OME (Old Man Emu) leaf spring bushings questions

outback97

Wheeling
Supporting Member
Location
SLC, Utah
Hey guys, I have some leaf spring bushing questions. We have OME setups on both our '06 and '09 Xterras. No problems with the '06, but this weekend I noticed an issue with the '09. Airing up while returning from camping I saw the forward leaf spring mount was spitting out a bushing.

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Looking at it closer after getting home, it looks like the second leaf is shifting such that it is scraping on the bushing. It's doing this on both drivers and passengers sides.

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I'm planning on ordering the OME SB100 bushing kit and redoing all of them, unless there's an easy way to just disconnect the forward mount, since the shackle bushings seem OK.

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Any suggestions to keep this from happening again down the road? I am otherwise really happy with the OME setup so not looking to completely swap out for another set of springs. Can I add a clamp or clip of some kind to the existing leaf pack? Any way to improve on the clamp that's already there?

All of the above pictures are my Xterra. It's an '09 with OME MD leafs and OME shackles. There aren't any unusual noises in normal driving.


The video below is not my Xterra. I don't have the same clunking noise that he describes. But it's a great visual of how the leafs can shift.

***** THIS IS NOT MY VIDEO NOR MY TRUCK... It's a different Xterra showing lateral shifting of OME leafs *****
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxrYCH17HxE
***** THIS IS NOT MY VIDEO NOR MY TRUCK... It's a different Xterra showing lateral shifting of OME leafs *****
 
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jsexton

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lewis Center, OH
Man, I wouldn't order ome bushings again. I had trouble with them too. I'd get some good bushings like whiteline or superpro. They fit the OME springs (and the upper shackle mount through the frame).
 

outback97

Wheeling
Supporting Member
Location
SLC, Utah
Thanks for the reply. I’ll check those out. Honestly I haven’t had any issues with OME stuff before this. And it seems like the leaf pack clip is what’s too loose and allowing it to move laterally.

Are these the whitelines?



Superpro are 4-6 weeks out, doh.
 

TheCrabby1

I Smell Fishy
Supporting Member
Location
Burtonsville, Md
I had the hard plastic liner inside the clip break and fall off probably before I installed and didn't notice , so mine was sliding and noisy before I insalled new plastic liner's on the back clip/box/square looking thing that steady's/center's the leaf pack . If you look at your video it appear's to me that the plastic black liner on yours's doesn't go all the way to the top leaf so everything below that is sliding when your moving . I'll see if I can find a part #.
 

TheCrabby1

I Smell Fishy
Supporting Member
Location
Burtonsville, Md
Thanks for the reply. I’ll check those out. Honestly I haven’t had any issues with OME stuff before this. And it seems like the leaf pack clip is what’s too loose and allowing it to move laterally.

Are these the whitelines?



Superpro are 4-6 weeks out, doh.
20210519_113058.jpg20210519_113302.jpg
 

outback97

Wheeling
Supporting Member
Location
SLC, Utah
I had the hard plastic liner inside the clip break and fall off probably before I installed and didn't notice , so mine was sliding and noisy before I insalled new plastic liner's on the back clip/box/square looking thing that steady's/center's the leaf pack . If you look at your video it appear's to me that the plastic black liner on yours's doesn't go all the way to the top leaf so everything below that is sliding when your moving . I'll see if I can find a part #.
Thanks Crabby. It's not my truck and not my video, just one I found that showed the shifting really clearly and may be similar to what happening to mine. Looking at notes from the previous owner of my '09, I realized last night that the suspension is 9 years old and has about 55K miles on it.

My plastic liners are a mix of intact, broken, or completely missing. I think it'd help to get those taken care of. That'd be great if you could come up with a part number.

EDIT: Looks like you posted while I wrote this. CLK6 for the plastic liners, thanks very much for the part #!

