My '02 Tracker has the OME medium rate springs all around.  My trouble is that the previous owner did not put the OME struts on and instead went with strut extenders that screw onto the strut's shaft and effectively lengthen the strut.  The struts themselves are blue so I'm thinking regular Monroe's.

A-I'm not impressed with the strut's performance
B-Prior Owner did not correct the camber for the taller springs so now the tires sit like this:  \     /

This worries me a bit as it can't be good for the front tires or anything else for the matter.

I know the Old Man Emu N103S struts are intended to be used with these coil springs and have the bolt holes setup to correct the camber with these springs.  I'd love to purchase them...

...but they're $150 or so each plus shipping...

...OUCH. 

So are they really that great?  I've heard they're awesome when used as a whole system...also heard of warranty issues.  Then there's the cost...I can get a set of KYB's and have $40 left over for what ONE of these cost!  Are they really that great of quality for the $300?  If I spend that on front struts they better be doing fine 5 years worth of daily driving from now.

I'm leary of slotting the knuckle holes or the camber bolts.  I don't offroad this thing too hard but I do enjoy taking the train tracks fast and hard and bumping around in the ruts and holes at work with it.  So struts capable of holding up to my aggressive driving style would be good and if they fixed the camber at the same time that'd be great.

I run the OME struts on my truck and the struts are not drilled to correct camber they do improve the ride but don't seem to hold up very well. You are right about there warranty too. You need a set of camber adjusting bolts. I have ran camber bolts in my zuk for 5 years already and I  wheel it hard and have never had a problem. My wife's sidekick also has a set that have been in there for over 40k and once again not a problem. SR CUSTOMS carries the ones you need. Here is a link: http://www.srcustoms.ca/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=40&category_id=8&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=56

Actually they do correct for the 1.25" lift that the OME coils provide.  However if you have more lift then...


I've had camber bolts before.  Just not terribly hot on them.  They're dinky when you compare them to the stock bolts.  I dunno.

I've gone through 3 or more sets of OME struts, usually not the fault of the strut in my case. 4" of suspension lift will do that. I've been lucky in being able to pick up some low time used ones, and am always looking for more. I consider them wear parts and figure on replacing them regularly due to the way I use my rig. They are longer than stock, the only longer struts that I'm aware of, and IMO they do work great, but before I shell out for new struts again ( that's providing I can't find more good used ones) I'm going to take a good hard look at the Bilsteins. They certainly look beefier with that extra large diameter upper. I've always used camber bolts, with no issues.

Honestly I used camber bolts in the past.  Just in "low beatings" situations.  They just seem so much tinier than the thick stock bolts.

I've seen reference to Bilstein making shocks for Trackers...have a link?

Nope!

Nope!

...'kay...

Definitely take a look at the Bilstein strut... IMO they are much better and they seem to last a fair bit longer too... plus you can get them anywhere Bilstein is sold.

-Eric

I am just not finding the Bilstein struts anywhere.  Like the Suzuki application is listed at Bilstein's site but no retailers list it...

Found it.  Finally just googled the part number:

http://www.eshocks.com/bil_Ind.asp?VC=91Q10&SubChar=Q

$133 each though...damn...

Found it.  Finally just googled the part number:

http://www.eshocks.com/bil_Ind.asp?VC=91Q10&SubChar=Q

$133 each though...damn...

eshocks or shockwarehouse are probably your best bet...

I know it's a plunge but everyone I know that has put them on has really like them and the Bilstein equipped 'kick I test drove handled really nice.

Maybe some of the ZWC racing guys can chime in. I think 3 of the teams are running that strut.

-Eric

Hard to stomach at that price.  The odd part is that eshock's list price is $98 and their retail is $133.  Normally retail is cheaper than list, not the reverse.  I sent an email.

Makes me hate myself for not buying that set for $150 a few years ago...since I had sold my Trackers/Suzukis.

I have been through a couple of sets of OME struts too.  I won't buy another set. 

Sounds like they're not getting great reviews anywhere.

Definitely not going there.  Bilsteins or something else.

Now I'm wondering about the rear shocks.

I am running the Bilstein shocks on the Kick and love them....
I also ran the OME struts on my last Kick with the calmini 3" lift. They were MUCH better than the stock replacement struts. If I was running IFS I would be using them (or the Bilsteins).

Zig