Replacing bad struts

[abadlovesong]

Both front end struts are bad on my 2wd '01 pathy. I plan to replace them with KYB GR-2 struts because it is close to OEM struts and maintain the same ride comfort; and sometime in the future, do an OME "2 lift.

I know what you're thinking, not another lift question, but i think i have a situation that hasn't been brought up.

2 things i want when i do the lift. 1. i want to maintain stock ride quality, while having the strength and stability to go off road on some rough terrain without bottoming out and/or losing some control. 2. i do not want to level the front. I like the look of a raised back end without having larger tires.

So, what i wanna ask is which OME springs should i go for to achieve this kind of setup? I've read several guys put heavy duty springs in the front and mediums in the back, and after the springs settled, they had a level ride. Not what i want. I will be hauling equipment with me from time to time, and i plan to add a bull bar (not a bull bar bumper like the ones from ARB, just a bar) and a 9000+ winch (haven't decided on which one, still a ways off before i grab one), so HDs in the front make sense with all the extra weight in the front.

But will having HDs in the front affect the ride quality and give me too stiff of a ride? And will i still achieve a higher back end as well without anything attached to the front?

Or should i do mediums all around? Will i sacrifice performance and handling having mediums up front? I plan to leave the stock rear shocks in place or would that be a mistake?

I feel like my head will explode with all the possibilities and just need to some help figuring this out from someone who knows this a hell of a lot better than me.
Modified by abadlovesong at 12:09 PM 1/20/2010

[KyooX4]

I've never seen HD OMEs sold for the rear. I'm not saying they're not out there though, because I don't know for sure.

[muddfildvaynes]

With the money you are going to be spending on replacing the springs and the struts you might as well put in a 2" lift kit, here is the one I installed https://www.4x4parts.com/catal...=1554 It will make you pathy ride more like a SUV than a station wagon and be able to tow along with haveing the offroad ability. That is my opionion......

[abadlovesong]

I've never seen HD OMEs sold for the rear. I'm not saying they're not out there though, because I don't know for sure.

After looking again, you're right. I'm gonna go fix that in the original post.

With the money you are going to be spending on replacing the springs and the struts you might as well put in a 2" lift kit, here is the one I installed https://www.4x4parts.com/catal...=1554 It will make you pathy ride more like a SUV than a station wagon and be able to tow along with haveing the offroad ability. That is my opionion......

if you re-read my post, i said my struts are bad, and will replace them with kyb gr-2 struts, and will, in time, replace with springs with OME "2 lift springs. I'm just looking for input on what's the ride difference between the HDs and mediums as well as which will give me more height in the back without extra hardware.

[muddfildvaynes]

If you want...... go with the air lift 1000 which is air bags that you put between the rear springs and you can control the pressure in them to help with your ride height and stiffness in the rear; it also helps you maintain the stock ride quality......

[miamiheat3332]

id go with what the person above me said.

Put in Heavy duties up front, and mediums in the rear, and also put the airlift kit in the rear its like 90-100$,

that way when you load up equipment your rear end wont sag at all, and you might be even able to maintain the mediums in the back from settling too far. so youd end up with the front lower and rear higher how you wanted.

[abadlovesong]

If you want...... go with the air lift 1000 which is air bags that you put between the rear springs and you can control the pressure in them to help with your ride height and stiffness in the rear; it also helps you maintain the stock ride quality......

didn't think about that. not a bad idea, not a bad idea at all.

Put in Heavy duties up front, and mediums in the rear, and also put the airlift kit in the rear its like 90-100$

i wasn't looking to spend any extra dough on the rear suspension, but that's not too much so i think it's worth it to get what i want.

anybody have experience with HD OME springs in the front with air lift 1000 in the back?