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Searching around online last night, I did find this reference to the plastic bits from Cruiser Outfitters. Although they are focused on Land Cruisers, I actually bought my OME leafs for the '06 from them. I'll reach out to them and see if they have the clips available.


What is the purpose of the plastic clip -liners on the spring clamps?

The clip-liners provide a friction point for the sides of the individual leaf springs as they cycle under normal suspension operation. They are a wear item and do require replacement when broken or damaged. These are available from Cruiser Outfitters as a service item. Please call with the lengths of clip-liners you need and we can get you a price.
 

outback97

Wheeling
Supporting Member
Location
SLC, Utah
Man, I wouldn't order ome bushings again. I had trouble with them too. I'd get some good bushings like whiteline or superpro. They fit the OME springs (and the upper shackle mount through the frame).

It looks like Nolothane is exactly the same as Whiteline, two different brands of the same product made by Redranger. These Nolothanes are available sooner... can you confirm this should fit the Old Man Emu leaf eyes? I may just get these and only do the front mount bushings and the plastic clip liners.


Dumb question time: Is it possible to just disconnect the forward part of the leaf to replace those bushings without completely undoing the u-bolts and rear shackles? Seems like I'll probably have to completely remove the leaf springs to work on them, but I could be overlooking something.
 

jsexton

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lewis Center, OH
It looks like Nolothane is exactly the same as Whiteline, two different brands of the same product made by Redranger. These Nolothanes are available sooner... can you confirm this should fit the Old Man Emu leaf eyes? I may just get these and only do the front mount bushings and the plastic clip liners.


Dumb question time: Is it possible to just disconnect the forward part of the leaf to replace those bushings without completely undoing the u-bolts and rear shackles? Seems like I'll probably have to completely remove the leaf springs to work on them, but I could be overlooking something.

Sorry, just getting back to this. I found nolothane seemed to be exactly the same as whiteline also, just haven't used them (and couldn't remember the name off the top of my head when I posted earlier).

I also didn't realized the truck video you posted wasn't yours - you mentioned OME SB100, does that mean you have the ome greasable shackels also? Or are you running either stock or one of the aftermarket adjustable shackles? I'm asking because I'm not sure if anything but the OME SB100's will work with their greasable shackle (the different p/n makes me think the OD of the shackle sleeve is different).

Long story short, if you have OME leafs, and either stock or aftermarket adjustable shackles (like prg or nisstec), Nolothane, whiteline, or superpro bushings made for an xterra will work great. I've found ebay is the best source for these of all places. Also watch, there should be 3 sets, front eye, rear eye, and upper shackle (through the frame). There usually is a kit that has all 3 sets.

I just bought these a few days ago https://www.ebay.com/itm/324002436245

Here is a link to the whiteline kit: https://www.ebay.com/itm/283778477981

I've been running whitelines in my upper shackle mount for a while now (since 2017), just took my shackle off and was shocked how good of shape they were in. I probably won't even replace them. In the same time period I wore out and broke a set of alcans - in the process of switching back to OME's because of the much quicker lead time, and a few broken leafs including the main leaf on my alcan's don't give me the warm and fuzzies. It's almost like I abuse this truck or something :D:D

The super pros and whitelines feel almost exactly the same out of the package. I doubt there is much difference. Nolothane are probably fine too - I just don't have direct experience with them.

Oh, also, I was going through bushings every year with stock and OME bushings before I tried whiteline. I'm very impressed but as always ymmv.

As for replacing the bushings without taking the u bolts off - I don't see an issue with trying, but it might be difficult to wrestle the front with the axle attached. Rear no problem. Just be careful if you try.
 

outback97

Wheeling
Supporting Member
Location
SLC, Utah
Sorry, just getting back to this. I found nolothane seemed to be exactly the same as whiteline also, just haven't used them (and couldn't remember the name off the top of my head when I posted earlier).

