Ok my install target is 22hrs and counting I have the ability to pick up a brand new Branick 7400 for 625 by days end... Blink is it worth it? Once you own a tool like that you never get it up the pooper from some service place to do your struts... but if I were to just have it done in a shop (trust issues) I could always hold out for a used one... Did I tell you my dealership wanted $700 to put it in? may be the last time they ever see me again.

Dizzamn, $700 huh. Thats ok, the Local Sears quoted some BS price of something around $150 PER strut to assemble. I laughed in the guys face and reiterated that I just wanted the strut assembled, out of the car, no parts removal necessary. "uhh, well, the mechanic said $150 each..." . I told him I guess they use the title Mechanic pretty loosely around here. Jokers. Even PepBoys was only $50 per but relatively speaking they were much further away (2 miles to PB vs .5 miles to Sears) and couldn't fit it in for a few days. Plus that was previous to my knowledge of the proper alignment of the parts.

Is the Branick worth it, naw. But neither is my Diesel/Electric steam pressure washer I bought before I was married. I've used the Branick less than a handful of times since I bought it between my neighbors cars and mine. But looking back, if I had purchased one a few years prior I could have used it maybe 8-10 times total. In the long run its a ridiculously awesome tool that will not loose much value unless you can figure out a way to destroy it or struts change design. I'm sure I'll use it in the future as my Sentra is rounding 50k miles finally and I'm sure the struts on it will be worn out in short order.

I say buy it as your not one of those weenies who's afraid of a little grease and grime!

So did you do it or what?

Waiting on the delivery of the Branick
It arrives Thursday.
I'm shooting for Friday am maybe pm, haven't had too much juice after I've been getting out of work lately.

OME-OMFG
Firstly Blink, my hats off to you for being the first one to do the OME and doing it yourself. After doing my OME off the floor like you did I have a new respect for you (and some seriously sore hands from the lack of air tools)
Also NV Steve: Thanks if it wasn't for your post I wouldn't have known the washers that came with the kit were for under the dustcover and not under the top nut.

It took 7hrs counting 2 lunch breaks and an unscheduled tool replacement run (hulk snap 3/8" head off socket wrench). Man was it worth it... At first I was speachless, for once I thought I wouldn't bean myself with the rear hatch, but unfortunately it has settled to the point where my nugget is still in danger.

I'm totally with Blink on the point that I wouldn't suggest anyone attempt the front coilovers without the use of a Branick 7400 or similar strut press (and a plumb bob). Once you secure one of those babys the fronts are the easy part. The rear springs were the real PIA as far as finessing the new rear springs up and lining up the front and rear lower links with the jack. I found the spring compressors I rented to be unnecessary. I definately need an alignment pronto. The camber is visually off and it lead to a scary situation on the highway driving through some really wet conditions after the install was completed.

The truck is a joy to drive now even with the alignment off it saved my butt at the very least $500. I was out Saturday in the monsoon driving through Farmington, a reasonably affluent community (50cent is selling his house which previously belonged to Mike Tyson for 18.5m). I was hustling to get through an intersection when a Deville just up and starts taking a left directly into my path (no pun intended). Now I know My Path, I've put 47k on it I've had these tires for 17k and I've been down that road when it has been wet 100 times. I can say without any doubt that if I had been going through that intersection with my stock suspension in those conditions and speed my VDC would have kicked in ABS would have jackhammered my foot up untill the point I slid through the front passenger side quarter panel of that sandstone GM turd. Instead no nose dive, no drama, just the slightest 3 pulses from the ABS and stop so far away from that caddy that my girlfriend and I just stared at each other for a second slack jawed.

I think the ride is just perfect. It rolls down the road with the athourity of a vehicle twice it's price and eats up potholes and expansion joints on corners that would jiggle the OEM pogos and leave a hershey kiss in ones skimmys. I have to say the OME is the best money I have spent so far on my Path.

Nice. Congrats. And as a bonus now when ever you do any strut it will be a 5 minute affair. No more jacking around with hand-held spring compressors.

Now to wait for pictures.

Fofiddy,

I know you've been kind of cranky about your LT tires in the past-has it now improved with the OME? Sounds like it was a fairly painless install, which is great to hear.

Yes, pics are needed.

Foxdiddy and others:
Thanks for all the info on the OME suspension. I am planning to get it in late spring/early summer -as soon as I can get the budget approved .

Foxdiddy - I may have missed it, but what springs did you get in the front/back (medium, HD, etc) ?

Thanks

Sorry Fofiddy (not Foxdiddy !) My first post, and I screw it up...

Blink- Oddly enough I can't wait to take care of the front struts on the girl's Yetta. Plus I have a line of people now that want to rent it from me or pay me to do theirs... Pics are coming, haven't had a chance to get it alligned so I haven't dared takeing it to someplace I'd waste flash storage on. I hear were in for some AM snow hopefully enough to make for some nice scenery this AM.

NVSteve- As of this moment pissing and moaning over the tires is suspended barring gettin lined up (positive camber)and some highspeed dry and wet testing. Potholes no longer make the cabin shudder or upset the balance . The install was painless if you discount sore legs from what feel like doing 1000 squats. But yeah I'm surprised no busted knuckles or spring scares, definately investing in a lift in the future.

Pdslug- I went with the medium springs on all 4 corners because at the time I was under the impression that I'd never get a shrockworks bumper.
Now that I have the OME on and the ride is that much better over the non OR suspension I'm considering hanging on to the path a little longer.
HD's in the rear are if you carry alot of weight in the rear at all times like a compressor and tools, or tow alot. The HD in the front same thing: plows, steel shrockwork/arb style Bull bars and what not.

OK so here is a little before and after with my Path:

3/4:
Before

After



Profile:
Before

After


I'll post more when I have the time for some action shots (after my 4 wheel alignment) OH there will be action shots.

Oh and here is my new favorite toy (use OME strut in background for scale):

Don't worry those adjustables were there for the 8mm on the top of the strut/shock rod. Right tool for the right job harrumph harrumph.

Fofiddy, that is a sweet piece of machinery. The truck looks better too. It sounds like you have plenty of friends to use your new toy. Plus it will store nicely in a corner when not in use.

Nice stuff.

I ended up mounting mine out in the shed. Further walk than the garage but no wall space left in there forced my hand.

This is a great thread with excellent information, thanks all for taking the time to post the details, great photos Fofiddy.

Steve as you started with an OR suspension and I see that you got some additional body height /wheel clearance what OME spring stiffness did you install, ie: light, medium or heavy and did you see an improvement from stock OR suspension in handling or do you experience less offroad pothole pounding transfered to the cabin?

Before installing the OME kit have any looked at replacing the front struts /springs with Nissan heavier duty 08V8 front struts /springs and the rear springs with OR or 08V8, or does some additional spring travel or height of the OME setup add something to the mix. Thanks.

these were taken in Ash Meadows before i put the yoko's on. gives a little scale of OME vs OEM (they aren't the greatest, but i was in a hurry...my truck is the blue one )