I have a question for Old Man Emu suspension system owners. I am 3/4's finished with such an upgrade to my 2004 Libby. At this time all that is left is to order rear shocks and install them. All four springs have been installed and OME front struts, the later done by a very trusted dealership service department. The vehicle had an alignment done too.

At this time I am displeased with one change in ride character. When coming to a stop, the nose will dive more than expected, and once stopped will raise back up very noticeably. This gives the Libby a marshmallow or 'boat' impression, which is not good. It is not as bad as a bobble-head doll, so I know the front shocks are at least there. Other aspects of a lifted vehicle I am used to (I have two other 'lifted' Jeeps, both with OME springs but not OME shocks), but this new 'diving' bothers me.

I don't know yet which of the following issues may be to blame, or whether I am missing something;
1) I chose 'mild' duty front OME springs here and they are too weak.
2) The OME strut has too weak a shock in it.
3) This is just how an IFS Jeep responds to the added front travel.
4) The mismatch between front OME and rear OEM shocks is causing misbehavior.

What do you OME suspension owners think is going on here? I hesitate to get potentially 'weak' OME rear shocks if there is a chance they will cause even more wobble. And switching to medium duty front springs at this point could be a very expensive (labor wise) experiment.

OTHER DETAIL: The Libby is nicely 'balanced" visually with the OME suspension system installed. I like it. And I like the mild lift it afforded; it is just what I wanted. I haven't bought the rear shocks yet because I wanted to see how the front fared. The diving problem was NOT present when I was driving around a bit with just the rear OME springs and a temporary front clevis lift, which was the first thing I put on. The clevis lift was removed when the OME struts went in. The vehicle has been driven for a month after the front OME lift, so it should be settled in. I have a gas engine, 6 cyl, with HD Cooling/Tow package and four armor plates with rockrails. Since I don't have an ARB bumper (requiring 'medium' duty OME springs) or an ARB Bumper and winch (requiring 'heavy' duty OME springs) I chose the recommended 'mild' duty springs that OME recommended. I feared causing a harshness in place of a previously very comfortable stock ride. I do have meduim duty rear springs to support towing and a loaded rack.

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Daddio
L.O.S.T. #000532 Chicagoland
2004 khaki Liberty Sport, 6 cyl Auto, 4 armor plates, AT/S tires or MT/R's, hooks, H/D cooling/towing, Yakima/Thule rack system, rockrails, HiLift jack, Old Man Emu full suspension, etc.

I'm thinking it's the mild springs. You really need at least medium or heavy duty for the weight of the liberty. That initial bounce is the front spring compressing when the 2 ton Jeep shifts its weight forward on a stop. It's not the shocks job to prevent the spring from compressing, the shock is just there to prevent the shock from bouncing a lot.

Just out of curiosity, where did you see OME recommending Mild-Duty springs? I only see Medium and Heavy as options for sale on rocky road, and heavy is recommended for ARB and CRD users.

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Jeff 2005 Jeep Liberty Renegade
4x4, 6spd, Leather, Sunroof, trak-loc, skids/rails, hitch+shackle, hooks, Alpine/iPod, Thule, GPS, CB, Frankenlifted w/ 31" MTRs
Photos Cardomain

Rocky-Road was selling three types of front springs;
#OME925 Mild (stock)
#OME926 Medium (ARB bull bar)
#OME927 Heavy (ARB bull bar plus winch)

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Daddio
L.O.S.T. #000532 Chicagoland
2004 khaki Liberty Sport, 6 cyl Auto, 4 armor plates, AT/S tires or MT/R's, hooks, H/D cooling/towing, Yakima/Thule rack system, rockrails, HiLift jack, Old Man Emu full suspension, etc.

They may sell all three, but I dont think anyone would ever want the mild springs. I have the heavy duty ones, and that's w/o ARB or winch, and love the nice stiff ride.

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-nate
LOST#NL068123 - 2005 Renegade 3.7L 4x4, Off-Road Package, Rock Rails, Skids, Command-Trac, Trac-Loc LSD, Light Bar, K&N Drop in Filter, AMSOIL LUBES, RRO's Diff Guard for 8.25", Frankenlift, & Goodyear MT/R's
Cardomain

Ahh, I just did a google search just now for "OME KJ Spring" and got the following page as the first link:

http://www.rocky-road.com/kjome.html

I see that for strut it only lets you pick Medium and Heavy, but for the spring, you pick based on their recommendation (Stock, Bull Bar, or Bull Bar with Winch which correspond to Light, Medium and Heavy).

