OME Suspension Upgrade FINISHED

Topics relating to Lift Kits, Suspension, Steering...

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NVSteve
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Postby NVSteve » Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:08 am

I started digging around a bit to see if anyone local to me would carry any of the OME parts. I blindly stumbled across a company called Rocky Road Outfitters, who happen to be a very large company a short drive away. No mention on their site about the OME suspension for the 2005+ Pathfinders (like everyone else), but I'm hoping they will respond to a pricing inquiry I sent.

I also saw that they fabricate their own rockrails/sliders for various vehicles. Since I have always detested running boards & cheap side steps, it got my attention. Especially the part where they offer to let you have free sliders if they can borrow your vehicle for a few days to design & fit. I don't have that kind of luck, but still... I sent them an inquiry about their "deal" as well, so who knows? Here's a link to the page in question: http://www.rocky-road.com/rockrail.html

It doesn't look like they do any installations at their building, although I could be wrong. From a quick search of their company name on the net, it appears they are highly regarded.


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blink32
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Postby blink32 » Thu Feb 15, 2007 11:42 am

I agree about the highly regarded part. I searched on them as well and found good info. I contacted them via e-mail as well, conversed with a Ted White. I ended up not going with them because a more local company got back to me with shipping information when Rocky Road did not. But they were quick on answers and what not in the beginning.

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NVSteve
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Postby NVSteve » Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:23 am

Now that you've had a few days to let everything settle & get some driving impressions, what are your thoughts? How is the ride now?

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blink32
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Postby blink32 » Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:49 am

it takes obstacles at speed nicely. I barrel over speed bumps and up curbs and what not with out issue. Smaller ruts and what not at slow speed translate to harder bounces as I expected from a stiffer suspension. I've only driven it a total of 4 times since I finished the lift (to and from work twice). I have zero complaints as of yet. Body roll is still there but a bit more managed by the stiffness even though I'm higher up now.

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Fofiddy
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Postby Fofiddy » Fri Feb 16, 2007 1:51 pm

So the ride quality is a little harsher cruising with the big tires when it comes to rough surfaces, (poor paving, frost heaves)?

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rragpaoa
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Postby rragpaoa » Fri Feb 16, 2007 2:48 pm

Well, I originally ordered my OME set via a local shop and they screwed up on the order. Although I did specify the part no, they still recieved the 99-04 version of set. Aaaagh! Anyway, got my money back and ordered it through 4x4connection as blink had recommended. Thought I could save a little on shipping, but the local shop charged me for shipping anyway.

Well, as stated earlier in this post, 4x4Connection was very helpful and courteous. And ... I still save about 150 bucks overall including shipping.

Once I get mine, I will go through the install process and post my experience. I will have my local shop install the springs into the struts. They said they will do it for $50, so they were useful for something.

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blink32
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Postby blink32 » Fri Feb 16, 2007 7:14 pm

Fofiddy wrote:So the ride quality is a little harsher cruising with the big tires when it comes to rough surfaces, (poor paving, frost heaves)?
I definitely notice more bump steer and following when traveling through cupped roadways. Going from smooth to rough back to smooth (ice/snow piles) is interesting, but controlled.

One thing I noticed is with these tires I was hammering off from a stop and down the road, etc, without the VDC hardly ever kicking in. When I put it in 4wd Hi I left everyone in the proverbial dust including other 4wd suv's without even trying.

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blink32
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Postby blink32 » Fri Feb 16, 2007 7:19 pm

ragpaoa wrote:Thought I could save a little on shipping, but the local shop charged me for shipping anyway.
I hit that same issue. I was all for giving the local (is 2hrs away local?) guy my business to support the small business man but after an already higher list price, shipping, tax + the rediculous drive it would be (horrible 2 lane local road that should be a 4 lane interstate) it wasn't worth it.

I'm glad I'm not the only one with a decent experience with 4x4conn. Let us know how it all goes. I'm eager to hear someone elses impressions.

Thats awesome that the local shop will do it for $50. Will save you a lot of mess. And if they line it up correctly how I described it will drop right in for you. No muss no fuss. Good luck and keep us posted!

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NVSteve
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Postby NVSteve » Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:06 pm

Blink,

I'm more curious as to the driving behavior now, so if you happen to notice something nice/bad whilst driving, please post your findings.

Also, when you say the suspension feels stiff now, would you say that it's as bad as, say, Jeep stiff? The only Wrangler I ever rode in on the street, which happened to have a lift, made me want to vomit after a couple of miles. Talk about a jarring experience. Off road isn't so bad, but you need to be on paved road before you can get off road.

I look forward to more reports & hopefully more pictures. That includes everyone who will be installing the lift!

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blink32
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Postby blink32 » Sat Feb 17, 2007 8:55 am

NVSteve wrote:You say that it's as bad as, say, Jeep stiff?
Not stiff like 1 ton pickup with no load or poorly chosen lift stiff. But not the stock cushy floaty ride. Closer to how I feel a 1/2 ton pickup rides. You know your not in a car, but its not horrible. Which is how I expected the ride to be. If I get off road sometime I'll let you know how it goes.

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Fofiddy
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Postby Fofiddy » Sat Feb 17, 2007 9:24 pm

Hey blink, are those LT or P tires? What are you running for PSI?
Those must be bout 32.7"? did you notice/lose some ride quality when you went to that size? Did the OME give anything back?
My new 31.6"s are beating me up and I'm trying to make a decision before my window to swap tires closes.

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blink32
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Postby blink32 » Sat Feb 17, 2007 9:35 pm

I got the LT rated ones. Keep them at 36 psi pretty religously and you got it at the 32.7. I didn't notice any loss of ride quality or anything but I did notice more bump steer and the tendancy for the tires to follow ruts and cupping in the road more because of the increased width.

If I were to do it all over again, I'd try one size smaller to eliminate a minor rubbing issue I still have. The fronts barely catch the front mud flap bumper gaurd dealie during certain turns. I'm not sure if I'm going to deal with it or trim teh gaurds later.

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Fofiddy
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Postby Fofiddy » Sat Feb 17, 2007 11:13 pm

blink32 wrote:I did notice more bump steer and the tendancy for the tires to follow ruts and cupping in the road more because of the increased width.
This is after going with the OME or with the tires?

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Simon B
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Postby Simon B » Sun Feb 18, 2007 12:54 am

blink32 wrote: If I were to do it all over again, I'd try one size smaller to eliminate a minor rubbing issue I still have. The fronts barely catch the front mud flap bumper gaurd dealie during certain turns. I'm not sure if I'm going to deal with it or trim teh gaurds later.
Hi Blink,

I'm keen to get the same set up you're running as I do a lot of driving on sand and the extra tire width would be good as well as gaining a bit of lift. Is the rubbing something you think you could stop by removing/trimming the mud flaps or is it rubbing on the wheelarch liner? Any advice/photos you could provide would be appreciated, thanks.

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blink32
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Postby blink32 » Sun Feb 18, 2007 6:51 am

Simon B wrote:Is the rubbing something you think you could stop by removing/trimming the mud flaps or is it rubbing on the wheelarch liner? Any advice/photos you could provide would be appreciated
You can see all the pictures at THIS LINK that show detailed distances between the tire and the front guard on the front bumper/wheel well.

You could remove the front guard deal. I'm pretty sure it's not rubbing on the actual mud flap (the one on the rear of the front wheel wells), it rubs on the outer edges of the small piece mounted below the front bumper. Lower air dam I guess this is. Either way it BARELY catches and it would be easily remedied by trimming and inch or less of the insides of the flap.


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