Bushing install?

moab762 wrote:

OME itself does not really have a web presence. It appears to me that ARB must have bought them. ARB did produce a YouTube video about the lift. But there is little to know information in their site or customer service about the Jimny OME lift. 
 

ARB has owned OME for as long as I can remember, and I've been using product from both for about fifteen years or so.

I have installed a number of castor correction bushes and there was never any question of machining the outer tube of a Metalastik joint to aid fitting.
You clean out the rust and any high spots with a rotary flap disc, apply a thin film of lubricant to either the control arm or joint and force/pull them together. Orientation is the key. It is meant to be tight. If you reduce the thickness of the steel ring you weaken it and it might collapse when you fit it.

Roger

I'm not as up on their ownership. I researched a lift for my Jeep TJ and was only considering the OME.

But when I started looking for the lift for my Jimny. I was surprised by how little information there was online from both OME and ARB. I assumed I would be able to at least see a soec sheet or installation instructions online. But found neither. And then gotta "we can't help you" from ARBs email support. Which I found shocking. Like I said I have always had a very high opinion and image of ARB and even higher of OME.

I expressed my disasifaction with the very intelligent email support person. But his attitude was sort we can't help you and I have no one to refer you too.

It didn't stop me from finding and using the OME lift. It's obviously the best lift for what I wanted - better in road ride performance and marginal off road improvement. I wasn't looking for additional clearance so much as I just wanted a better driving experience. I do drive in terrible roads frequently. And there are often floods and washouts and other dangers here. But this is not a dedicated off road vehicle. This is my daily driver in a third world country with questionable roads and the Hugh potential for an emergency situation. Where 4x4 and off road capability really separates your ability to get around from a standard non 4x4 truck or car.

I knew I was most likely going to add this lift before I even bought the car. But after 2 months if driving in uneven, windey(sp?), bumpy roads with swales and other unusual surfaces. The light nature of the stock suspension leaves alot to be desired. There is alot of back and forth and side to side motion. After 30 or 40 minutes of driving here your torso and guts begin to feel it. Compensating for all the jolting and movement. Just sitting in the Jimny I can Rick the body side to side pretty well. Just from moving left to right quickly a few times.

I think the short wheelbase creates a situation where the stock springs and shocks had not completely responded and recovered from a bump - by time the rear wheels hut the same bump and started their own process. Which leads to a bounce Or awkward side to side roll if one tire hits the bump deeper.

So my goals are not overwhelming off road clearance and performance. As much as just better driving characteristics in general. Which I think are pretty realistic.

I should be able to pick it up today. Excited to see how it handles.

I agree with everything you've said. That is the procedure I would have followed were I in my own shop in the US with my 50 ton press.

But the difference was 1.6mm. I measured both myself with calipers as did the head machinist in front of me. Something would have broke with that much difference. The rubber would have torn from the outer ring, or crushed, who knows. I've never tried to press anything into a metal hole with that much difference. Nor would I want too.

The machine shop did follow proper procedure in pressing it. They machined the outer ring in the bushings, cleaned up the channels in the control arms and used lube to press. The press job was clean. I inspected them myself. Nothing misaligned or not properly seated.

The only question is what the smaller thickness of the outer ring in the bushings might lead too.

But again, I would rather reduce the bushings that machine material from the control arm. It's alot easier to replace bushings than a control arm. And if you further opened up the ID on the control arms your forever required to use oversized bushings.

I also had logistical problems. The Jimny was on the lift. The lift was half installed. And I am several islands away from the distributor. So driving across town to pick up new bushings was not going to happen. And kes inf the car in the lift for 2 weeks while I wait for new bushings wasn't an option either. Even finding a different but suitibaly sized bushing was very unlikely as well. I'm in a town if 120k people. But you'd be amazed at what you can't find here product wise. Finding correct sized bushings was a fever dream. Lol.

I'll keep an eye on them. And probably eventually have them replaced. Sooner than later.

Thank you for the contact info. When I go to replace these bushings I will give them a try.

I agree about any noticeable damage to the bushings. It would be very obvious. I wish I had taken a pic of the machined bushings installed.

Again this could very well be because I'm in the Phillipines. Who knows what stock they get? I doubt this is a knock off. As I was referred to them by ARB. They are a legit distributor.

I will report back later today after I pick it up and drive it. And give it a once over.

I'm not getting email notification of replies. How do I set that? I just changed subscription in settings to yes. It was set to default. Nit really clear how you sign up for email notifications.