Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi there,
I've been chasing a new set of springs and shocks for my 1994 dual cab hilux and have been given 2 quotes which i'm sure is the best i can get after shopping around for a couple of weeks. I've got a price on a ARB full suspension kit with greasable shackles and bushes etc at $1700 and EFS kit same stuff at $1400. I don't mind paying the extra money if ARB are a better product. Has anyone had experience with either or both of these brands? I just have a gut feeling EFS won't be as good but have no reason for it. I'm more leaning towards ARB just cause Ive heard more about them. What's the general opinion on these two brands?

regards

gday mate, in saying ARB i guess its the OME. i had old man emu dakar two inch lift on my last lux and a mate had a set of efs on his dual cab and mine outflexed his but that could of just been setup. Also he complained of his front efs warping real bad out of shape not long after buying them. My ome were good enough and i have just picked up my new set to put on my 94 d/cab lux. EFS do have a 4 inch lift is the only advantage

spend the extra and go ome you will be thankfull in the long run

i've got EFS on my hilux. I have bent two springs, in saying that they have leaves removed and it was probably the landing after jumping the car that did it.

Had EFS on the Zook and they worked a treat.

Did you guys have any warranty problems after bending the EFS springs? I'm leaning towards the ARB atm. Probably also because my parents live down the road from the store meaning I can go round and steal a car to get to work on the day...

just remember to get the dakars, as good a quality, same springs, half the price. thats what i had and it worked out the 2 fronts were only just more than the normal OME's

Go with EFS. I have had both. EFS heaps better for stock suspension, Old Man emu are to stiff.

basketcase wrote:Go with EFS. I have had both. EFS heaps better for stock suspension, Old Man emu are to stiff.

do they not have different spring rates available?

warranty problems

didn't even ask for warranty, i knew it was my fault that they bent.

sierrajim wrote:

basketcase wrote:Go with EFS. I have had both. EFS heaps better for stock suspension, Old Man emu are to stiff.

do they not have different spring rates available?

I got the softest OME available and the EFS were the comfort ride, alot better.

if ya afta BIG flex dont go efs cos they dont make a shock that allows the springs to flex good enough, i compared them to an old worn out set of ranchos i had and they had worse compression and worse drop, i ended up gettin the efs shock for the GQ pootrol cos i got heeps etter flex but i do rate efs for a traveling as my mate has the full efs kit under his troopie and is verry satisfied

yes OME has different rates. they have medium or heavy duty in their books at the shop, extra leaf in heavys i think. and i also think you can get petty or diesel for the front for the weight difference too. i just ordered 2 inch mediums to get a bit of soft,flex

I've always used EFS leaves in my hilux without a drama.

had ome in my hilux and wasn't very impessed by it, not much travel,etc

Hey guys thanks for all the input about these brands. I think comparing all this info, and I also called up a few 4wd training places it's quite a common thing to hear that both brands OME and EFS are pretty much the same. Since EFS has ended up being $300 cheaper which actually added up to being $100 less than what i'd budgeted for, I'm going to go with EFS. Once again thanks for your help and input.

regards
Alex

ps- It's such a good thing to see the 4wd industry booming so well that weactually have to choose what's best for us instead of living with what's availible!

Yumsylux wrote:Hey guys thanks for all the input about these brands. I think comparing all this info, and I also called up a few 4wd training places it's quite a common thing to hear that both brands OME and EFS are pretty much the same. Since EFS has ended up being $300 cheaper which actually added up to being $100 less than what i'd budgeted for, I'm going to go with EFS. Once again thanks for your help and input.

regards
Alex

ps- It's such a good thing to see the 4wd industry booming so well that weactually have to choose what's best for us instead of living with what's availible!

I CAN DO A FULL BLUE MAX KIT INCLUDING DAMPER & TORQUE ROD FOR $1200. I DONT HAVE ANY FANCY OVERHEADS TO PAY FOR SO I SELL FOR LESS.
CHEERS JOHNZ

hey, just adding to this once again. just put my rear ome dakars in my 94 d/c lux. code was Csoo9R and they are shit. my shackles are inverted just on flat ground, therfor no flex. anyone tell me what code there dakars say please, so i can get the right length. my front are CS009FA & B n i know they will bve right. Im thinking i should of went EFS now as ive been told they are a bit longer. ????

