Daystar top plate on 927s/bilsteins *UPDATE*

At The Helm · **Posted:** Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:08 pm

So last week i installed the ome 927s and bilsteins. I used the daystar top plates i already had, but now i'm second guessing myself, or maybe i'm overthinking this. My two concerns are:
1. Is there enough preload on the springs using the drop plate/stock length shocks? I definetely had to compress the springs to assemble them, so they weren't slack or anything when installed, but i'm unclear on what a good amount of preload is. I did try to use the stock plates first, but when i backed off my compressors, the spaces between the coils were so tight that i couldn't get my compressor's jaws out! Being somewhat in a bind, i decided to compress them again and try using the daystar plates so the springs wouldn't be so squished inside the shock and i would be able to remove my compressors, so thats what i did.
My second concern is the amount of upward travel i have. Looking at the shock with the wheels planted on a level suface, there is about 2 1/4" of the shock's rod exposed (between the mounting washer and the top of the shock can). It looks like the washer would contact the shock body before my extended bumpstop would hit the uca. I'm having a hard time telling if that would change if i use stock top plates or not. Here's a pic to show what i am talking about:

Tell me what you guys think. Is it a bad idea to keep running the daystar plates or am i fine running it the way it sits. I don't want to disassemble everything again if i don't have to.

tonycrd · **Posted:** Wed Oct 19, 2011 2:13 pm

I tried this on a buddies KJ CRD....the OME shocks died after 6 months.

Since you have little pre-load on the springs, the JEEP starts to bounce. (like a 70's Caddy) Making your shocks work way harder. Get rid of the Daystars. Use the OEM plate. :2cents:

At The Helm · **Posted:** Wed Oct 19, 2011 4:37 pm

Well it doesn't bounce around like a 70's caddy, but i've only had it on for a week, so the springs aren't broken it yet. Call me crazy, but in my opinion it still rides similar to daystar with 13k miles on it- rough.

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Oct 19, 2011 5:02 pm

Get rid of the daystar top plate before you blow the front shocks, only take two or three good hits and then guess what.....yep new shocks AGAIN!

At The Helm · **Posted:** Wed Oct 19, 2011 5:22 pm

looks like i'm taking it apart again.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Wed Oct 19, 2011 9:11 pm

and get a better spring compressor

Wall mount at a shop is best

but this worked too
Ampro T70570 from Autozone $40

http://www.amprotools.net/product_list.aspx?productid=754&partnerid=32&categoryid=5&mode=show

At The Helm · **Posted:** Tue Oct 25, 2011 11:02 pm

So i today i swapped back to my oem plates, took off the 3/8" top plate, but added 2 conduit nuts. I for sure thought this set up would give me less lift because the springs are way more compressed inside the shocks. Comparing the assemblies side by side, there was about a 1" difference (shorter with oem plates). It ended up giving me another 1/2" of lift for some reason. I was at 21.5" driver and 22" passenger with the daystar plates, now i'm at 22"/22.5"
I'm now thinking that the first inch or so of compression on 400lb springs takes a lot less pressure than the second inch or so, thus giving me more lift because the springs aren't compressing as much under the weight of the truck.
Any thoughts?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 25, 2011 11:12 pm

Atthehelm wrote:

So i today i swapped back to my oem plates, took off the 3/8" top plate, but added 2 conduit nuts. I for sure thought this set up would give me less lift because the springs are way more compressed inside the shocks. Comparing the assemblies side by side, there was about a 1" difference (shorter with oem plates). It ended up giving me another 1/2" of lift for some reason. I was at 21.5" driver and 22" passenger with the daystar plates, now i'm at 22"/22.5"
I'm now thinking that the first inch or so of compression on 400lb springs takes a lot less pressure than the second inch or so, thus giving me more lift because the springs aren't compressing as much under the weight of the truck.
Any thoughts?

The OME coils are linear,means that if there rated at 400lbs it takes 400lbs of weight to compress them 1",800lbs to compress them 2",and so on.You now are "pre-loading" the coils correctly but since you are on the lighter side your not heavy enough to drop to the advertized hieght.

At The Helm · **Posted:** Tue Oct 25, 2011 11:39 pm

So properly preloading the springs actually gave me more lift compared to not preloading them enough?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 25, 2011 11:46 pm

Atthehelm wrote:

So properly preloading the springs actually gave me more lift compared to not preloading them enough?

Yes

At The Helm · **Posted:** Wed Oct 26, 2011 12:12 am

Thanks

Side note: to get the compressor's jaws out of the springs, all i had to do was completely remove the bolt and they fall right out. I can't beleive I didn't think to do that the first time :banghead:

Daystar top plate on 927s/bilsteins UPDATE

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