Getting an ome fj cruiser setup set up has become the single best thing I've carried out for my rig's handling and stance. If you've invested any time traveling an investment FJ, you know exactly what I'm talking about—that "boat-like" feeling once you strike a corner or the way the nose dives every time you even believe about touching the particular brakes. It's the great vehicle best out of the particular box, don't get me wrong, yet the factory suspension system is definitely fine-tined more for ease and comfort on the sidewalk than for carrying gear to the middle of nowhere.
Old Man Emu, or OME as most of us call it, has fundamentally become the precious metal standard for FJ owners who would like a good start that really performs. It's not really just about searching cool in the particular parking lot, though a two-inch lift does wonders with regard to the FJ's figure. It's about how exactly the truck behaves whenever you've first got it loaded down having a fridge, a rooftop tent, and enough recuperation gear to pull the tank away from the ditch.
Exactly why People Swear by Aged Man Emu
You can't actually talk about Toyota 4x4s without ARB and their Old Man Emu series coming up. They've been testing this stuff in the Foreign Outback for decades, and if a suspension can survive the corrugated highways and heat down there, it's going to handle the local fire roads just fine. The philosophy at the rear of an ome fj cruiser construct is a little bit different from your average "puck lift" or cheap spacer kit. Instead of just shoving a piece of plastic on your factory struts, you're replacing the particular entire system with components designed to work together.
The greatest draw is the particular customization. OME doesn't just sell one particular single "FJ Cruiser Kit. " They will give you choices depending upon how much pounds you're actually having. If you've got great steel fender and a 12, 000-pound winch on the front, you need a various spring rate compared to the guy who's keeping his front stock. That's the advantage of it—you can tailor the ride to your specific build so it doesn't feel such as a pogo stick or even a brick.
Choosing the best Spring Price
This is definitely where a lot of people get tripped up. When you're looking with an ome fj cruiser package, you'll see options for "Light Fill, " "Medium Insert, " and "Heavy Load. " It's tempting in order to proceed for the "Heavy" because it sounds tougher, but when you don't actually have the weight to compress those springs, your trip quality is going to be fairly harsh. Your FJ will bounce more than speed bumps including it's made of solid lead.
Intended for most people who else are only starting out, the Medium Load springs are the sweet spot. They provide you a good 2-inch to 2. 5-inch lift and may deal with a bit associated with extra gear with no sagging. But in case you've already additional a rear swing-out tire carrier and a heavy entrance bar, you'll certainly want those Weighty springs. It's all about balance. I've observed guys mix plus match, too—maybe Large in the top to support a winch and Moderate within the back due to the fact they travel light. That flexibility will be why OME stays so popular.
The Nitrocharger Difference
The heart of the ome fj cruiser suspension is the Nitrocharger Sport surprise. These aren't fancy remote-reservoir shocks that will cost as significantly as an utilized sedan, but they're incredibly durable. Each uses a twin-tube design that's built to handle the temperature buildup that happens whenever you're washboarding lower a desert trail for three hrs straight.
What I personally love about them is the valving. It's firm. You'll notice the difference the second you pull out there of the driveway. The "mushy" feel of the Toyota factory shocks is gone. Instead, the truck feels grown. When you take a sharp turn, there's way less body roll. It makes the FJ sense similar to a contemporary SUV and a great deal less like a 1971s Cadillac.
Let's Talk About the "FJ Lean"
If you've owned an FJ for over a week, you've probably noticed it: the driver's part sits just a tiny bit less than the passenger side. It's nicknamed the "FJ Lean. " It happens due to the fact the fuel tank as well as the battery (and the driver) are all on the same part. When you set up an ome fj cruiser lift, you have a chance to finally fix this.
Most kits come with a small spacer or perhaps a specific trim packer for the top left strut. It's a tiny piece associated with hardware, but guy, it makes a positive change when you're looking at your truck through behind. It's those little details that OME gets right because they've been studying these specific Toyota platforms with regard to so long.
Installation and What to Watch Out there For
Placing an ome fj cruiser kit on isn't the hardest job in the world, yet it's definitely the weekend project when you're doing it in your front yard. You're going in order to need a good ground jack, some durable jack stands, plus probably a massive breaker bar for all those persistent lower strut bolts.
One particular thing you shouldn't skip is the Upper Control Hands (UCAs). While a person can obtain away with share arms on a 2-inch OME raise, your alignment tech is going to have the hard time obtaining the caster back again into spec. In case your caster is off, the steering may feel a bit "darty" at freeway speeds. If you have the budget, throwing in a pair of aftermarket UCAs at the particular same time as the lift will make the truck travel much better. Plus, you'll have more clearance intended for larger tires.
Tire Clearance After the Lift
Speaking of tires, that's usually exactly why we do this to begin with, right? Once the ome fj cruiser kit is on, you can comfortably match 285/70R17s (which are basically 33s) with little drama. You may still have to do a "Body Support Chop" if you're using wheels with a weird offset or if you're going for a really aggressive tread, but the lift gives you that will extra room in the wheel wells to actually allow suspension cycle with no rubbing every period you hit the bump.
On-Road vs. Off-Road Functionality
It's easy to focus only on the all-terrain stuff, but let's be real: most of us spend 90% of our own time on the pavement. The cool thing about the ome fj cruiser setup will be that it doesn't ruin the everyday drive. In truth, I'd argue it improves it. The truck feels more controlled. Gusts of wind upon the highway don't blow you about quite as very much, and the braking system feel is considerably improved because the weight isn't shifting forward so violently.
Once a person air down plus hit the grime, that's once the Nitrochargers really awaken. They soak up the small chatter incredibly well. You can have a bit more speed by means of the rough stuff without feeling such as the interior trim is going to vibrate off. It's a very foreseeable suspension. It doesn't do anything odd or unexpected when you're articulated on a technical trail.
Is It Well worth the cash?
There are definitely less expensive ways to raise an FJ, plus there are way more expensive ways. You could fall five grand on the racing setup with bypass shocks and reservoirs, but unless of course you're planning on jumping your truck in Baja, that's usually overkill. Intended for the average weekend break warrior, the ome fj cruiser kit could be the "sweet spot" of value and performance.
It's a "set it and forget about it" kind of update. You set it up, get it aligned, after which you don't really have to think about it for the next 50, 000 to 100, 000 kilometers. It's reliable, it's rebuildable in a few cases, and it's backed by a company that actually replies the phone if you have something.
At the end of the day, the FJ Cruiser is a specific tool, and offering it an appropriate suspension just makes that tool more effective. Whether or not you're hauling the particular kids to college through a snowstorm or navigating a rocky pass in Colorado, having that will extra clearance and weight capacity can make the whole experience a lot even more enjoyable. If you're around the fence about which lift to get, you really can't go wrong using the OME setup. It just works.