OME/Bilstein

[tommudd]

Well, if anyone that has/had the thudding issue like I do, Marlin says it's because there's no bushing kit installed
AND THAT IS CORRECT
So if you're wanting to fix the sounds or are going to buy the Bilstein's, I would advise to get the kit.
tHATS WHY THE KIT OS OFFERED SINCE THE MOUNT ON THOSE SHOCKS ARE LARGER AND THE TOP MOUNT IS MORE NARROW
I think I'm going to just deal with it for now until I feel like opening up my rear suspension again
tAKES 5 MINUTES PER SIDE
I don't think it hurts anything, except your ears and for me internal fear that it actually is hurting something
iT WILL WEAR OUT THE BUSHINGS FASTER

As for the different height measurements, yeah..
Still no idea
Parked it on a flat road and all 4 at 22"
Drove back home (the roads here are terrible) and they were all different again
But the front since alignment has been a constant 22 1/2" up until when I just measured
I guess it's a good thing they all measured the same but to only have driven about 65mi (again, really bad roads around here) they have all sagged down 1/2"

You have worn loose parts, maybe rear LCAs are bad, could be a number of things, but height does not change the way it does on yours unless there are other issues

 

[mindbomb]

What does the bushing kit do (what kind of parts are those) and where does it belong in the installation process?

 

[tommudd]

What does the bushing kit do (what kind of parts are those) and where does it belong in the installation process?

Bushing to fit inside of the shock mounts / plus washers so they fit same as stock shocks do. The Bilstein etc that we have to use are smaller width wise and has a larger mounting hole

 

[jeeplib05]

What does the bushing kit do (what kind of parts are those) and where does it belong in the installation process?

Since the Bilstein shocks we use are made for a YJ, the upper part of the shock mount is thinner than the Liberty's mount
So you have to either use 3-4 washers, or buy the bushing kit (only $20) and it makes it so the shocks fit snug into the mount
Since I'm having sounds coming from them I bought the bushing kit
But, not everyone has issues with using just washers so you won't really know until you install them

Sorry Tom didn't see you replied

 

[Jbergun]

I used the bushing kit from the start no problem

 

[jeeplib05]

I used the bushing kit from the start no problem

I should've also, I just thought I'd try the washers and see how they worked
I guess we'll see what happens once they arrive

Now I remember why I never bought them
The link to them on his site was dead and kept giving me an error page every time I clicked on it so I couldn't ever find them

 

[Jbergun]

Yea when i cross referenced the shocks i bought on jba it says in the description these shocks need a bushing kit and there is a link on jba. Even if your on the jba website looking at shocks the 2.5 and 4 inchers have the link.

 

[jeeplib05]

Yea when i cross referenced the shocks i bought on jba it says in the description these shocks need a bushing kit and there is a link on jba. Even if your on the jba website looking at shocks the 2.5 and 4 inchers have the link.

That's what I did to get the link was to click on the shocks and when I hit the link (around a month ago) it would say "This page no longer exists"
But it's fine now

 

[jeeplib05]

Trying to install the shock back in with the bushing kit but the mount is bent in and won't go back out
I've done everything there is to do and it just won't go
Guess I'll have to just reinstall it how I had it
Great

 

[tommudd]

Trying to install the shock back in with the bushing kit but the mount is bent in and won't go back out
I've done everything there is to do and it just won't go
Guess I'll have to just reinstall it how I had it
Great

Takes some work but you can spread it back open. Have had to do it on a couple of lifts that were running the wrong shocks before
I have a 3 lb hammer that just fits up in a small amount that I use then beat on it to spread it open. Should also be able to run a bolt back in with a nut on it to spread it out some

 

[krisP]

nut and bolt pressing against small piece of steel plate or even wood to spread it back is what i have done in the past on other vehicles / tractors

 

[jeeplib05]

I eventually got it in there, it still wouldn't pry open toward the top so I just cut about 2/16" off one end of the bushing and it went in
Helped a lot , still isn't perfect though
Also, since I'm OCD about things being perfect on all 4 corners, I've been thinking of throwing another upper iso on the drivers side because the gap between the tire and fender look a hair closer than on the passenger side rear
We'll see after it settles some more !

 

[Fogtripper]

Hi folks,
So I have accumulated the shopping list for the OME/Blistein swaparoo, but now reading the end part of this thread (old, granted) I am thinking of covering my bases before handing it off to the shop to install, and so am considering ordering the bushing kit for the 24-185660 shocks.

Could not find a kit on the JBA site however, so does anyone have a convenient link to the kit?

(Apologies for the necro, but all of this is relevent to the job at hand)

 

[Fogtripper]

Hi folks,
So I have accumulated the shopping list for the OME/Blistein swaparoo, but now reading the end part of this thread (old, granted) I am thinking of covering my bases before handing it off to the shop to install, and so am considering ordering the bushing kit for the 24-185660 shocks.

Could not find a kit on the JBA site however, so does anyone have a convenient link to the kit?

(Apologies for the necro, but all of this is relevent to the job at hand)

Have yet to find anyone willing to do this install for me, so will likely will be doing on my own.

Still wondering where to get that bushing kit...

 

[tommudd]

Have yet to find anyone willing to do this install for me, so will likely will be doing on my own.

Still wondering where to get that bushing kit...

They were only available through JBA
Where do ya live , Ive installed a few, well 67 , for friends and customers

 

[tommudd]

Since the Bilstein shocks we use are made for a YJ, the upper part of the shock mount is thinner than the Liberty's mount
So you have to either use 3-4 washers, or buy the bushing kit (only $20) and it makes it so the shocks fit snug into the mount
Since I'm having sounds coming from them I bought the bushing kit
But, not everyone has issues with using just washers so you won't really know until you install them

Sorry Tom didn't see you replied

PLUS not all shocks we use for the rear are for a YJ

 

[tommudd]

I eventually got it in there, it still wouldn't pry open toward the top so I just cut about 2/16" off one end of the bushing and it went in
Helped a lot , still isn't perfect though
Also, since I'm OCD about things being perfect on all 4 corners, I've been thinking of throwing another upper iso on the drivers side because the gap between the tire and fender look a hair closer than on the passenger side rear
We'll see after it settles some more !

Measure the front, middle of the wheel to bottom of the flare on both sides , do a clevis lift is needed in front, left front is always a bit how, that is why I always have that side a bit higher

 

[paulam716]

Have yet to find anyone willing to do this install for me, so will likely will be doing on my own.

Still wondering where to get that bushing kit...

did you ever find the bushing kit or does anyone else know where to get it from or have a reliable alternative?

i’ll be installing the bilstein 24-185660 shocks as well

 

[tommudd]

did you ever find the bushing kit or does anyone else know where to get it from or have a reliable alternative?

i’ll be installing the bilstein 24-185660 shocks as well

Just find a metal sleeve that fits over the bolt and into the shock, check hardware stores

 

[paulam716]

will do. ty