OME struts with Calmini 3-inch suspension

[wiretap_MD]

I purchased a calmini 3-inch suspension setup for my 4-door sidekick a few years ago and now my front struts are due for replacement. I'm interested in purchasing the Old Man EMU front struts which I understand has longer travel than stock struts / calmini struts.

I hope you guys don't mind answering these questions:

1. If I install the OME struts with the calmini 3-inch setup of mine, do I need to remove the calmini strut spacer because this might cause too much down travel and stress my CV joints if both are used at the same time?

2. If the calmini strut spacers should not be used, do I install the OME struts with the strut mounts in their regular position or should they be flipped?

Thanks!

[ranger88den]

I would pose this question to OME.

[Rhinoman]

If you install the OME struts with no spacers then you will lose front end travel. You can flip the front struts without any CV issues.

[wiretap_MD]

Just an update...

Installed my new OME struts together with my calmini strut spacers since I already had an existing 1.5 inch spacer on top of the calmini coils. So far so good. I'll try to post pictures soon.

[wiretap_MD]

As promised, pictures of my setup:

Kiddo:


Front setup. Hybrid OME strut with Calmini 3-inch suspension. 1.5 inch aluminum spacer with recessed grooves for springs. Brandnew balljoint, tie rod, centerlink, front rubber strut support:


From behind. Customized rear bumper with hitch provisions:


Rear suspension setup. Using Bilsteins 5125 offroad shocks. Great dampening. Note the inverted shock setup to eliminate shockbody-axle contact:



Fabricated an upper-shock mount adaptor. Opens the setup to a new set of shock models to choose from and no longer limited to the original upper mount configuration:


Thanks for looking!

[automated11]

Great looking rig! I wish mine were so rust free, to bad they use road salt around my area to get rid of the snow on the roads.........

[-Lawless]

That looks SHAWEET!

I think I might put a set of boot covers on the shocks though to keep dust and rocks from marring up the shaft.

[wiretap_MD]

Lawless,

Thanks for the compliment. I used to have bootcovers in my previous shocks but I ended up removing them because they actually accumulated dirt and kept it inside the covers once the dirt found a way to get in. Ended up with some busted shocks. I decided to remove them and just run the shocks with naked pistons. At least whenever dirt gets into them, I could visually check it everyday and clean it frequently if necessary. I've been running those shocks in the rear for 4 years now with no problems.

By the way, labor here in the Philippines is dirt cheap. For just $2, I can have someone do an underwash everyday. That includes soaping and scrubbing all underchassis parts till they are sparkling clean.