I also didn't realized the truck video you posted wasn't yours - you mentioned OME SB100, does that mean you have the ome greasable shackels also? Or are you running either stock or one of the aftermarket adjustable shackles? I'm asking because I'm not sure if anything but the OME SB100's will work with their greasable shackle (the different p/n makes me think the OD of the shackle sleeve is different).

Long story short, if you have OME leafs, and either stock or aftermarket adjustable shackles (like prg or nisstec), Nolothane, whiteline, or superpro bushings made for an xterra will work great. I've found ebay is the best source for these of all places. Also watch, there should be 3 sets, front eye, rear eye, and upper shackle (through the frame). There usually is a kit that has all 3 sets.

I just bought these a few days ago https://www.ebay.com/itm/324002436245

Here is a link to the whiteline kit: https://www.ebay.com/itm/283778477981

I've been running whitelines in my upper shackle mount for a while now (since 2017), just took my shackle off and was shocked how good of shape they were in. I probably won't even replace them. In the same time period I wore out and broke a set of alcans - in the process of switching back to OME's because of the much quicker lead time, and a few broken leafs including the main leaf on my alcan's don't give me the warm and fuzzies. It's almost like I abuse this truck or something :D:D

The super pros and whitelines feel almost exactly the same out of the package. I doubt there is much difference. Nolothane are probably fine too - I just don't have direct experience with them.

Oh, also, I was going through bushings every year with stock and OME bushings before I tried whiteline. I'm very impressed but as always ymmv.

As for replacing the bushings without taking the u bolts off - I don't see an issue with trying, but it might be difficult to wrestle the front with the axle attached. Rear no problem. Just be careful if you try.

Thanks very much. I edited my post to make it more clear that the video doesn't show my Xterra, sorry about the confusion. I actually took some video last night while driving around a bit, and I guess the good news is that in semi-normal driving the leafs don't appear to shift around laterally. Currently uploading the video to youtube and I'll post that up when it's done.

EDIT: Here's my video of my suspension. Not very interesting to watch, which I guess is good. No real shifting of the leafs.

View: https://youtu.be/dCoFWtcHHI0


I have OME greasable shackles, yes. I was going to just get the SB100 bushing kit, but since you mentioned Whiteline (Nolothane) as a good alternative I'm going to give that a try. I did order the forward mount bushing set that I linked earlier, and it's supposed to be here Friday. My thought is that I'll replace the forward ones to start with and leave the shackle ones alone for now to see how it goes.

I stopped by Cruiser Outfitters on my way home last night and they gave me some plastic liner clips. I'll use those, but now that I have them in hand I can see that there's not much to them to prevent the leafs from shifting... they're pretty thin. It seems like the leaf clamps / clips need to be a bit narrower or these plastic liners need to be thicker for it to make any difference.

The more I think about it the more I'm convinced there would be no way to access the forward mount without undoing the ubolts and disconnecting the leaf from the axle. I was just hoping for minimally invasive surgery. I can probably leave the shackles attached and just undo the ubolts and forward bolts, which should allow the leaf to pivot down from the shackle.

This job might take all the jack stands and most of the jacks that I have!
 
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outback97

Wheeling
Supporting Member
Location
SLC, Utah
Got the Nolathane bushing kit in, it looks different from the stock photo on amazon but as long as it works that’s fine. @jsexton does this look correct to you?
 

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outback97

Wheeling
Supporting Member
Location
SLC, Utah
Old Man Emu is looking pretty old. It looks like the Nolathane ones will work nicely. Same ID for the bolt. The sleeve is thicker metal so hopefully the ride isn’t harsher from having less compliant material in between the bolt and the eye.
 

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outback97

Wheeling
Supporting Member
Location
SLC, Utah
New bushings in, torqued and test drove and all feels great. Will retorque ubolts after a couple hundred miles.

For reference I only had to undo the front leaf mount and ubolts. Left the shock and rear shackle bolts in, didn’t need to drop the spare.

Thanks @jsexton for the recommendation.
 
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