Whether you have purchased your new four-by-four off the yard or you're looking to improve the capability and handling of your trusty workhorse, one of the most common modifications at the top of people's lists is suspension! Read on to learn How to choose the right old man emu suspension system for your 4WD.
Why upgrade your suspension?
When vehicle manufacturers design a 4WD, they are designing it for a mass market that has a variety of uses for that vehicle from school pick up and drop offs, to a tradesman carrying tools and equipment, to a touring vehicle carrying or towing heavy loads. If you’re planning to drive your vehicle in its standard configuration, there's nothing wrong with using factory-supplied suspension.
"However, if you are planning on modifying your 4WD with a range of accessories, plan to carry regular constant loads, tow a trailer or need more ground clearance for off-roading, a 4x4 suspension upgrade is often required."
We stand by and trust Old Man Emu 4x4 Suspension as they offer a complete suspension system tailored to prioritise ride quality and control while accounting for the style of driving, type of terrain, and the amount of weight carried in those situations. Old Man Emu supplies tailored suspension solutions for over 200 popular 4WD vehicles. Whether for work or play, touring or hardcore off-roading, they have a selection of springs, shocks and associated suspension components that will transform your 4WD's ride, handling and capability, on and off-road.
Benefits of OME Suspension?
- It will allow your vehicle to carry a larger amount of load without compromising its performance.
- Shocks and vibrations are absorbed. Improved comfort and handling on all sorts of terrains and allows for a smooth ride inside the vehicle. Let's just say, you won't be bouncing round like Grandma in a T-shirt!
- Enhanced safety and performance.
- The suspension systems are made up of shock absorbers, springs, brushes, and bolts which help improve its load carrying abilities.
- During the design and development phase, all Emu Suspension undergoes vigorous testing to ensure their durability.
The major advantage of lifting a vehicle for off-road use is the increased ground clearance to the body and mechanical components, which can be further enhanced by allowing the fitment of larger tyres.
What are my options?
SHOCK SELECTION
Old Man Emu offers a shock range that is meticulously engineered to be installed with Old Man Emu Springs.
NITROCHARGER SPORT shocks are twin tube, nitrogen-filled shocks. During the development of Old Man Emu’s Nitrocharger Sport shock absorbers, Ride Control Engineers tailor shock absorber valving to work with the different springs in the range, often resulting in multiple shock absorber options for each vehicle. The Nitrocharger Sports are valved with more discs which help control the vehicle at all speeds. Old Man Emu Nitrocharger Sport is a twin-tube design with the outer reserve tube providing protection to the internal components off-road. Utilising the latest advances in shock absorber technology, Nitrocharger Sport is the most finely tuned 4×4 shock absorber on the market.
The BP-51 is a user-adjustable internal bypass 4WD shock absorber that delivers increased comfort and control; both on and off-road. Designed and manufactured in-house by ARB using state of the art machining and hard anodising equipment. BP-51 Internal Bypass shocks allow for on-vehicle, independent adjustability of both rebound and compression to offer class-leading ride customisation that is tailored to an individual vehicle and can be adjusted for trip requirements.
When undertaking remote area travel, the need to carry sufficient fuel, water, vehicle spares and safety equipment invariably means that your 4WD will be fully loaded, placing a lot of strain on suspension components. Combine this with arduous off-road conditions, and the limitations of standard springs soon become apparent.
Whether it’s coils, leaves or torsion bars, Old Man Emu Springs are designed to improve the load-carrying capability of your 4WD and allow you to tackle more challenging terrain with confidence.
Old Man Emu leaf springs are engineered to provide optimum ride performance irrespective of the conditions in which they operate. Numerous spring options are available to suit each user’s specific needs, allowing you to set your vehicle up for work or play. A set of Old Man Emu leaf springs, matched to a set of Old Man Emu 4×4 shock absorbers will deliver vastly improved ride, handling and load-carrying capability.
Should your Old Man Emu 4WD suspension system include leaf springs, Old Man Emu urethane bushes require periodic lubrication to ensure longevity. Old Man Emu greaseable shackles and pins facilitate this without the need to remove the shackles, greatly reducing the time and effort involved.
ARB designs an extensive range of Old Man Emu coil springs for each vehicle, using state of the art micro-alloyed spring steel to ensure superior resistance to sagging and corrosion. With such a wide range on offer, coil springs can be better matched to your specific load requirements and intended vehicle usage. While ride height increases are attained, a great emphasis is placed on ride control improvements. Further fine-tuning is achieved when the springs are matched to a corresponding set of Old Man Emu shock absorbers, delivering a fully integrated system designed specifically to suit your vehicle.
Old Man Emu Torsion Bars dramatically improve your vehicle’s ride and handling, both on and off-road. Designed and set for optimum ride performance with increased spring rates to suit accessory fitment, Old Man Emu Torsion Bars work best when Old Man Emu coil or leaf springs are fitted to the rear of your vehicle, with bars and springs then carefully matched to our range of 4WD shock absorbers. Together, they’ll transform your vehicle’s suspension performance.
GVM & AXLE UPGRADES
In New Zealand it is common that vehicles are loaded to capacity and are often overloaded. This can be potentially dangerous and also illegal if they breach the allocated gross vehicle mass, (GVM) without the correct suspension to suit each individual application.
The GVM is the maximum a vehicle can weigh when fully loaded. Everything you place on or in your vehicle adds to the overall GVM such as fuel, water/chemical tanks, a bull bar, tow bar, recovery gear, the tray body for cab chassis models and even your passengers.
If your vehicle exceeds the GVM of your vehicle, you could be up for a costly fine, void your insurance conditions and make your vehicle unsafe. To combat these issues, Old Man Emu offers GVM upgrades in line with NZTA's requirements for a range of new vehicles.
Once the approved OME suspension system and GVM upgrade compliance plates have been fitted to your vehicle by 4WD Solutions as authorised OME fitters, your vehicle can then be registered according to its new increased GVM. This process ensures that your vehicle is GVM legal in New Zealand.
STEERING AND HARDWARE
As another integral component of the Old Man Emu 4WD suspension range, Steering Stabilisers are designed to reduce the effect of wheel vibration and improve the feel, handling and control of the vehicle. They will also reduce the aggressive rotation of the steering wheel over rough roads without affecting steering wheel return.
OLD MAN EMU UPPER CONTROL ARMS
Available for a range of popular 4WDs to ensure correct alignment of the front suspension and cater for the geometry change when an IFS vehicle is fitted and lifted with a suspension kit, Old Man Emu Front Upper Control arms have been engineered for use with Old Man Emu GVM upgrades and include a forged ball joint housing, free pivoting grease and maintenance-free GIIRO bushings.
The OME range doesn’t just stop with shocks, springs and bushes. At ARB we take integration to the highest level with our own range of HARDWARE, BUSHES, FITTING HARDWARE.
To see what is available for your 4WD - Use this Old Man Emu Suspension Selector.
