OME Dakar EL095R Questions

I have the OME EL095R (MED load) leaf springs with Bilstein B110 5100 shocks with 6112's up front on my 2015 DCLB. It seems like the rear becomes unsettled when hitting bumps or pot holes, worse when it's just one side. But when I go over rough rail road crossings at speed it seems to handle it well. It is worse when unloaded, but even when loaded (400-500lbs) it's just marginally better and it's not hitting the bump stops with that load either. I expected it to be a little rougher than the stock suspension, but not as rough as it is. I have only have about 8k miles on this setup coming from a 3rd gen TRD OR suspension that rode much nicer overall.

-Questions-
-Will removing one of the leaf's give me a better ride? I have seen people remove a leaf from the pack to lower the ride a little, but I haven't seen anyone say if it improves ride quality. I believe it's the 3rd leaf down from the top, if anyone can confirm that would be great.

-Could the bushing (OME Yellow bushings), shackle or something else be binding?

-Are the Bilstien B110 5100's just not cutting it? From what I have researched, the damping on the B110's is the same as the standard 5100's and 5160's just with more travel of course. I have confirmed that I am not riding on the bump stops while loaded as well.

EDIT: I currently have 33x10.50r17 Kenda Klever E load and I normally have them at 30-32psi. Before those I had 265/70R17 Goodyear Duratrac C load that I kept between 30-32psi. The ride wasn't much different between the two tires. Maybe a little bit better with the Duratracs, but not a major difference.

 

I have the same leafs... They're shit. Unfortunately i just think that's how they are. My experience with them is exactly like you describe. I've had them for about 5 years now and am super disappointed with them. The more I learn about leaf springs the more I wonder why ARB even sells such a shitty product for our trucks. They go flat immediately, yet ARB says its fine (it's objectively not. Leafs spring need arch to work). And yet despite being so weak that they flatten out on stock weight, they ride stiff as hell?! Don't even get me started on the noise they make.

To answer your questions:

Removing 1 leaf does apparently make the ride softer, but almost too much and you will get mad axle wrap causing wheel chatter.

The bushings are likely fine. There isn't enough movement at those points that having the bushing bind would become a problem. That being said, poly bushings don't really bind. They are designed to rotate around the metal sleeve in the middle.

The 5100's are probably fine. The rear leafs make arguably the largest difference in ride quality. I have Elka 2.5 DSC and still get the same ride characteristics you do. The largest difference I ever felt in the rear was going to Hammer Hangers.

 

5100s aren’t doing you any favors

 

Ya, I didn't know they'd be quite as stiff as I expected. What I don't understand is how there's some reviews that claim they ride fantastic with many different shocks and then there are people like us that have a completely opposite experience. I tried to give them some time to work in or whatever, but I figure close to 10k miles is plenty and they haven't gotten any better.

Good point on the axle wrap if a leaf was removed. I just don't know why I can't find anyone's thoughts after supposedly removing a leaf.

Not sure what leaf springs to go with if I decide to change them? I've heard good things about the Icon RXT's and Alldogs has their Parabolic Medium leaf pack also. Alldogs is about 2 1/2 hrs from me and it seems like an interesting leaf spring.

I know that 5100's aren't exactly the greatest shock. But what I don't understand is how some people claim that these same leaf springs and 5100's ride better than stock. I have had the stock TRD Sport and 3rd gen TRD OR rear shocks on the factory leaf springs before this and the rear seems more bouncy even the progressive valved Sport shocks.

 

Did you install just the leafs?
New shackles?
have you checked your U bolts ?
Lot of factors here, and the reason you’re having trouble could be multiple things. These leaf packs have a questionable reputation on this forum but many in real life scenarios, and off road shops, swear by them.

E load tires are also temperamental, even though you said that probably isn’t a factor. A few psi can change the ride considerably.

The hitachi shocks on the sport are garbage

 

I did not install new shackles. I did install Wheelers U-Bolt flip kit that I re-torqued after about 100 miles and have checked torque a couple times since. Before I installed the front and rear bushings (OME yellow) I added some Prothane bushing lube that I got when doing my MR2 suspension bushings. I applied grease (the grease I use on my U-Joints) on the pads and sprayed the leaf springs thoroughly with Fluid Film. Some areas could probably use some re-lubrication though. If you have any tips or products, I'm all ears.

I will agree that the E-Load tires aren't helping things, but the C-Load Duratracs weren't much better. With the Kenda's I generally run 34-36psi front and 30-32 psi rear unloaded, I suppose I could try 28psi without pissing off the TPMS.

I absolutely agree that the Sport Hitachi suspension sucked. I saw no redeeming qualities in it. It didn't seem to handle any better (as much as a Tacoma can) nor was there any situation where it rode better. The rear end always seemed to jump around, almost like it does now. I know the B110 5100's are the greatest shock either, but I can't imagine they are so bad to cause it to ride like it does. I'm half tempted to find a 3rd gen TRD Off Road owner that wants to do a full swap. That 3rd TRD OR suspension on a 2nd rides very nice! Something I thought of is front spring rate. I was very surprised to find out that the 3rd TRD OR front spring rate was 700lbs (compared to 2nd gen being around 500lb rate) since most people wouldn't dare to run a 700lb springs on their aftermarket lift unless they have a bumper, winch, etc. Yet the front suspension seemed to be more evenly sprung to the rear OEM leaf springs after that swap, it was just way more balanced feeling with a much less jittery rear end. Maybe bumping up to a 650lb or 700lb spring would help in this situation like it did running the 3rd gen suspenion?

