Project Isuzu Vehicross: Part 6 – Getting Sprung With Old Man Emu

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The new spring is also slightly taller than the original.  OME ensures the coils are direct fit, perfectly matching the perch pattern of the original Isuzu spring.  Because of the added length, a coil compressor is needed to install the new springs.
The OME springs are not only taller than the Isuzu springs, but also feature slightly thicker coil wire.  This should increase the spring rate, perfect for improving stability when towing.
The install is very straightforward, pretty much the opposite of removal.  The only exception is the passenger side top shock bolt.  There is an electrical box that makes reinserting the bolt difficult.  We ended up loosening the mounting bracket on the box to get enough room to slip the bolt back in.  The springs and shocks fit perfectly with no surprises.  This is the quality we expect with OME parts.
Up front, the shock has one fat bolt at the bottom and a smaller top nut securing the damper in place.  This view gave us PTSD flashbacks to working on our power steering.  Removing the rubber fender liner is actually unnecessary for replacing the shocks, so you can skip that step.

4 comments

  1. I have really appreciated your Vehicross tutorials. I went with your advice on the Curt install and it made the project a breeze. I have a 1999 that I would like to tackle the lift on but with all the concerns you shed light on I am on hold for now. Looking forward to more of your posts.
    Thank You

  2. Hello Australia. If it is not much trouble, can you please tell me the part # for the Old Man Emu coil springs you have used on your Isuzu? I have 2000 Vehicross and one of my coil sprigs broke. No luck (I am not surprised) to find original coil springs, then I saw your page and began to have a hope. I live in Vancouver, Canada (Communist Republic of Canada to be correct)

    1. Hi Kirill. I think your best option would be to find a set of used springs. There is a junkyard on eBay who is selling a set of used Vehicross springs right now. There are also a few good Isuzu and Vehicross forums where you can find used parts. They are much cheaper than the full lift kit and will not give you the driveshaft problems I had. Independent4X also offers a lift kit that you should be able to get in Canada. Unfortunately it has been so long I do not have the part number for this kit anymore.

      Thanks for reading and good luck getting your Vehicross fixed. I wish I had never sold this truck.

  3. Hello Dave. Thank you for your reply. I am not looking for a lift kit at all. I just want to replace a broken coil spring. I would not bother at all, unless one of them broke and now I have to replace both. Vehicle is too old to spend too much money on it. I am just looking for the least expensive option to fix it. I I took all the measurements (I tried my best) and was looking on Amazon to find coil springs with matching dimensions. Unfortunately for me, Amazon only indicates shipping box dimensions, not coils. Maybe I just should look at a wreck place (car’s junk yard) with a ruler in my hand. Damn, I wish it was an easy task. Dave, do you remember the number for the coil springs? Was it OME 2912?

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