I would still say that the light springs are to blame for the behavior you are seeing, though. Have you talked with Rocky Road any about it?

As a side-note, I'd say that with the popularity of the Frankenlift, most people on here who have an OME front spring have it as part of the FL, and as such, they have the Heavy coil.

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Jeff 2005 Jeep Liberty Renegade
4x4, 6spd, Leather, Sunroof, trak-loc, skids/rails, hitch+shackle, hooks, Alpine/iPod, Thule, GPS, CB, Frankenlifted w/ 31" MTRs
Photos Cardomain

I have the full OME lift. HD rear springs, MED front springs(926 is what it said on the coil over, dont know if that goes for the spring also or what?), rear OME shocks, full mopar skids. My jeep does the SAME thing!! I notice it even more when pulling into a parking place or going real slow.

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LOST KJ'S
Where are you going???
Current Jeep: 2004 Jeep Liberty
-Atlantic Blue
-Air Ride Rear Suspension ; OME/Rustys Lift ; Powertrax Locker ; Moog Lower Ball-Joints ; 245/70/16 Yokohama Geolander A/T-S's on MOABS ; Flowmaster 50 SUV
Lost #007082
http://www.cardomain.com/id/jeepjeepster

i have 926 front springs with Rancho RSX front struts and i feel the front is too stiff at times, with the OME light dudty coils and rancho rear shocks, will probably change to the medium duty rears though

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http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/742957
aussie KJ Lost No#150605
3" OME lift + Rancho RS9000xl's front and rear
prototype Airflow snorkel
Magnaflow cat back
265/70R16 Hankook MTRT03 on MOABS baby
4.10's and a truetrac up front
super skinks
coming soon
a myride wireless controller

I have the Rockfather 1 kit from Rocky Road which has the Old Man Emu springs on it. When I purchased it there were only 2 options, with or without a winch. I don't have a winch. I am very pleased with the setup. I have to agree with the others that the light spring rate is causing your dipping.

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Happy Trails,
Steve

04 Liberty Ltd.
Factory skids and added trans skid
Rockfather 1 lift
Powertrax locker
31 inch BFG All-Terrain T/A
Wilderness roof rack

I went with the 927s (Heavy duty) because I have an ARB bumper waiting to go on plus I wanted it to ride a little bit stiff. Mine ,with Rancho struts on though, does not nose dive, is not too hard out on the road, as a matter of fact it rides so good now that I am afraid that when I put the ARB on I will not like it.
I would really switch out those light duty as that is what is giving you the problem, all that weight coming forward then the strut pushing it back up because the springs could not hold it.

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MUDD'S MOTORSPORT'S We do IFS lift installs ,
03 OVERLAND EDITION /Kilby-Skidrow-Mopar-4XGuard skids/ 2.5 inch TOTAL CONTROL JBA coilovers -JBA Arms/MOABS-31 FALKEN WILDPEAK AT3W / 4.10's etc, 04 Kilimanjaro Edition loaded, plus 05 KJ limited

I just put the same OME spring/struet set up on my 2005 liberty. I have the medium duty springs, with the OME nitro charger struts. I also find a bit of diving in the front of the liberty while braking, but I just thought that's what a lifted SUV was like (this is my first one). Here's a question: did you put in the "thin strut spacer" that's available to bring the lift up to a full 2.5", or do you just have the springs? How much lift did you get out of it?

I agree, the dive is only noticable going very slow, parking or at a stop sign.

I see Medium springs do the exact same thing, and THAT really answers my main concern and most of the reason I posted this question. Thanks guys!

No, I didn't put in the optional thin spacer. At the moment I have a VERY slight rake forward when empty, but after I load the kids and rack and gear it levels out perfectly and I like that. So I'm happy with not going there. I could always clevis-lift out the difference if I felt like it some day.

I agree it probably isn't the shocks, so I will finish the lift with the rear OME's, just to be consistant. (Rocky-Road should be able to build a new addition with all the money I've been sending them lately .

I figure after all's said that I'm going to live with the situation as it is, being too expensive to change to Heavies now, and probably not serious enough a safety issue. I'm 90% happy anyway.

Thanks to everyone for their opinions. This site continues to be a great place to gather a lot of valuable viewpoints fast.

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Daddio
L.O.S.T. #000532 Chicagoland
2004 khaki Liberty Sport, 6 cyl Auto, 4 armor plates, AT/S tires or MT/R's, hooks, H/D cooling/towing, Yakima/Thule rack system, rockrails, HiLift jack, Old Man Emu full suspension, etc.