Hi there.

Well I've had the EFS kit fitted for a little over 3 weeks now. And I have to say that I'm 100% happy with going EFS.

The ride has been fantastic, I don't carry much heavy loads so we went for the softer springs and shocks and surprisingly the ride has been brilliant! You still feel the bumps like any leaf sprung fourby would but everything settles down almost instantly and really well.

We went up to Rainbow beach this weekend and driving around the beach what used to be a very bouncy ride has smoothed out to just soft bumps.

Haven't been out bush yet but if things are gong to continue at this rate I'm hoping it won't let me down there either. I'm glad I saved myself a couple of hundred bucks and went with EFS. If anyone asked if I'd recommend it over OME I definately would I can't imagine it being much better at all. And the 3 yr warranty is good to know if I'm worried about their workmanship.

Hey guys I am new to the forum.

I drive a 1990 LN106 single cab Luxy and am on the verge of having a suspension kit fitted. I have priced up an OME kit and was kind of shocked really. After reading this thread I might be inclined to go EFS.

I was wondering if EFS need to weld in any brackets like OME claim they do? Also did you need to fit an adjustable torque rod? Did you go greasable shackles etc?

After three months with my new springs and shockys things are still going brilliant! We've done some pretty rough tracks lately, including one up to Weipa via Bloomfield in north Qld and handled the corrugations with no worries. Cant say the same about some other bits that have rattled off... The springs haven't sagged, and the ride has softned a bit more. I wouldn't say it's a smooth ride but it's probably the comfiest leaf sprung ride so far. Only thing bad I could say is that I get a little bit of knocking noise coming from the bushes, I've been told softer ones will end that but I've gotten used to it so I won't bother. I still recommend this gear to people looking for suspension work. Not sure what they like with warranties but at this rate I don't think i'll need to make a claim at all! Something that works for once.

I have efs and have been more than happy with them,they have been continuosly bent backwards without any drama.

im going to get the 4inch shocks with the 2inch efs lift ive got
seen one on the weekend
heaps more travel with the 4in shocks
the 2inch ones are fully entended way to early
4inch go straight in - no mods

i got blue max n my bro got efs when i had my triton.
the efs worked out to be 17 bucs dearer, but wasnt in stock the friday i decided to buy em

if i had my time again i wouldnt touch the blue max, they werent bad by any means but the efs is a far superior product. handles better on road and flexed better, the blue max also sagged after towing the old mans boat where as the efs didnt. plus the efs dealer doesnt give u hulux pins and shackles for a triton. and then give you bushes that dont fit

hi highly dont recomend arb ome (as they have gone of shore so i have heard and are a bit poorer quility becouse of that.. not fact just rumor)

. anyhow through a very bad experience with arb in vic wich when given my suposedly heavy duty hilux 2 inch raised springs that lowered my 4bie not raised .and when asking for a full refund exetra... i was met with a load of crap from the manager and left with nothing but after getting consumer affairs in on the situattion i got a credit note still not happy coz hav to spend money there stilll but better than nuthing.

anyways my 2.568 cents

For EFS 2" lift Hilux suspension including Leafs, bush kits, U bolts, Gr Hangers, Gr Pins and 4 longer EFS shocks for more flex. $1200

Shane

I have had emu dakar 2" lift on 98 duel cab hilux with ome shocks for about 8 months now. towed a couple of heavy boats & trailers, no sag.
have been in sofest sand, deep mud And ruts, very heavey corrigations all over inland QLD. never missed a beat, and so smooth.
I have never tried EFS, but ome is worth the money. It has to be a really bad road before you even notice it.
lloyd

I have had emu dakar 2" lift on 98 duel cab hilux with ome shocks for about 8 months now. towed a couple of heavy boats & trailers, no sag.
have been in sofest sand, deep mud And ruts, very heavey corrigations all over inland QLD. never missed a beat, and so smooth.
I have never tried EFS, but ome is worth the money. It has to be a really bad road before you even notice it.
lloyd