Using limiting straps to lessen OME clunk

Have any of you OME guys used limiting straps to lessen the clunk as the front suspension "tops out" on rebound? This is the clunk heard as one front wheel drops into a pothole (when moving slowly) or when the front tires drop off the backside of a speed bump. Looks like they are easy to get and install (I can weld-no pro by any means…but it will hold). Thanks!

 

I am not sure I have experienced either of these clunk scenarios.

 

Check to make sure the bolt holding the strut shaft to the top plate is tight, might be loose. Also make sure theres no oil weeping out of a strut as it could indicate it's blown and causing the clunk. Shouldnt be hearing any clunking from the struts.

 

Limit straps will also add more random noises as well...

 

Over Speed Bump Goes Clank

Not that uncommon with the OME set up

 

and makes less noise overall than limiting straps flapping any time you go faster than a crawl.

 

Are you running stock UCA?

 

I installed Camburg Ball Joint UCAs.

 

not uniballs?

your clunk is likely due to the standard ball joint style of joint simply hitting max extension, as they utilize the stock ball joint, and thus offer no more degree of flex than stock.

 

My Walker-Evans make the same clunking noise you describe.

 

Everything is tight, with no leakage. Both sides do it. Done it since I put the lift on. I'm thinking its the internal bumps stops of the shocks....IF that is what stops down travel.
I'm thinking it's just not enough down travel left for the shocks to slow suspension enough to prevent topping out on rebound.. I added sway bar relocate bracket and kept the sway bar on. No rubbing there. I'm using 886s with ARB bumper and 9500 with steel cable. Thanks for the assistance.

 

Camburgs add caster like most, and they add angle to the ball joints to "reset" them into their designed operating range. That's paraphrased from Cburgs description.

 

Thanks, didn't know that. I was close to going there, too.

 

still doesnt compensate for the extra downtravel of the OME struts.

 

Sure it does. Having seen the ball joint angles before I put the Cambugs in, they definitely fix that problem. Now the ball joint stud come out of the control arm almost perpendicular like they should. There is some angle built into the ball joint cup that you can't really see in the pic. I'm sure they aren't as tough as uniballs, but I don't jump the truck running 100mph at Baja. Mud/swamps are where I spend time. No uniballs for me. I shouldn't say that really since I never used them, but I just would not want to bathe an unprotected suspension part in mud routinely. Thanks man!

 

It's the OME shocks topping out , this isn't a super uncommon thing

 

Try this. Jack the truck up from the frame to get at least one of the front tires off the ground at full droop. On that tire Undo the two bolts that hold the lower ball joint to the spindle. Does the LCA continue to droop down while the rest stays at the same height? If so that's the upper ball joint causing the limit of down travel.

 

I see what you're saying. I will try that Thursday or Friday. Gotta get a torque value for those 2 bolts first. I need to check other stuff for wear once I'm under there. Going on 115K. Might look at doing an EGCS bushing.

I will be VERY surprised if the shocks don't arrest down travel. Thanks man.

 

Check attached for various torque values on the front end. the two LBJ bolts are 118ftlbs FYI.

Let us know what you find.

 

any findings in this problem, I also recently just installed ome struts and have same problem. will this damage the strut with this topping out, I am about to install limit straps, I plan one day to get fox 2.5 extended coilovers anyway so I might need the limit straps then. I should have straps on in next 2 weeks, will let you know.