I'm all ears on suggestions to make this thing ride better in the rear!!! Still curious if removing a leaf would help too? I'd be just fine with having to lower the front a little to match too if it does lower the rear a little.

 

I have ome dakar med pack with the extra leaf to make it and HD pack. I am also uisng the B110's and a ubolt flip kit with chevy 1500 bump stops attached to the frame.
My ride is great, but I also have a shell on my truck 24/7. With that pack and the shell weight I sit almost perfectly level with my front 5100's and 886 springs. maybe slightly taller in the rear.

 

I have OME nitrocharger sport shocks and their med packs for 8 months with out any issues. Did an AAL to make it an HD pack and it still rides great.
Truck is basically stock, no extra added weight except for some sliders which are 150lb at most.

High speed bumps off road, no issue. Low speed parking lot bumps also no issue.

I also take 5 mins while doing my oil change to grease my leaf packs through those bushings, I've never had squeaking issues.

 

Maybe I just need to do a good lube on them? I can't imagine that I am one of the few that complain unless there were some bad batches? I'll have to reasses when it gets warmer and I feel like getting under the truck. haha

 

That's the thing that really boggles my mind the complaints about squeaking etc, I do live in cold Canada where they salt roads too. No problem whatsoever.

Here's a thread on greasing the leaf bushings.
Squeaky OME Dakar Leaf pack fix/solution? | Page 3 | Tacoma World

I personally use a grease gun with a needle nose attachment and just grease the little center hole till it I see new grease ooze out around the bushing. Don't even need to lift the truck or anything. Do every bushing every oil change or if I go offroading, I'll spray everything clean first and give it a hit of grease.

I hope this helps you, I really love my OME suspension.

 

Mine dont squeak at all. My OEM springs with a single aal squeaked a ton after a couple years of use.

 

I think the people that say they like them are coming from old factory leafs. And they have a 2nd gen (3rd gens rear end rides a little better apparently). When I changed mine out I did notice an immediate improvement over stock. They gave good lift and better control. But of course still felt quite stiff with an empty box.

Some people also accept that empty trucks ride like shit no matter what, so they will says its a good ride even though the rear end still hops around. If you run about 200-300lbs in the box the ride is drastically better. So those who have a cap or RTT or something in the rear at all times will obviously not experience how harsh they are with an empty box. I just keep my winter traction weight in the box all year round. Rides much better but the leafs are shaped like a W and you lose the lift.

 

Shackles won't help anything. New shackle hangers will, like Hammer Hangers, but not the shackles themselves. And what do U bolts have to do with ride stiffness?

Yeah, nobody swears by Dakars over every other leaf option. You're just making shit up. OME suspension, maybe, but anyone who knows what they are talking about knows that Dakar leafs are a budget option at best.

Toyota only started using Hitachi shocks for 3rd gen Sports. OP has a second gen that came with TRD Bilstein shocks (basically 4600s). They ride nearly identical to 5100s. And I can also tell you that Fox 2.0 resi and Elka 2.5 DSC don't help the ride quality issues with these leafs either. I've ran all 3 (4 if you count factory), it's not the shocks.

 

Hold up... You're running around with an empty box on what is essentially the HD pack and you don't notice any stiffness in the rear? No hopping, especially around corners?

Have you rode in anything else similar that has a buttery smooth rear end, like a 4runner or Raptor?

 

I didn’t realize when I posted he had a 2nd Gen. Not making up anything. And never said Dakars are awesome. Both the EL095 and EL111R are good options for a 3rd Gen. Have ridden in several with other packs and some are better, some are not.

and everybody knows that 5100s are not the best option by any means.

 

this coming from the guy who has 5 years on his leafs and thinks they’re shit..how many years do you expect to get out of them ??

 

Wait wait wait. You went from bilstein to fox and it rode the same?
I’m so looking forward to my bilstein 6112 to wear out so I can upgrade to the fox 2.5 front and 2.0 resi rear. Hoping they would be softer on the streets

 

Pretty much. Obviously there was a difference in handling on washboard type terrain, and over whoopy type undulations in the road. But on the street it's much more about the spring (think old cadilacs, they had shit shocks but lots of wheel travel on soft springs). The rear didn't feel any different over fast, sharp bumps like cracks in the road and potholes. It still felt harsh and would kinda buck the rear end around if turning at the same time. Switching to Hammer Hangers made the biggest difference with stuff like that, which honestly highlighted the shortcomings of the dakars even more. But even with adjustable Elka 2.5 on the softest setting the rear is significantly more harsh than the front with these leafs, especially with an empty box. I have to carry a constant ~300lbs in the box for it to ride closer to how a 4runner feels (same front suspension and chassis, just better rear setup). But doing so means the leafs are flat at rest and don't have any progression left for up travel, so larger bumps still feel harsh.

 

What, you telling me you're replacing leaf packs more often than tires?? 5 years should be no problem for any decent leaf springs. Good leafs can/should last the lifetime of the truck.

New leafs are next on the list. But since adding these I've blown all 4 shocks and replaced them with something I can actually get rebuilt in canada (Elka). I also chopped off the rear shackle mounts and replaced them with Hammer Hangers hoping to tame the rear end a bit (easily the biggest improvement). I have given these dakars more chances to perform than probably anyone else. They just aren't good. Unfortunately leaf spring options are a bit limited in the middle of Canada and it isn't exactly cheap to have things like that shipped here. So yeah, I thought I'd try to stretch out the lifespan of these leaf springs to at least outlast the wiper blades lol

 

Years vs mileage absolutely makes a difference on longevity of life. I haven’t had to replace any leaf packs, my OME is doing just fine. Sorry you had such a. Bad experience with them.