Ordered CS034RAs, got CS033RBs. Install or send back?

[yzmuddereffer]

I ordered Old Man Emu CS034RAs from Morris 4x4. (Confirmed by both my emailed and printed invoice). Instead, they sent me these:

Other than the part number difference, the CS033RBs have an (inverted) overload spring.

Should I just install these or send them back?

My goal was to ultimately get about 3-3.5 inches with the 34RAs and either the OME AAL or shackles. I use the Jeep as a DD and to tow a dirt bike trailer. It's often loaded down with riding gear and tools. Thanks.

 

[Johnnie Walker]

Choice is yours, since it is their fault should be no extra money out of your pocket. How soon do you need/want to swap. I would keep them if this is something you are wanting to do sooner than later. You could always remove the overload if you do not want it.

 

[yzmuddereffer]

No rush to get the lift on. I've read alot about the 34RAs, but not much on the 33RBs. Does anyone have any experience with the RBs (lift and ride)? Thanks.

 

[bwinter1946]

I have the overloads on mine and really like them. Especially when I am towing my boat. Ride is much better now as I carry a significant amount of gear and tools etc. Before the springs were a little weak for my use.

Your call if you want to keep them.

 

[ingenio]

I got mine with the AAL & overload, was skyhigh (close to 6in) and very stiff.....in addition the stock shackle was pointing forward. They ate bushings fast due to the two conditions mentioned.
after a couple months when changing the bushings I removed the AAL, went to 4.5 aprox but still had the same shackle issues, changed to an aftermarket curved shackle which corrected the angle and for my surprise resulted in almost zerolift...the leafs are now more "stretched",extended.... and I like the ride.
its a DD that carry a 32tire only in the back, actually today I carried just above 300kgs with the XJ and after two years of use the overload just shines with the load....

how many leafs in each pack of yours?? 4 + overload?....try removing one leaf from the pack.

my 0.02cents

 

[yzmuddereffer]

Five plus the overload:

I'm not opposed to keeping the 33RBs. It's not as if I considered them and rejected them, because they weren't on my radar when I ordered the 34RAs. I like the idea of the overload because I do tow stuff.

Any specific shackle recommendations for these springs that would add as little additional lift as possible?

Thanks, again.

 

[donthelegend]

Ingenio, did you post up with the extra lift issue on JeepForum when you installed these? What you describe sounds familiar and I think I commented but at the time didn't have mine installed yet.

I've been running mine for about 8 months now and I got around 4-4.5" of lift from mine with a not great shackle angle, but it isn't flipped forward and doesn't cause any issues. I love the way they ride and wouldn't hesitate to install them again.

But... I have full frame stiffeners, 2x6 steel rockers, custom rear bumper, a 100 lb spare, and 50-100 lbs of tools/spares/fluids in the back at all times. And I end up pulling a trailer fairly frequently on top of all that.

So I would say it depends on how much the back of your XJ weighs with what you regularly haul around in it.

 

[yzmuddereffer]

Thanks, donthelegend. From these descriptions, the 33RBs sound like about the highest OMEs you can get from the factory for the XJs.

What size tires are you running with yours? Are you running the stock shackle?

 

[donthelegend]

I'm running 285/75/16 MT-R Kevlars, and a stock shackle. The angle isn't great but its not inverted either.

I need to address the front suspension next but my plan is to go to 4.5" springs in front and add the no lift shackle relocators from HDO with a slightly longer shackle in the rear at the same time. The goal is to end up around 5" of lift total.

 

[yzmuddereffer]

So, I could go with the relocation box and the stock shackle and a) add little additional lift and b) get a better shackle angle using one of the box's optional mounting locations? I don't mind a little more lift than I was planning on, but I would like to keep this to under 4 inches over stock (which would probably be about 6 inches over my badly sagging rear...).

 

[ingenio]

don, actually it has been almost two years since the leafs were installed and I don't remember if posted about it in the JF, maybe....

yz, an additional consideration is that if using a shackle relocation box AND longer than stock shackle your flex will be greatly enhanced but the combination also increases the potential for some leaf/axle wrap and you may end needing a rear antiwrap bar...so there's no such thing as a free ride..
my other 0.02

 

[notamos]

Hey OP - I'm running the CS033RB springs. I've had them on for almost a year now, but only have about 3k miles on them. They ride nice & I would imagine the overload spring will REALLY help when towing. I'm running stock shackles w/ them and the shackles are almost vertical. I have low profile shackle relocators to install to get a better angle & soften the ride. The rear has a aftermarket gas tank skid (3/8" steel), hidden hitch, detours tire carrier and a 31" spare (all sitting in the cargo area for now) - this is how it sits:

 

[yzmuddereffer]

Looks great, notamos. Thanks for posting that. Looks real good on the 31s.

What are you running in the front? I have the OME 934s.

What shackle relocators did you get?

Thanks, again.

(By the way, I've sent two emails, including my emailed invoice showing I ordered 34RAs and the photo of the 33RBs, to Morris 4x4 and both emails, one sent last Saturday and one sent yesterday morning, have been ignored. I'm going to give them one more chance to own up. The couple times I've ordered from them, they have been extremely fast with shipping and delivery -- but maybe that's because they rush and throw wrong things in boxes?)

 

[notamos]

I have OME 930s up front w/ a spacer. I'll probably be swapping those out with 934s once I get a winch mount/winch up there. For now, the ride is great.

I got the Froehlich (FST Lead Foot Innovations) shackle relocators. They're on sale right now. Guys seem really happy with them over @ CherokeeForum. I'm going to run these with JKS greasable shackles just to get a better shackle angle. I should be able to get it perfect w/ these.

I'd keep the CS033RB springs, you'll be happy with them.

-NA

 

[yzmuddereffer]

Nice. Thanks, NA!

 

[Johnnie Walker]

I would go with the hdor no lift relocators, and at least an mj shackle.

 

[yzmuddereffer]

Just to close the loop on my order for anyone who cares, I got a call from Morris 4x4 today. The rep said, "About your emails, I called ARB and they said the 33RBs supersede the 34RAs, so anyone who orders the 34RAs now gets the 33RBs. They're for the same application only better."

That seems a bit strange to me for two reasons: 1) based on what I've heard from folks here and my own research on the 34RAs, both springs have been available for some time; and 2) the 33RBs have an overload spring and the 34RAs never did. That would indicate to me that they are for different applications.

I pointed out that one has the overload spring and one doesn't, and that would seem to me they are designed with different uses in mind, but the rep said something to the effect, "Right, well ARB says they're a better all around spring."

Since I've already decided to keep them and didn't feel like getting in a pointless argument while walking out of the office to the parking lot, I just dropped it.

Anyway, heads up, I guess if you order 34RAs from Morris 4x4, you'll get these 33RB springs, which have an overload spring and (based on anecdotal evidence posted here) appear to provide an inch or more lift than what's typically reported for the 34RAs.

 

[Johnnie Walker]

Well, according to most OME leaf springs typically add more lift than advertised. They build their products for quality and such, so I guess more on to that than actual lift height. For example most 2" lift leafs usually net 3+

 

[xcgreene]

So which leaf would be considered safe to remove in this 5+overload modular pack? I've got mine sitting here in the shop, bought the 34RA's from quadratech and the 33rb's showed up, further proving the phasing out of the 34ra's

 

[DimaXJ]

what was the shipping time on the order, I plan on getting a set of cs033RBs, and would like to find somewhere that actually has them in stock.