait and see...... :cry:

 

Are the suspensions the same in Prados and 4th Gen 4Runners?

Here in Spain we haven't 4th gen 4Runners but we have a lot of Prados (Here named only Land Cruiser).

This is the one of a friend of mine:



Did you meant this by "Prado 120"?

This is the Prado 125:



David

 

Plan to upgrade the upper control arms?

 

You guys rock!

True 4th gen. pioneers.......

Please continue to post your finds.

TIA

 

David,
Yes the Prado 120 you pictured is mechanically very similar to the 4th Gen 4Runner.

The Prado 125 is going to the FJ Cruiser

 

Lookin good James! Btw, close up of the suspension would be nice too stinker! O yeah, sorry I didn't call ya back after my nightly run. I forgot.

I'm sure James will be getting some UCA's in the next few months I'd say around Julyish right?

 

Here are a few detail shots installed.
front suspension:



Rear

 

Look so purdy!!!

 

Well I thought to give some more details.

XREAS DE-INSTALLED
This is one thing I didn't want to do really. I liked this unique feature only some 4R's have and it actually works well! But it became apparent that it would not be enough and the whole thing was becoming overwhelmed with the use I intend to do more of.
So getting over that mental hurdle, it became easy to take it out. BUT take it out per factory spec so not to damage anything. So, if I wish, I can re-install XREAS. That option is still open to me- call it an dormant feature now

OME INSTALL
The OME kit installs fine. The usual installation procedure as with a Daystar lift. The springs are SO much heavier duty (in weight and appearance). The front coils I would recommend 4 spring compressors distributed along the coil to get even compression as it is much heavier duty than stock.

Rears pop right in, of course.
The brake lines at the rear seem to have enough slack for the added height but I'm planning to drop the bracket to give a little more slack. the lines just above the pumpkin has a little bracket you can bend a bit to give additional slack too. This is good insurance to do and a really simple thing. I'll add pics when I do it.

XREAS vs OME ride
Well I've been driving around trying to carefully compare for a week.
On road: At slow, pkg lot speeds the OME is softer than XREAS so when you hit a turn-in ramp or speed bump there is no "impact" just absorbs it.
Overall ride is very similar to my Daystar/XREAS. I notice there is more "see-saw" over uneven pavement-which the XREAS system minimized- but this is very minor.
Over rough pavement, there is more controlled absorbtion.
The rear is a tad firm but I am running no cargo right now and honestly, not much different than before.
I would say the XREAS feels 'carlike' while the OME feels like the suspension is doing the work and not transmitting it to the body. Also keep in mind I am riding higher than before so that affects my center of gravity a tad.

Offroad: Well having those springs going to work is going to give great offroad ride and it does. It seems the rougher it gets, the more it shines.

I still feel XREAS/Daystar is a good combination. The concept works. I just feel that I outgrew it.

I am very happy with the OME so far. I think the shocks are valved well and the springs allow great flex and, importantly for me, ability to offroad a heavily laden truck.

I am in contact with ARB on some details on to possibly add to the kit so I'll keep you aprised of what they say. They were interested since this was ground zero for the 4Runner.
Hope that helps

 

I can't get over how affordable it is compared to coilovers. I'm glad we have an complete option priced between spacers and coilovers.


Other than height adjustment (and the ability to rebuild?), what do coilovers offer?

 

hey, looking good...

do you know if the stud spacing on the upper coil mounting plate of the front strut is the same as a 3rd gen or a Tundra? If so, then you can also swap in some extended studs and a top plate spacer to even it out after you add an aftermarket bumper w/ winch. the 3/8" thick spacers that so many have used w/ the Tundra TRD Coils add 1/2" of lift.

 

top plate is different. actually the 4th gen top plate is bigger than the tundra's. also the top plate is symmetrical whereas the taco/tundra/3rd gen is not.

 

OME's are great. For around $800 you get a great suspension setup and you can fine tune to added weight, which is great.

Daystar are great. For around $250 you get the added height needed to offroad and keep the XREAS intact.

Coilovers, while very expensive, are also built very well. They have alot of nice technology built into them, they are made for desert running I think? So they are firmer and wont bottom out at high speed.
I have seen the inner workings of it, but never used them so can't really have an opinion (except to say Hoes are extremely well made and technically impressive in person).

I think at this point, lots of options for us 4th gens is good. You can choose what's right for you, just so long as we have choices
- and GOOD choices, not some half-baked, sloppy setup that is worse than stock.
Please think of "building up" your truck or doing quality mods, instead of "damage control"!

Andy,
I am not concerned with the spacer yet as it's just perfect now for me. Andries is looking into something that he will post up with his install since the V8 is heavier in the nose.

You can add up to 10mm of trim packers in the front of the OME's for a tad more lift or leveling the ride side-to-side. So I figure some future top spacer or add 5mm of trim packers later but right now, it's golden.

I like your suggestion tho, the top spacer wont preload the spring so I'm all in favor of that.

 

I know that firstoy already unloaded his spacers, but now you have me thinking bulldog....if you install the ome's, you are gonna have a spacer kit just sitting around huh? If that is the case and you decide to sell i might just have to put her a bit higher in the air before new tires/wheels. Damn tax return burning a hole in my pocket.

 

Hmmm.... think I have my lift solution ! OME heavy lift/shocks with the daystar top spacers. That should give me about 4" of lift. Include some TC UCAs and I should be set for less than $2k.

Just need to wait to hear on Andries V8 performance... tick, tock, tick, tock....

Steve

 

that looks great, FT!

 

Great work!!

From all of us hydraulically challenged, "Thanks"

James, what are your current measurements? (of your truck)


Doug M.