i guess i'll have to either eat the cost of those stiff shocks...or post them for sale here when i get it, but what's a good off-the-shelf replacement for the struts and shocks that come with the kit.  I'm looking for something with a smoother ride i have no intention at all to add tube bumpers or a winch i don't care for the look of them.  I just don't need the harsh ride since it's my DD.  And OME's sound fantastic...but after shelling out nearly $1000 for the lift kit, the last thing i want to do is put out another $500 or so on new shocks and struts.

I need help before i order this kit.

Nearly a 1000?  Its gonna be a little over that with shipping.  You can always buy the lift without the struts and shocks..they only deduct 100 bucks though so you'd be better off buying the whole thing and selling them here.  But the OME and the best option if you want ride quality.

Nearly a 1000?  Its gonna be a little over that with shipping.  You can always buy the lift without the struts and shocks..they only deduct 100 bucks though so you'd be better off buying the whole thing and selling them here.  But the OME and the best option if you want ride quality.

Tru but OME don't give you the Goods for Max lift but good ride.
Calmini has the Control arms, diff drop brackets, extended rear arms, Brake lines and Rear 3rd Link.
OME has Good struts and shocks(?) and decend spring rates.
But you get what you pay for.
Calmini is 70% what you want.
OME is 30% what you need.
I run the Calmini 3"inch lift, OME struts and Rancho 5000 shocks.
I'm now happy with the ride.

i guess i'll have to either eat the cost of those stiff shocks...or post them for sale here when i get it, but what's a good off-the-shelf replacement for the struts and shocks that come with the kit.  I'm looking for something with a smoother ride i have no intention at all to add tube bumpers or a winch i don't care for the look of them.  I just don't need the harsh ride since it's my DD.  And OME's sound fantastic...but after shelling out nearly $1000 for the lift kit, the last thing i want to do is put out another $500 or so on new shocks and struts.

I need help before i order this kit.

you have no choice. i know thats not what you want to hear, but it's the reality ! if you want the ride you gotta pay the price for it. it's the lifted sidekick downfall

you have no choice. i know thats not what you want to hear, but it's the reality ! if you want the ride you gotta pay the price for it. it's the lifted sidekick downfall

I have no problem with the price.  That was not the question.  It's ride quality...so that being said HotRod you think the Rancho 5000 series on the back are better than the OME units?  I was just going to suck up the cost of the calmini units and sell them here i guess and go all OME.  But now you have me interested in the Ranchos for the rear.  Does Rancho make a comparable strut to the OME units as well?

on my 4 door I used shocks for a '97 f150 in the back and OME struts in the front. it is really smooth now. RS5000's may be a little stiff.

The OME struts are worth the price but not the back shocks. I coulnd't believe the difference the struts made. we just did a weekend of wheelin with lots of gravel roads between trails and I could outrun the guys in the coil sprung TJ's this year!! potholes were a non issue.

KYB front struts...$65 each delivered if you look around.  Got mine from www.Rock-Auto.com .

Rear shocks for a '98 F150 2wd are a perfect fit for the rear of our Trackers with the 3" Calmini lift.  I used the NAPA brand truck shocks (the blue ones) and they are far better quality, monotubes, and manage to be slightly shorter compressed AND slightly longer extended than the Calmini shocks.  Oh, and they cost me $24 each instead of the $30 something Calmini wants for each of theirs.

Go with the calmini 2 inch kit. The ride is way better.  Add a 3/4 inch spacer to the front and a 1inch to the rear, OME struts and you have a 3 inch kit that is way easier to install and will preform amazing without the added weight that the 3 inch kit was designed for.  Im not sure what rear shocks to swap in with that application but a rancho 9000 in the same length as the calminis would be my choice.

Mike

I put Old Man Emu under my Tracker 2 weeks ago and they are so worth the money.  Smooth, good recovery, just silky as hell.  If you mountain bike then it is like going from a hard tail to a nice full suspension.  No other way to discribe it, by far the best suspension I have ever bought and I have run Ranchos and KYB on two other vehicals.

Quote from: locjaw

you have no choice. i know thats not what you want to hear, but it's the reality ! if you want the ride you gotta pay the price for it. it's the lifted sidekick downfall

I have no problem with the price.  That was not the question.  It's ride quality...so that being said HotRod you think the Rancho 5000 series on the back are better than the OME units?  I was just going to suck up the cost of the calmini units and sell them here i guess and go all OME.  But now you have me interested in the Ranchos for the rear.  Does Rancho make a comparable strut to the OME units as well?

I don't know about the OME rear shocks
OME struts and the rancho 5000s is what I run and I'm happy with them.
I ran the rancho 9000s but wiped them out when my 3rd link let loose and over rotated the axle and Crushed the tubs.
5000s were in my budget and not too bad.
35 bucks compared to $75
Beats what came with the lift

Not be be off subject but with the different than Calmini shocks, did it help the coil bind at all?

Also, I heard a while back Calmini was supposed to come out with new struts - any word or still just rumor?

Not be be off subject but with the different than Calmini shocks, did it help the coil bind at all?
 

You need bumpstops that are long enough to prevent coil bind. Shocks are NOT bumpstops.